Family Matters

Last updated: 28-Oct-2008

Alzheimer's or other dementias can send endless shockwaves through families. Everyone has a unique relationship with the sick person. Be prepared for old issues that might resurface even as new ones develop. Amid stress or fears, siblings may disagree about choices, while their own children struggle to understand what's happening. It’s also important to keep long-distance caregivers connected and involved.

How to Avoid Strained Sibling Relationships When a Parent Has Alzheimer's

Siblings have a "strength in numbers" advantage over only children when a parent develops Alzheimer's -- but for every additional family member in the mix of caregivers, there's also an increased chance of communication snafus and discord in decision-making...

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

An often-overlooked reality of Alzheimer's is that your parent's memories and knowledge of family history will eventually disappear along with her personality. Fortunately this doesn't happen instantly. Early in the disease process, even when short-term memory loss is obvious, long-term memories tend to persist...

Special Occasions and Challenges When Caring for Someone With Alzheimer's

An important part of caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease is to help her to continue to engage in activities that have special personal or family meaning (this is not a big problem in the early stages.) With suitable support, she will be able to enjoy taking trips, participating in events that...

How to Tell Your Kids About Your Parent's Alzheimer's Disease

Your parent's Alzheimer's disease affects not only you; it has an impact on your children, too. The time Grandma blanked on your son's name? Those overheard long, worried phone conversations with your siblings about Grandpa?

Is there a program that will pay me to care for my dad if I quit my job?

My dad has Alzheimer's and needs someone there 24/7 to care for and watch him. My mom is getting tired of doing it during the day while I am at work. Is there a program that will pay me for caring for my dad if I quit my job?

1 Expert Answer

Day Services Really Help People With Dementia -- and Their Caregivers

For people with Alzheimer's and other dementias, there's more evidence of the benefit of day services in an online preview of an article to appear in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. Researchers compared 30 patients who used respite care with 30 people of the same age and cognitive ability who had only...