1. Health
2. Alzheimer's & Dementia

Alzheimer's

• Checklist - 8 Signs to Watch for if You Suspect Alzheimer's

  Alzheimer's Symptoms. How to recognize Alzheimer symptoms. The 8 symptoms to watch for if you suspect your parent has Alzheimer's disease.

• Article - The Stages of Alzheimer's Disease

  The Stages of Alzheimer's Disease. A comprehensive guide on what to expect during each Alzheimer's stage.

• Article - Common Myths About Alzheimer's Disease

  Nine Alzheimer's myths clarified. This and other resources on Alzheimer's disease are available in Caring.com's Alzheimer's & Dementia page.

• Article - How to Tell Your Kids About Your Parent's Alzheimer's Disease

  Help your kids understand what your parent is going through with this simple guide to explaining Alzheimer's disease to children.

• Article - The Path to an Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis

  Six steps to take if your parent is showing signs of Alzheimer's disease, from documenting the symptoms to finding the right doctor -- and what to do after you get a diagnosis.

• Checklist - 8 People You Need on Your Alzheimer's Care Team

  Which professionals handle dementia? Learning that...

• Article - How to Communicate Better When Your Parent Has Early-Stage Alzheimer's or Dementia

  How to better communicate when your parent has early stage Alzheimer's or dementia. Keep these simple Alzheimer's communication techniques in mind.

• Article - What to Do If Your Parents Refuse to Stop Driving

  How to keep a dangerous driver off the roads and out of harm's way -- what to do if your parents refuse to stop driving.

• Article - How to Provide Alzheimer's Support From a Distance

  Ten great ideas to help you care for your parent with Alzheimer's disease when you can't be there in person.

• Article - How to Tell if Your Parent With Alzheimer's Needs Assisted Living

  How to tell if your parent with Alzheimer's needs assisted living. These questions will help you decide whether your parent needs more assistance.

• Checklist - 8 Things to Do When You First Learn Your Parent Has Alzheimer's

  Practical steps you can take when you're wondering...

• Checklist - 8 Ways to Preserve Family Memories While You Can if Your Parent Has Alzheimer's

  Learn about the 8 ways to preserve family memories if your parent has Alzheimer's. Start by digitizing old photos or by filling out the family tree.

• Article - Nontraditional Therapies That May Help Your Parent's Alzheimer's

  Here are some nontraditional forms of therapy that have been found useful for people with Alzheimer's disease.

• Checklist - 10 Questions to Ask Your Parent's Doctor About Alzheimer's

  If your parent has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, time is really of the essence. Here are the questions to ask your parent's medical provider.

• Article - Life Expectancy for a Parent With Alzheimer's

  Life Expectancy for a Parent With Alzheimer's. What's the average life span of someone with Alzheimer's? What influences Alzheimer's longevity?

• Interview - Talking With Julie Winokur

  Julie Winokur, whose film series The Sandwich Generation documents her family's care-giving experience, reflects on caring for parents at home.

• Article - How to Care for a Parent With Fecal Incontinence

  Fecal or bowel incontinence can be caused by Alzheimer's, stroke, Parkinson's and other diseases that strike the elderly. Learn how you can help.

Blog Posts

• Blog Post - Alzheimer's Caregivers' #1 Challenge

  A new survey of Alzheimer's caregivers reveals that daily care isn't the worst of it. Grief is.

• Blog Post - What Alzheimer's Caregivers Need Even More Than a Cure

  Alzheimer's caregivers need care resources as urgently as a cure

• Blog Post - Dementia Caregivers: Ready to Make Your Brain a Promise?

  Scary new statistics about Alzheimer's disease and dementia are a wake-up call to caregivers to take better care of themselves.

• Blog Post - How can I deal with my mom's anger at me for urging her to move my dad to an Alzheimer's residence, where he fell in love with another woman?

  My mother, who took care of my father through the early...

• Blog Post - New Vocabulary Words for Caregivers

  Thoughts on the power of language to influence our perspective on care-giving for the better.

• Blog Post - Fat Belly Now Doubles Risk of Dementia Later

  A new study links belly fat in midlife with an increased risk of developing dementia later in life. It's the first-ever study to link excess weight to Alzheimer's-type dementias.

