Jina "Bitsy" Lewallen

Caring.com Expert

About

Jina "Bitsy" Lewallen is a clinical geriatric social worker with the University of Arkansas for the Medical Sciences Pat & Willard Walker Family Memory Research Center and the UAMS Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging. She helps her own father care for her mother, who has vascular dementia.

Recently Published on Caring.com

1. Saturday September 08, 2007

   1. How can I get my brother to help with Alzheimer's care?

      Answer - There are many different reasons that one family member may seem to check out when it comes to caring for a parent with Alzheimer's. It could be denial. It could be fear. It could be that since he's so far away, he doesn't want -- or know how -- to get involved.

   2. Should I take cigarettes away from my mother, who has Alzheimer's, for fear she'll start a fire?

      Answer - Smokers with Alzheimer's are a real challenge because, with advancing age, they're already at a point when there are a lot of things they can no longer do. A caregiver always needs to be aware of that. The goal is to help your mother maintain as much of her independence as possible. Still, that has its limits...