Hi everyone and welcome to this month’s ‘All About Alzheimer’s’ Carnival. We have some great posts for you to check out.

Doug Green over at My-Caboodle has written about Two Things I’m Learning about Alzheimer’s.

Chris Christensen from Inside Chris’s Head looks at why Education Does Not Prevent Alzheimer’s. In fact, Chris tells us that “Unlike previous studies a new study seems to indicate that education may just delay the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.”

Shaheen Lakhan from GNIF Brain Blogger gives us information on Games to Prevent Alzheimer’s as well as telling us how Silent Strokes Contribute to Rapid Alzheimer’s Progression.

Jenn from …read more

So often you are rushed and stressed this time of year as you finish  shopping, attend school holiday programs, do extra baking, possibly deal with stormy weather and exercise patience with the Alzheimer’s patient under your care.
While you’re scurrying about, remember the importance of a smile.
1. Smiling makes you feel better.  Yes, admit it…even if you don’t want to!
2.  A smile comes through in your voice.
3. A smile and “smiling” voice helps improve the mood of those around you.
4.  Smiles erupt into laughter and humor.
5. Alzheimer’s patients enjoy smiles and laughter, too.  “We don’t laugh enough,” my mom once remarked, when hubby …read more

  The holidays, although enjoyable and a time of the year we look forward to, can place stress on the caregiver, family, and Alzheimer’s patient.  Suzanne Forte, at the Greater Indiana Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, gives us some tips in her article, The Holidays and Alzheimer’s Disease, at KPCNews.com.
She discusses topics such as:
*Adjust your expectations
*Involve the person with Alzheimer’s
*Gift ideas
*Take care of yourself
What tips do you have to share to make the holidays less stressful?

Responses to my article, Tips for Handling Holiday Stress, made me realize I should do a series on this topic over the next few weeks.  This is a time when caregivers have extra tasks, at home and at work, with their families.  Added to this is the strain of caring for an Alzheimer’s patient or overseeing visits at a nursing home.
Then there are the “used to be’s.”  These are the memories of how Mother, Father, spouse, or other family member used to be during the holiday season.  Those are memories we don’t want to forget, but they become bittersweet when …read more

 A friend mentioned that Thanksgiving is less than three weeks away!  Then there will be the Christmas holidays.  As these busy times approach, caregiving often becomes more stressful. In browsing around today, I discovered Holiday Tips for Persons [and their caregivers] With Dementia. 
Also mentioned here are suggestions for preparing family members who haven’t seen the Alzheimer’s patient for some time.
Sit down and have a cup of tea…that often was a pleasure I enjoyed with Mother.  It relaxed both of us and brought back memories.                                            Do you have tips you can share that have worked  to decrease stress for you, …read more

Once your family member has begun living in a nursing home, should you take them home for the holidays?  This becomes a difficult question and has to be answered on a person to person basis. 
You can’t automatically say, “We must bring Mother (Father, Uncle Harry, Aunt Susie, etc.) home for Thanksgiving dinner.”  Also, you’re not being a terrible daughter, son, or spouse if you don’t.
Once Mother began living at the nursing home, I didn’t bring her home.  We joined her there for the holidays.  The nursing home provided special meals, parties, and festive celebrations for families.  My husband and I visited …read more