Confusion

Blog Posts

• Blog Post - With Alzheimer's, Wandering Is a Merry Name for a Scary Problem

  Innovations in dealing with wandering, which affects 6 in 10 people with Alzheimer's.

• Blog Post - Is It Time For Your Parents To Give Up The Car Keys?

  Tips for how to know when it's time for your elderly parent to stop driving -- and what to do about it.

• Blog Post - Cell Phones That Won't Scare Mom

  Check out Jitterbug: a simplified cell phone with features designed just for seniors.

• 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 - Diabetes Studies: Good News? Bad News? Who Knows?

  How to make sense of drug study findings for people caring for parents with type 2 diabetes.

• Blog Post - The Plot Thickens: Another Clue in the Alzheimer's-Diabetes Mystery

  New research may help explain the connection between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. Plus tips if you suspect your parent with type 2 diabetes has Alzheimer's disease.

• 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 - Macular Degeneration: All Eyes Are on Hormone Therapy

  New research shows that taking hormones cuts a woman's risk of macular degeneration in half. But hormone therapy raises the risk for other health conditions.

• Blog Post - My mother, who suffers from dementia and alcoholism, wants my sister and me to be her caregivers, so she keeps sending away the one we've hired.

  My sister and I hired a caregiver to come into our...

• Blog Post - Dr. Death Wants Your Vote

  By throwing his hat into the political ring, Jack Kevorkian has stirred renewed debate about doctor-assisted suicide.

Questions & Answers

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• 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 Caring.com Expert

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

  If a parent with early Alzheimer's or dementia has both good and bad days, it can mean that some situations are more confusing or stressful.

• Question - How can I encourage my father to use his left side after his stroke?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

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

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Can all children see their parents' living trust?

  People who make living trusts are free to keep their contents secret. But there may be ways you can air out hurt feelings over that.

• Question - How do we help my father, with Lewy Body Dementia, find the bathroom at night?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is a conservatorship formed in Arizona valid in Utah?

  Some states provide excellent free help and advice on guardianships and conservatorships -- perhaps taking pity on those who invest time, money, and angst in the process of securing them.

• 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 Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can sundown syndrome and dementia make my mother-in-law see people?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - What are my responsibilities if I hire a home health aide?

  What are my responsibilities when hiring a home health aide? I'm confused about payroll taxes, Social Security taxes and other benefits.

• Question - Does it matter when my dad takes his diabetes pills?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• 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 a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

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

  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 - Why would my brother-in-law take chemotherapy pills for a skin rash?

  Are skin rashes ever treated with chemotherapy pills? Or are skin rashes a side effect of chemo pills instead?

• Question - Does an advanced directive for health care agents supersede a durable power of attorney for medical decisions, if you have both?

  When an advance directive and durable power of attorney conflict, the most recent document generally controls.

• Question - I don't think my 78-year-old mother has dementia, so why does she get sundown syndrome?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• 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 - What does the term "new trust since PPA" refer to?

  The translation is easy: PPA means "Pension Protection Act." But understanding that law is far from simple.

• Question - Which forms do insurance companies and Medicare require in order for me to become a Patient Advocate for my elderly father?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Why does my father keep refusing to take his medicine, and how can I get him to take it?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is there a resource to find a nurse who will travel to rural areas?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How often do I need to shampoo my dad's hair?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What do I need to know before I sign a nursing home contract?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - When does a power of attorney take effect?

  Read the fine print to determine the specific powers granted in a power of attorney -- and make sure they're not overbroad.

Tips & Reflections

• Tip - Accept Help

  When family or friends offer help in caring for your...

News

• News - Eye Surgery Errors Rare But Serious

  TUESDAY, Nov. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Errors are rare...

• News - Temporary Amnesia, Confusion Raise Stroke, Dementia Risk

  WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Brief bouts...