Friendships can and should be preserved and encouraged for people with Alzheimer’s. By Winnie Yu When Carol Bradley Bursack’s father developed dementia, friends and former colleagues slowly stopped visiting. The loss of the friendships saddened her father, a former supervisor in the local sanitation department, who had been popular and well liked by his staff.

By Terri Poindexter Smith Running (or Walking), Swimming and Cycling Aerobic exercises like running, jogging, brisk walking, swimming or cycling—all great for the body and the heart—are also great for the brain. And, there’s no better time than the present to get outside and give your brain a boost with these types of exercises. While

Balance exercises can help those with dementia reduce their likelihood of falls, maintain their independence longer and improve their quality of life. By Jennifer Sellers Whether the person you’re caring for is someone who can still engage in many of the activities of daily living or someone who needs regular assistance, improved balance has multiple

By Jennifer Sellers Artistic expression can lead to enriching experiences for people with dementia. Imagine a woman with reduced language skills being able to read poems before a group of her peers, or a former artist using a paintbrush again after years of refusing to pick it up. These are examples of the types of engagement

By Jennifer Sellers Caregiving for a loved one with dementia is challenging. Identifying and dealing with common frustrations can help make it easier. There’s no shortage of content online and on TV about tough jobs and how they rank. With a few clicks of the mouse or remote, you can learn all about the varied

A pet trust ensures funds and day-to-day care for pets By Kevin Gault Edited by Bernard A. Krooks, JD, CPA, LL.M, CELA For many people, pets are far more than just animals—they’re beloved members of the family. In the unfortunate event that a senior pet owner becomes incapacitated or passes away, setting up a pet

Tips for traveling with someone with dementia so you can stress less. By Margie Monin Dombrowski When you’re caring for someone with dementia, you want to anticipate and plan for every possible scenario, whether good or bad. You not only feel responsible for their day-to-day and overall well-being, but you can also feel overprotective—and rightly

Do’s and Don’ts for Conversing with a Dementia Patient By Mary Adam Thomas It’s not always easy to talk with someone dealing with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Whether the person is a parent, spouse, friend or casual acquaintance, you may not know exactly how to go about communicating. The fact that cognitive