AlzheimersNotes.com 
 According to the article, Caregiving is a 6-Letter Word: STRESS, at SoftDental.com, caregiver stress can cause dental problems, especially gingivitis…that severe redness and swelling around the gums.
In this article we learn about the many ways stress can affect the caregiver’s health, as well as realize that “stress is an enemy of your teeth.”
We know that stress can wreak havoc with our bodies causing illnesses and even death. Until recently, none of the research had focused on dental conditions. Now there is evidence that teeth are victims of stress.
Taking care of oneself is important if you’re to care for your family member …read more

   We so often hear about the various stages of Alzheimer’s from very mild to an inability to do anything for themselves nor know anyone except in fleeting moments.  However, there are stages for cregivers, too, as they realize that caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s can be overwhelming and can lead to burnout.
Elizabeth at GenBetween gives us insight into the Stages of Caregiving and Caregiver Burnout.  From the Florida Area Agency on Aging Pasco and Pinellas Counties information, Elizabeth learned about four stages:
Stage One: Getting Started
Stage Two: Finding Help
Stage Three: Heavy Care
Stage Four:  Letting Go
If you’re having a …read more

Taking care of the caregivers, or caregivers taking time for themselves, becomes extremely important during the holiday season.  The task of caregiving often involved more than anyone ever imagined, as related in the AARP magazine article, Caring for the Caregiver, by Sheree Crute.
A cascade of studies in recent years has shown that caregivers stand at particular risk for a host of mental and physical illnesses, many of which have roots in stress, exhaustion, and self-neglect—symptoms some medical professionals have begun calling caregiver syndrome.
Ms. Crute’s article relates caregiver stories, how some found help, what others can do, and the statistics about …read more

“Exercise!” you exclaim.  “How do I find time for that.”
After reading Kendra’s post, The Winter Season Affects Blood Pressure, at A Hearty Life, you may want to take a look at your exercise routine (or lack of) and your diet during the colder months.  (Even if you’re in the southern hemisphere this time of year, you may want to consider what she has to say.)
She mentions that studies have found people often have higher blood pressure, as well as higher incidence of heart attacks and strokes, in winter when they may be exercising less and eating more. 
Also keep an eye on your …read more

  Since various colors may have an effect on our mood and the way we look, isn’t it logical to use color with Alzheimer’s patients that will make them and us, the caregivers, feel better?  Consider for awhile….what colors do you like?  What colors soothe you?  Which might cause you to feel discouraged?  Are there colors that boost your spirits?
What were the favorite colors of your Alzheimer’s family member or patient? Even though they might not be aware of the colors, perhaps in some way the favorite ones still will help create a more pleasing atmosphere around them and have an effect …read more

                     
  “Does Mother have Alzheimer’s or do I?” was a refrain that frequently ran through my mind when I’d encounter a difficult day with Mother.  Or it simply might be the culmination of a day filled with multiple activities, including those of caring for Mother, plus lack of sleep.
Have you ever doubted your sanity, when the stress of caregiving, plus the other tasks of involving work, family, and homemaking filled the day?  Here are a few idea that might help you keep your sanity. 
1.  Look for the humor in the situation.  There is more than you realize if you …read more

Do Alzheimer’s Patients Experience Eating Disorders? 
Alzheimer’s patients eventually stop eating and lose weight, generally not of their own determination, but because they lose the ability to feed themselves, swallow, or understand what food is.  However, I discovered that my mom and aunt developed a more than a normal liking for sweets and would have eaten a great many of these if not controlled.
Caregivers May Suffer From Eating Disorders, too.
However, caregivers may be too busy and stressed to eat…or find themselves eating the wrong foods when caring for a family member.  They also may not take the time to prepare a nutritious meal. …read more

It’s all well and good to advise caregivers to take time for themselves as they look after a parent, spouse, or another relative who has Alzheimer’s.  But, as Kristi Gott says, “Who Has the Time or Money?”
Kristi gives some excellent tips for taking care of yourself and seeking solutions.  She relates some of the activities she’s involved in.  Caregiver burnout has become a big problem with more elders requiring care.  The need for more information, classes, and resources for caregivers finally is being recognized.
Every caregiver and patient, every situation is different and resources vary.  So the solutions I found when caring for …read more

Being a caregiver for an Alzheimer’s patient, whether you’re a family member or staff member at a nursing home, can be a stressful job at times.  How can we decrease our stress levels, or at least keep them from rising?
Recent research by the University College London and Unilever indicates that drinking four cups of black tea a day may reduce blood levels of the stress hormone cortisol.  Apparently this is the first research using a “black tea” group and a “placebo” group. 
For years, drinking tea has been associated with having a calming effect, but this research indicates it’s more than …read more