• Blog Post - Alzheimer's Meds: Time for a Reality Check?

  The absence of good news about Alzheimer's medications reminds caregivers that learning behavioral therapy is paramount.

• Blog Post - Dementia Caregivers: You Really Ought to Talk About It

  New study shows one on one therapy helps reduce the burden on caregivers and their depressive symptoms.

• Blog Post - Memory Loss Is on Everybody's, Um, Mind

  Many caregivers wonder about their own memory loss; these amusing readings offer a cheering perspective.

• Blog Post - Music Hits the Right Note for Stroke Patients

  New research shows that listening to music for a couple of hours a day can help patients recover from stroke.

• Blog Post - The Link Between Diabetes and Alzheimer's

  What to watch for and what you can do.

• Blog Post - Dementia Caregiver? 4+ Ways You Can Take a Break

  Ideas for how dementia caregivers can use the arts for stress relief.

• Blog Post - Memory Trouble? Don't Assume It's Alzheimer's

  Memory loss isn't always Alzheimer's: a review of types of memory loss

• Blog Post - 5 Surprising Ways to Use Memories to Help People With Memory Loss

  Reminiscence therapy improves mood and communication in people with Alzheimer's and dementia by prodding deeply-held memories.

• Blog Post - Unforgettable Mother's Day Gifts for a Mom Who Forgets

  Great Mother's Day gift ideas for someone with dementia

• Blog Post - Sex for Life

  New research shows that many people are sexually active well into old age.

• Blog Post - Brain-Training 101: Does It Really Help Those With Dementia?

  Brain-fitness games are a huge growth industry, but can they help prevent or reverse dementia?

• Blog Post - Too Skinny? Too Fat? Both Raise Your Risk of Dementia

  Being too fat OR too thin puts you at risk for dementia, according to a review of past studies.

Questions & Answers

• Question - Are hallucinations common in people with Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Why do Alzheimer's patients remember certain things and forget others?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I tell if my parent has Alzheimer's or depression?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - What if I'm worried about my dad's Alzheimer's but he and my mom aren't?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - Why won't my parents and their friends use the word Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How do I get my husband to cope with his father's Alzheimer's diagnosis?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Is it common for Alzheimer's patients to have good and bad days with their memory?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Any suggestions for talking to my father, who has Alzheimer's, about his finances?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Is it safe to leave a parent with Alzheimer's home alone?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I get my mother to acknowledge that she has Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Does stress affect Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How do I tell strangers about my parent's Alzheimer's disease?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What are the first signs of Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - Can Alzheimer's disease cause mild-mannered people to swear?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Why do teens get especially upset about their grandparents' Alzheimer's disease?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - What's the diplomatic way to handle wild accusations by a parent with Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Do I tell my mother her memory trouble is Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What do I say to my mom when her Alzheimer's causes her to forget the obvious?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Does Alzheimer's disease cause my mother's rummaging behavior?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How do I know if my mom has Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How do I deal with my mom, who has Alzheimer's, refusing care and assistance?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - Do Alzheimer's patients typically take depression medication?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What is the best way to remove a dog from a parent with Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What's the best way to handle criticism about the Alzheimer's care I'm giving my mom?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - What if my dad's doctor doesn't think it's Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How do I make sure my father with Alzheimer's remembers to take his medicines?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - How should I tell my mom's friends that she has Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - When a person with Alzheimer's repeatedly makes mistakes, is it OK to correct her?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Should my mom's house remain unchanged even though she has memory problems?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I keep my father, who has dementia, from losing things?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - How can I get my brother to help with Alzheimer's care?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

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

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I help my dad, who has Alzheimer's, communicate?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Can Alzheimer's affect how someone feels about the outdoors?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Should I continue to encourage my mom to be social, even as her Alzheimer's worsens?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What is the difference between Alzheimer's and dementia?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - What should I do when my parent with Alzheimer's doesn't recognize members of the family?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Should I get a personal emergency response system (PERS) for my mom, who has early-stage Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Do we tell my grandmother, who is suffering from Alzheimers, about a death in the family?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Can Alzheimer's lead to dehydration?

  Dehydration can be a dangerous side effect of Alzheimer's. Many with Alzheimer's forget to drink. In addition, some medications are dehydrating.

• Question - Can vitamin supplements and herbals slow memory loss due to Alzheimer's disease?

