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Changes in negotiating or advocating for care are related to supporting your family member in a care facility.
Examples:
Examples from others who have experienced these changes:
"It's still-it's a difficult transition, €˜cause you feel like you've lost control."
"I really didn't know where to go to find information. It seemed like a big void out there, and maybe I was too emotionally involved to comprehend or understand."
"Communication within the medical community; it's a power play."
"It's been a tough journey."
"Everybody just disappeared. Friends disappeared."
"You know he's safe. That's all you want: you want somebody to be safe and hopefully not distressed."
The human brain is one of your most vital organs. It plays a role in every action and every thought, and just like the rest of your body, it needs to be looked after.
Can Alzheimer's disease be prevented? There are no guarantees, but healthy lifestyle choices will help keep your brain as healthy as possible as you age.
By making better lifestyle choices now, you can improve your brain's ability to sustain long-term health and fight illnesses.
In this session an expert in seniors' health will explain what the latest research tells us about the possibility of reducing our chances of getting Alzheimer's disease and the variety of risk factors for developing Alzheimer's disease.
Learning Objectives
When you have completed this session, you will be able to:
Session 1 includes the following parts:
Part 1: Your Amazing Brain
Part 2: Being Brain Healthy
Part 3: Reducing Your Risk
Part 4: Your Brain Matters
Part 5: My Personal Action Plan
Session Summary
Work through the various parts of the session at your leisure. Move from one part to another at your own pace and in the order that makes sense to you, based on your own needs and interests.
At any time, you may scroll to the Search bar at the top of the page and type a specific question or topic.
Even if the person with dementia can't communicate verbally or no longer recognizes you, they likely will still be able to communicate in other ways and feel your affection and reassurance.
Watch this video to learn about some suggested activities that provide sensory stimulation. These can be engaged in with little expended energy and include ideas related to:
Feel free to make some notes as you listen and keep track of ideas you might like to try.
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After you watch the video, take a few minutes to reflect on the following questions. Feel free to make some notes.
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Progression Series: Late Stage
To move from feeling “powerless” to “powerful” we need to plan to take control of our feelings and follow through on our plan so that we can move to a more positive state. It may be helpful to experiment with different solutions to situations that are causing stress.
To move from the negative to the positive we need to let go of how we “wish” things were. We also need to let go of trying to change the disease. By accepting our current situation and focusing on each day we can move to a more powerful place.
Download and print a copy of the activity sheet below. Take a few moments to review the recommended actions to manage your feelings.
These steps can be used to help you get in touch with the feelings that are most difficult for you as a care partner and to plan actions that will help you manage them.
Find people you are comfortable with to share your feelings and emotions with. This may be a member of your family, a good friend, members of a support group, or someone at the local Alzheimer Society.
Care partners often become isolated and lonely, so it is important to stay connected to people and share your feelings.
Dementia typically follows certain stages that will change the person's and family's lives. Because the disease affects each individual differently, the symptoms, the order in which they appear, and the duration of each stage vary from person to person. In most cases, the disease progresses slowly, and the symptoms of each stage may overlap, often making the move from one stage to another quite subtle. The duration of the disease is usually seven to ten years but may be much longer in some people.
The stages of Dementia are commonly referred to as Early, Middle and Late. End-of-life is described as the period when a person nears death, and the primary focus is on providing comfort measures.
The late stage of Dementia may also be called "severe" or "advanced.” People in the late stage have reduced cognitive ability. Eventually, they become unable to communicate verbally or look after themselves. They also become more frail physically and need 24-hour care. The goal of care at this stage is to continue to support the person to ensure the highest quality of life possible.
Click and download the infographic below to learn more about the late stage of Dementia.
Take the quiz below to learn some helpful tips for addressing care issues in the late stage of Dementia.
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Progression Series: Late Stage
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Making the decision to move the person you have been caring for into a care home is a difficult decision. We discuss options and preparations with care home director, Marlene Collins.
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Being prepared can help make this decision less stressful. Often, when a vacancy becomes available in a long-term care home, you will need to make a quick decision about accepting it. Familiarize yourself with the long-term care homes in your area and ask questions about the home's services, policies and costs beforehand. This will help you make the best decision.
A number of resource people can help you in your search for an appropriate long-term care home. These may include your local Alzheimer Society, support groups, friends or family, doctors, faith leaders, social workers, social service agencies or local organizations for seniors.
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Progression Series: Late Stage
Long-Term Care: Considering the Move to a Long-Term Care Home
Managing Ambiguous Loss and Grief
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This session includes the following parts:
Part 1: What is Stress?
Part 2: Symptoms of Stress
Part 3: Learning to Balance
Part 4: Relaxation Techniques for Stress Relief
Part 5: Taking Care of Me
Part 6: Questions for Reflection
Summary
Work through the various parts of the session at your leisure. Move from one part to another at your own pace and in the order that makes sense to you, based on your own needs and interests.
At any time, you may scroll to the Search bar and type a specific question or topic to learn more.
Click on the image below to download and print a brief self-reflection activity sheet. The purpose of this tool is to help you think about what you have learned and to provide a space for you to document some of your thoughts and ideas for moving forward.
Although each individual is unique, dementia has a profound effect on:
Some individuals find it challenging to remember to take care of their personal hygiene, such as bathing. At the same time, others may struggle with resisting showering or display complex behaviours that can be challenging for their caregivers.
Assisting with personal care and bathing is often the most difficult activity for care partners of people with dementia, and as the disease progresses, this can become increasingly challenging.
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Proper oral care is important to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Poor dental health will also affect an individual's ability and willingness to eat. It is wise to have a complete dental examination early in the disease. Ask the dentist to schedule appointments at times when there will be no delay at the office.
At home, the following tips might be helpful:
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Clean, well-groomed hair will make a person living with dementia look and feel better. It will likely help their care partner feel better too.
A salon or barbershop can be a familiar and relaxed setting. Make the stylist aware that the person has dementia. If the person feels insecure, you may want to stay with them or try to find a stylist to come into the home to cut or style hair.
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As a person ages, skin becomes more delicate and needs a little extra care beyond a wash. Creams or lotions can help the skin and may be necessary in the prevention of skin breakdown for those who are inactive. The application itself can also have a pleasantly soothing effect.
You can also get a basin of warm water and a washcloth and sit with the person to wash their face and hands. Have a towel ready to dry them as well.
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As people age, foot care is often neglected because they can no longer comfortably reach their feet and can no longer see to provide proper nail care. This task can be more of a challenge if the person has dementia.
The following suggestions may assist you:
And a little nail polish always brings about a smile!
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Our leisure experiences mean something important to each of us. Leisure allows us to continue to express who we are and what we value about ourselves by using our unique skills and abilities gained over our lifetimes. Leisure is about doing our own thing—whether that’s listening to music, going for a walk, or meditating.
Download and print the activity sheet below. Here, we identify and describe three common sets of challenges to engaging in meaningful leisure experiences: personal, social, and system challenges.
Review the list of 11 obstacles and circle the numbers for the challenges that you’ve experienced as a person living with dementia. Or that the person you are supporting may have experienced.
Source: Living and Celebrating Life through Leisure, Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program
After you read the activity sheet, take a few minutes to reflect on the following questions. Feel free to make some notes.
Download and read the "Living and Celebrating Life Through Leisure—By Us For Us Guide" to discover some helpful ideas for overcoming these obstacles.
Living and Celebrating Life Through Leisure - By Us For Us Guide
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