Dan’s Caregiver Video Blog

Two of our heroes here at the Georgia Chapter, are Dan and his wife Denise. Denise was diagnosed with dementia at the young age of 56, about 3 1/2 years ago. Since then, their lives have changed dramatically. Inspired to use their voices about this terrible disease, both Dan and Denise have become Champions and Advocates …

Caregiver Coping Part 4: “Take Care of Yourself”

* This is the fourth and final installment in a series where we will be discussing some realistic ways that Caregivers can cope with the stresses of care-giving. Okay, I said it. You need to take care of yourself. If you are a caregiver, you may be rolling your eyes at this point, or laughing maniacally …

Caregiver Coping Part 3: Reach Out For Help

* This is the third installment in a series where we will be discussing some realistic ways that Caregivers can cope with the stresses of care-giving. Reaching out for help - it sounds simple, right? There are actually some pretty significant barriers that caregivers might have to overcome before they reach out for help. The …

Caregiver Coping Part 2: Prepare for the Worst

* This is the second installment in a series where we will be discussing some realistic ways that Caregivers can cope with the stresses of care-giving. None of us like to think about the worst case scenario if we don't have to.  In fact, most of us who are caregivers think that the worst case …

Caregiver Coping Part 1: Education

* This is the first installment in a series where we will be discussing some realistic ways that Caregivers can cope with the stresses of care-giving.   When you become a caregiver - whether it be sudden or gradual - there is typically a pretty significant learning curve. All of a sudden, you may be …

“People Tell Me to Take Care of Myself…Yeah Right!”

Caregivers hear it often - "You should take care of yourself!" "Well how, exactly, am I supposed to do that?", many caregivers wonder to themselves as they politely smile and nod. It's true. It seems impossible. Care-giving is not just a full-time job, sometimes it is a bunch of full-time jobs. Are you the nurse? The …

This is our Thanksgiving. It’s not perfect, but it is precious

When a loved one has dementia, you lose so much. In fact, sometimes, it seems that every day, every encounter is just one loss after another. Visits with mom are best when we are doing something: looking at photo albums, walking around the mall, working in the yard. Sitting around and making conversation doesn’t go …

Your Hidden Resource Center: The Alzheimer’s Association

Did you know that the Alzheimer's Association, Georgia Chapter offers a wide range of publications designed to meet the unique needs of families caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias? We have literature and books that are designed to help people who have been diagnosed, family caregivers, professional caregivers and even kids/teens. Brochure Topics …

Guest Post: Accepting a Diagnosis of Dementia

My mother-in-law’s diagnosis of dementia forever changed the lives of everyone in our family. I remember sitting with my husband in a row of metal chairs along the hallway in the medical facility while she was being examined by a geriatric neurologist. It seemed to take an eternity. Finally the doctor emerged from the scan …

Being a Long-Distance Caregiver

“Something is wrong with mom!”  The realization is frightening no matter where you are, but especially when you live far away from a loved one exhibiting signs of dementia. What can you do when you live hours away and a phone conversation with your loved one turns into a confusing jumble of past conversations or …