  Alzheimer's memory loss may be slowed by vitamins. Supplements can't improve memory, but they might be able to slow memory loss down slightly.

• Question - Is it normal for someone who has Alzheimer's to make a mess while urinating?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Who is doing the most promising research for an Alzheimer's cure?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I help my mother-in-law with Alzheimer's to stop refusing to take her medicine?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I convince my father to go to an Alzheimer's adult day care?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Alzheimer's and crying

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What is the life expectancy of someone with Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Where can I find a support group for caregivers of people with non-Alzheimer's dementia?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What can I do about the fact that my sibling is in denial about Alzheimer's?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How can I make a hospital stay easier for my mother with dementia?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Should I interfere in my mother's social life if she has Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How do we get my mother-in-law, who has Alzheimer's, to allow us to clean her house or bathe her?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - My mom, who cares for my dad with Alzheimer's, has developed a gambling problem. How can I help?

  My father has Alzheimer's and my mother is his primary caregiver. She has developed a serious gambling problem. How can I help?

• Question - Could my mother have Alzheimer's, rather than dementia?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How do we explain to my mom, who has Alzheimer's, that she cannot bring all of her household items when moving in with my brother?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Can you transfer power of attorney in late-stage Alzheimer's?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Enter your question here…Is there some reason your site...

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Does my angry father have Alzheimer's or dementia

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Is diabetes affecting my mom's brain?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - If visiting with and talking to extended family members unsettles my father, who has Alzheimer's, should we continue while still remembers them or stop?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What is the difference between dementia and Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How do we deal with two conflicting opinions about an Alzheimer's diagnosis?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - What should I do if my parent resists bathing?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What rights do I have as a healthcare agent?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What's the best way to respond when my parent with memory problems keeps repeating himself?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Could my mother's sleeping pills be causing her sundown syndrome?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Am I responsible for my parent's debt?

  Am I responsible for my parent's debt? I recently discovered that my father has several thousand of dollars of debt. Are parent debts transferable?

• Question - Why does my mother talk about health issues -- in excruciating detail?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I encourage my listless mom to bathe?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What is my mother's legal obligation to pay donation pledges she has given over the phone?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Do we need to protect my parent's home/assets?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Does the Department of Veterans Affairs seek reimbursement for a veteran’s nursing home care?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What can I say when my parent with cancer falls into self-pity?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - do alzheimers patients sometimes scream for absolutely...

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How can I deal with changing eating habits?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How do I get my father to bath when he refuses to do anything but just wash off?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - With how emotional my mom can get and how quickly she also...

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• Question - Who is responsible for paying for my mother's care?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Can diabetes cause depression and forgetfulness?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How do I balance my time with the time I need to give to caring for my mother with Alzheimer's?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Is it possible to buy a house despite credit card debt?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Where can I get free help with legal questions?

  There are several places to look for free legal help because of poor treatment at a VA hospital.

• Question - Does Medicare cover adult day care for Alzheimer’s...

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Two months after my father-in-law's passing, my mother-in-law with dementia no longer recognizes my wife. What could have triggered this?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Are guardians required by law for mentally incompetent elders?

  There has to be some pretty good evidence of neglect or mismanagement before a court will require a legal guardian or conservator.

• Question - Will Medicare pay for an assisted living facility?

  Medicare doesn't cover assisted living. In a few states, Medicaid covers some assisted living places for seniors with very low income and few assets.

• Question - Answer to getting my able-bodied mom to bathe?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Can my half-brother keep me from seeing my mother, who is in a nursing home?

  Make sure you've tried to get to the bottom of a family member's attempts to block you from seeing your ailing mother. Then, you may need to take matters in your own hands.

• Question - my husband doesnt understand severe fibromyalgia and how my...

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - My dad eats lots of sweets and doesn't like to drink water--could he have diabetes?

  Find out if a sweet tooth or a lack of thirst are symptoms for type 2 diabetes.

• Question - Will chemo take away quality of life for my mother, who has Alzheimer's?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - My 88 year old father is uncharacteristically making accussions of my mother. What could be wrong?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - What can I do to bring some pleasure to my mom who has Alzheimer's?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - What's the difference between a guardianship and a conservatorship?

