Age has become one of those topics that require so-called “political correctness” so that people are not referred to as simply old with the implication that they are not valued past as certain age. As life expectancy increases, more and more people are living longer, especially in the Chicago land area. There was time when…
DetailsIs there a connection between heart disease and dementia? Yes. The motto is: “What’s good for your heart is good for your head.” February is a time when we focus on heart health. It’s not just important to the heart, but to other parts of the body to keep it pumping optimally. The heart pumps…
DetailsLewy body dementia, the second most common type of progressive dementia, became a topic of conversation after the death of actor Robin Williams in 2014. Initially it was believed that Mr. Williams had Parkinson’s disease, but it was later announced that he had Lewy body dementia. While Alzheimer’s disease—the leading type of dementia—has become familiar…
DetailsThis fall, thousands of people have joined walks in their North Shore Communities to help raise money for Alzheimer’s care and research. During November’s National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, the Alzheimer’s Association is still actively raising awareness about this disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the seventh…
DetailsEpilepsy can affect people at any age, anywhere in the country, including the Chicagoland Area. During November’s National Epilepsy Month it is a time to raise awareness about this illness, which affects about 300,000 seniors in the United States. Epilepsy is the 4th most common neurological disorder and it is characterized by unpredictable seizures, according…
DetailsAccording to some experts, there is a global dementia epidemic. As of 2014, there were an estimated 44 million people living with dementia worldwide, Alzheimer’s Disease International reported. That number is expected to triple by 2015. September 21, 2015 is World Alzheimer’s Day during World Alzheimer’s Month. The purpose of having a designated day to…
DetailsDr. G. Allen Power, M.D., FAACP, an internist, a geriatrician, and clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of Rochester, shared his insights on how patients in Chicago’s North Shore Suburbs select home care for family. He is the author of “Dementia Beyond Drugs: Changing the Culture of Care” and is in the film…
DetailsBrenda Avadian is an experienced family caregiver and author of nine books, including “Finding the JOY in Alzheimer’s: Caregivers Share the JOYFUL Times,” and an award-winning speaker. She is the founder of The Caregiver’s Voice, a website devoted to helping caregivers for people with dementia gain knowledge and strength with humor.
As part of our continuing education program, Dementia Helpers, a division of Homewatch CareGivers Northshore, holds quarterly in-services for our caregivers – exploring various topics of discussion that may help to improve their skills when working with their clients.
There are a lot of uncertainties after a diagnosis of dementia—for the individual living with the disease and for their family. Yet experts advise staying engaged with life during the early stages of dementia and then keeping someone with dementia engaged as the disease progresses. As a person’s ability to recognize their loved ones recedes…
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