Tag communication

Taking Care of You – Part 2: The Physical You

0 comments By News and notes, Stefanie, family care specialist Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , February 19th, 2013 @ 3:05 pm

healthThe Physical You

For caregivers, just like being proactive is helpful in reducing mental stress, thinking preventatively is a vital step to ensure your physical well-being. Caregivers often forget there are inherent dangers to themselves and their loved ones while performing the physical demands of care. Lifting in particular, can be hazardous for your back, and unsafe should you hurt someone while moving them about. Daily care training is available. Along with considering your physical limitations, prioritize your own health when evaluating your overall caregiving needs. Continue reading “Taking Care of You – Part 2: The Physical You” »

Taking Care of You – Part 1: The Mental You

1 comment By News and notes, Stefanie, family care specialist Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , February 8th, 2013 @ 10:49 am

The Mental YouTaking Care of You 

As a caregiver of someone with Alzheimer’s disease you will likely hear many words of advice that start or end with, “don’t forget to take care of yourself.”  Hmmmm.. .supportive advice, but sometimes easier said than done. To be candid, depending on your situation, taking care of yourself may in fact be an ongoing challenge. But you can do some small things along the way to help yourself and your overall family. In the next few blog posts we will talk about ways to take care of the “Mental You”, the “Physical You” and even the “Guilty You”.

The Mental You

As a caregiver, one of the best things you can do for your mental health is to be as proactive as possible. Hearing the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s can be overwhelming in itself, but having to react to ongoing unknowns and constant surprises are much worse. Educate yourself on everything possible, starting with the disease and its progression. Continue reading “Taking Care of You – Part 1: The Mental You” »

On a personal note… (Pam Vickerson)

1 comment By News and notes, Newsletter, Profiles Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , February 5th, 2013 @ 10:52 am
Blog_PamVickerson1

Henry and Lucille Vickerson

I was living in San Jose, California when my parents visited from Arizona to help take care of me while I was recovering from surgery. My dad was driving me to a medical appointment when he drove right through a stop sign. I said “Dad, you just drove through stop sign!” He looked at me with a dazed expression – he didn’t even know what “stop sign” meant. During the same visit, he needed to use a power drill. My dad, a retired IBM engineer, looked at me and said, “I don’t remember how to use this.”

He was diagnosed with dementia in 1992 and three years later received an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. I would ask him what it felt like to have Alzheimer’s. He told me that in the days he went to work as an engineer he could just look at something and see its schematic in his head – but with the onset of Alzheimer’s he couldn’t see those things any more. He said that he generally felt pretty good in the morning, then as the day went on he would start to feel what he described as a fog rolling in. It would get hazy, then he’d get sleepy and then he wouldn’t remember anything. I remember those days when I could see him glazing over. He would nod when I asked him if the fog was rolling in again. Continue reading “On a personal note… (Pam Vickerson)” »

“I barely have time to make sure my toenails are polished.”

1 comment By Angie, family caregiver, Stefanie, family care specialist Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , November 8th, 2011 @ 10:12 am

It’s National Caregivers Month and we’re on a roll talking about common caregiving challenges. Many of you know Angie, who blogs about her experience caring for her husband who has Early Stage, Younger Onset Alzheimer’s.

Her latest blog is a great example of this week’s topic, caregiver stress management:

In my support group we sometimes talk about the often heard phrase, “take time to take care of you.” The biggest questions for me are: How? When? Between work, church, family and John; I barely have time to make sure my toenails are polished.

But the conversation made me think, do I take care of myself? I’ve tried different things: a gratitude journal, meditation, the gym, food, drink. All had their pros and cons. As a writer, I liked the idea of the journal. The premise was simple, just jot down five things a day. Seemed easy enough, but after a few weeks I was circling around the same things. I couldn’t keep it fresh, so I got bored. Continue reading ““I barely have time to make sure my toenails are polished.”” »

On a Personal Note… (Luz Gonzalez)

1 comment By News and notes, Newsletter, Profiles Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , November 2nd, 2011 @ 1:09 pm

“My father died of complications from diabetes at the tender age of 59 and I thought I had experienced one of the worst diseases known to mankind. Diabetes slowly robbed him of a normal life and future with us. I loved him dearly and my contribution to him was a kidney back in 1996. Unfortunately, he died 18 hours after surgery. The last words he spoke on his way into the surgery room were, ‘all I ask is that you all take care of your mother.’ Dad’s disease brought us closer as a family.

Continue reading “On a Personal Note… (Luz Gonzalez)” »

Angie and John witness a violent act that leaves them with a sense of loss

2 comments By Angie, family caregiver Tagged with , , , , , , , , May 6th, 2011 @ 11:08 am

John woke up yesterday morning at 6 a.m. and decided the time was right to plant our tomatoes. Never mind that we had yet to buy the needed items to create our garden, he was ready.

So we get dressed and head out to Home Depot with a pit stop at Starbucks. John has a special fondness for hot chocolate and he always has it made extra hot, “upside down.” Because Starbucks doesn’t stir their drinks, he believes that this is the only way to get the syrup appropriately mixed. Well we walk in and I being a purist order bold coffee, black and started to add John’s order when the young woman behind the counter looks at him and said, “John, hot chocolate, upside down, extra hot.” We rarely frequent this location yet she remembered John and his drink from the time she worked at our regular stop. His smile was so big, he could have split his face.

It was a sweet moment. The last one we would have that morning. Continue reading “Angie and John witness a violent act that leaves them with a sense of loss” »

Page 1 of 212

Copyright © 2013 Alzheimer's Association. All Rights Reserved.

Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of the Alzheimer’s Association. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.

Chapter Headquarters
Alzheimer's Association of Northern California and Northern Nevada
1060 La Avenida, Mountain View, CA 94043 Phone 650.962.8111

National Headquarters
Alzheimer's Association National Office 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601 Alzheimers and Dementia Blog – Alzheimers Association of Northern California and Northern Nevada

Built on Notes Blog Core
Powered by WordPress