You know it's often been said that America is a car culture. Driving is so ingrained in who we are. It represents freedom, it represents opportunity, capability and responsibility. It's how we get to work. It's how we get our groceries and see our families. It's been estimated that the average American drives 293 hours a year. But what happens when this privilege becomes a risk? What happens when someone really shouldn't be driving anymore? Now I'll tell you from a decade of experience in this industry one of the greatest fears among families of a loved one who has dementia is that he or she w ..read more

When one member of the family has been diagnosed with dementia the dynamic will inevitably change, and some questions will come up like, "Who will make the decisions now that dad cannot? Who will give advice now that mom is unable to? Who will provide the care for your family member? And will there be help in sharing that burden of care?" Emotions can run very high, and family life can suddenly feel chaotic. This is pretty typical of a family who has a member with dementia so take a step back, take a deep breath and begin to take inventory of what you need to do. It's helpful to discuss denial ..read more

When there's a diagnosis of dementia in your family everything changes. There's less predictability there's added confusion and the person with dementia needs more attention. Holiday events can get thrown on their ear. but all is not lost. We have some helpful strategies for you to plan a great holiday. And this might not come as a huge surprise, but flexibility is a key to a successful holiday event. For many families holiday time includes visitors from out of town, extended family, kids and changes of schedule. And all of this extra stimulation can exacerbate anxiety add confusion and creat ..read more

When we talk about dementia we often focus on the person who's been diagnosed, but caregivers also experienced tremendous changes in their lives as a result of this diagnosis.  In fact studies have shown that people who care for those who have dementia are at risk of developing depression and illness themselves. A 2009 study by the National Alliance for Caregiving and the AARP found that caregivers immune systems are compromised for up to three years after their caregiving experience ends. Thus increasing their chances of developing a chronic illness themselves. Furthermore a study by the Alzh ..read more

Today we'd like to talk about planning outings with a loved one who has dementia. Taking the time to do something special will benefit your loved one by breaking up the week's routine, socializing a bit, and keeping him or her active and engaged. However, the progression of dementia will dictate what's doable for your loved one. But by managing expectations and doing a little planning outings can be fun for everyone. Proper planning prevents problems. If you think of these four P's before going on an outing you're more likely to create an enjoyable experience. You know in my professional and ..read more

So one of the many questions we get that Thoughtfulcare is how do I connect with my dad? He has dementia. And we tell them that the goal is to create an enjoyable experience so that you can spend quality time together. And it might not be perfect in your eyes, but it will be so valuable to your dad. It's easiest if we meet the person with dementia where they are, not where you think they should be. So accept them for who they are completely. And know that the process they are going through and will continue to go through will require you to reassess and adjust the strategies that you will use ..read more

As you may know, dementia is a progressive disease and having a plan of care so very important. But now we need to look at the costs of care and the available assets to pay for it. Because caregiving can be quite expensive and your family will want to anticipate what's on the horizon. Now this conversation is best done as soon as possible after the diagnosis. Now the term costs is associated with both monetary cost and time spent. And we'll look at some caregiving statistics here and a little bit. But first let's look at the definition of the financial tipping point. And it's this. When the ne ..read more

Why do you need to plan for the progression of dementia? Well dementia's progressive disease. So this means that the need for care will change as the disease changes. And so we want to give you an inside look at a tool that we use in our professional services. It's called a plan of care. So what is the plan of care? The plan of care is a set of documents that will give a caregiver immediate access to all facets of a loved one's life. And why create a plan of care? Creating and following a set plan creates a framework for care that allows for the family member to receive the proper care with no ..read more

Can you possibly prepare for the progression of dementia? You know dementia often means that those who are diagnosed gradually lose the ability to manage their day to day lives. So two questions come to mind. How can caregivers and family members help a loved one with dementia feel taken care of? And how does one take control of a potentially chaotic situation? So in this presentation we'll look at how to address life's details that need to be brought into order so that your family understands what should be handled. And when it should be handled. Today's modern life is so full of complexity ..read more

Mom's been diagnosed with dementia, now what do we do? You know every family with a loved one who has been diagnosed with dementia will have a host of questions including this one, so we've tailored this presentation to those family members who are new to caregiving for a loved one with memory issues and these tips are intended to share our expertise with you so that you can be better prepared for what lies ahead. So what is the diagnosis? It's an important question. Is it Alzheimer's? Is it Parkinson's? Is it Lewy Body or perhaps Frontal Lobe Dementia? These all have specific symptoms and pro ..read more