  What's the difference between a guardianship and a conservatorship? I want to know because my elderly parent refuses to sign a power of attorney.

• Question - How to resolve conflict over when to place mother in assistive-care?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I keep my mother's hair clean when she resists shampooing?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Which medicines cause memory loss?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Does the Department of Veterans Affairs seek reimbursement for a veteran’s nursing home care?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Does the VA/State have the right to take over my parent's assets?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Should I get a reverse mortgage or a bank loan for my elderly folks?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How do we deal with my daugther's and grandchildren's safety due to her brain tumor?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - With a spouse in a nursing home paid by Medicaid, how much can the other spouse keep?

  If Medicaid pays one spouse's nursing home costs, the spouse who lives at home may keep some income and assets. The amounts vary state to state

• Question - Does the Veterans Administration have any claim on my parent’s estate?

  Does the VA or our state have any claim on my parent’s estate?

• Question - What is considered normal memory loss?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Can my father's house be taken from him to help pay for long term insurance care?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How do I get my husband signed up for Medicare Part D?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - What kind of financial aid programs are available to full-time caregivers?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

Tips & Reflections

• Tip - Don't Be Afraid to "Be Nosy" About a Parent's Dementia

  Wondering if your parent really has Alzheimer's...

• Tip - Mirrors Can Be Friend or Foe to Someone With Alzheimer's

  As your parent's Alzheimer's disease progresses, keep...

• Tip - leave notes when you go out

  If you leave you, or your parent's spouse, leaves the...

• Tip - Baby Soaps and No-Rinse Soaps Make Bathing Easier

  If your parent resists bathing, consider using baby...

• Tip - Use a Written Record to Assess Your Parent's Dementia

  If you suspect your parent has Alzheimer's, start an...

• Tip - Easier Dressing for Someone With Alzheimer's

  Tiny buttons, zippers, snaps, and hook-and-eye closures...

• Tip - Make Floors Less Confusing to the Alzheimer's Brain

  Take a closer look at your parent's floors if she has...

• Tip - Limit Clothing Choices for a Parent With Dementia

  Does your parent's Alzheimer's cause her to sometimes...

• Tip - Favorite Music Is Soothing to Parents With Alzheimer's

  When you visit a parent with Alzheimer's, play the...

• Tip - Keep the Focus on Food to Encourage Better Eating

  Serve meals to a parent who has Alzheimer's at a table...

• Tip - Eliminate Shadows to Avoid Confusion

  Replace lightbulbs in rooms that your parent with Alzheimer...

• Tip - Where to Look for Missing Household Items

  If your parent has a tendency to lose things, get in...

• Tip - Communicating With a Parent Who Has Alzheimer's

  Can't figure out what your parent with Alzheimer's...

• Tip - When TV Commotion Frustrates an Alzheimer's Patient

  If you notice your parent losing interest in TV shows...

• Tip - A Word You Should Forget in Alzheimer's Conversations

  Consider losing the word why from your vocabulary. Why...

• Tip - A Dark Bath Mat Makes Tub Less Scary for Some Alzheimer's Patients

  Some people with Alzheimer's or dementia have trouble...

• Tip - Add Color to Bathwater for Alzheimer's Patients

  Keep your parent safer in the bath by adding a color...

• Tip - Light a Path to the Bath at Night

  If your parent's Alzheimer's makes it hard for her...

• Tip - Art Projects Help With Alzheimer's

  Coloring is a relaxing activity for a parent with early...

• Tip - How to Get the Answer You'd Prefer

  Offering a choice to someone with Alzheimer's boosts...

• Tip - Find an E-mail-Savvy Doctor

  Ask the doctors caring for your parent with Alzheimer...

• Tip - The 7-Second Alzheimer's Hug

  As language skills start to fade in mid-Alzheimer's...

• Tip - Help Your Parent With Alzheimer's Disease Avoid Loss or Theft

  Take a minute to manage the wallet of your parent with...

Links

• External Link - U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Aging

  This federal institute is a leader in aging research. The link contains news releases on the latest Alzheimer’s disease findings, and provides information on clinical trials and research centers nationwide.

• External Link - Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation

  This research organization funds scientists both nationally and abroad with the goals of understanding the causes, finding a cure, and improving care. The link has information on various areas of study including prevention, risk factors, and treatment.