Memory Loss Support for Loved Ones
Helpful Articles
Validation Therapy and Dementia
Validation is a good feeling. Most of us try to surround ourselves with people who, through their words and actions, make us feel understood and sup-ported. The need to feel validated doesn’t disappear when someone develops Alzheimer’s disease or other types of...
The Lasting Power of Feelings
The Hippocampus is the part of the brain responsible for factual short term memory. This is the part that is often first affected by dementia. The Amygdala holds your emotional memory and is often not affected by dementia at all. This means that even if someone can’t...
A Season of Change
Change is an intrinsic part of life. All of us face those challenges at one time or another. Here are a few ideas to help you steer through the seasons of change. 1. Whether it’s fear, anxiety or excitement, be sure to recognize and accept your feelings. 2. Reach out...
Things to Remember When Someone You Love Has Dementia
Be educated about the disease. Learning as much as you can about the progression of dementia can help you empathize with and understand your loved one. Be realistic in your expectations for yourself and your loved one. Don’t set yourself up for failure by setting...
How Sleep Affects Memory
We’re all familiar with that sluggish feeling after a bad night’s sleep. Now researchers believe sleep disturbances spark changes in the brain that may lead to dementia, according to a new study. The key to this connection is low oxygen in the blood during sleep. The...
Good Cholesterol and Alzheimer’s Disease
In April 2022, new research published in the Alzheimer’s Association journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia revealed that increasing HDL or ‘good cholesterol’ levels can help lower the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. The research linked small HDL particles in the brain to...
When a Loved One with Alzheimer’s Doesn’t Recognize You
In early-stage dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, intermittent symptoms of mild cognitive decline—such as word searching, forgetfulness, and trouble concentrating and problem-solving—are visible. As the disease advances, lapses in people’s memories become even more...
Music and Memory
We all need to feel engaged and entertained to stay active both physically and mentally. Just because someone has Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia doesn’t mean that need disappears. People in nursing homes and other care organizations can find renewed...
Expressing Gratitude
“Gratitude is good medicine, “ says Robert Emmons, Ph.D., author of The Little Book of Gratitude. “Clinical trials indicate that the practice of gratitude can have dramatic and lasting positive effects in a person’s life. It can lower blood pressure and improve immune...
Strategies for Connecting
Have you ever noticed that the abilities of a person living with dementia can change greatly over short periods of time? It can be extremely challenging to know what exactly to expect on a day-to-day basis. First, slowing down your initial approach can be very...