Dementia Caregiver Support Resources

It’s been busy out there. I’ve heard a lot about people blaming behavior on bladder infections. Well, sometimes, but all I see is that elders going to the emergency room for agitation often come out with a prescription for antibiotics. What??? So no, antibiotics do not cure agitation. There is the idea that any bladder issue is THE cause of the agitation, and that is dangerous…

In the modern age of digital technology, many may assume that the older generations cannot keep up and that they cannot adapt to new forms of communication. However, in general, this is simply untrue. This includes using telehealth. The benefits of telehealth for geriatric patients became more and more apparent throughout the pandemic. Geriatric patients can utilize this system to improve their access to care and reduce healthcare costs.

Sometimes it can be challenging to get a clinic appointment. It can be even more challenging for seniors to get the medical care needed for mobility or transportation problems. Telehealth for seniors is an excellent solution for seniors who generally have questions about their physical or mental health. Telehealth supports and augments a treatment plan set up by a patient’s primary care team. One thing many fail to comprehend is that telehealth isn’t doing anything fundamentally different with your care – you are just receiving the care in a different way!

Caring for someone with dementia is a stressful and exhausting situation – even more so if the person with dementia is a relative or loved one. It is a 24-hour, nonstop position of great responsibility. And when a dementia caregiver becomes exhausted, they can make some rash decisions. Therefore, the caregiver needs to maintain good physical and mental health for the patient and caretaker’s best interest.

We’ve all seen bent over little old ladies, spines almost folded in two, walking gingerly, slowly, down the street. But how does that happen?

It’s important to remember that bones are a bit like the Golden Gate Bridge: They must be constantly maintained. Your body—like the bridge paint and maintenance crews—is constantly trying to build up your bone, putting down calcium over the protein scaffolding of your skeleton. Meanwhile, bone is constantly being chewed up by the bumps and strains of living, in the same way that wind and water and salt constantly chip away at the famous bridge. It’s a constant process, the wearing away and the building up.