Being a health advocate for parents with Alzheimers brings unique challenges. If you follow this blog, you know our family story is one of congestive heart failure and not dementia. But the sheer number of caregivers I meet dealing with parents that have dementia is staggering. Over 5 Million Americans are living with Alzheimers and this number climbs if you include all forms … [Read more...]
Caregivers Don’t Go It Alone. Practical Tips On Asking For Help.
Say YES to everyone! My parents generation does not ask for help or share personal information easily. When I heard my mother tell someone on the phone there was nothing they could do to help while dad was in the hospital, I knew something had to change. (Jump to Lessons Learned) Dad's first hospital stay quickly proved that I could not do it alone. I was at the hospital by … [Read more...]
Medicare Will Help Pay for a Wheelchair
But will it fit in my car? I could not have imagined what a game changer an SUV and a transport wheelchair would be for my mother’s care. (Jump to Lessons Learned) In October of 2014 my sedan was two years old. I did not intend to change cars, but my father’s van had been in and out of the shop with alarming frequency and I knew the sedan was too low to the ground for my … [Read more...]
4 Tips Before You Become a Caregiver
“Where do I Start?” For months that panicked question was the refrain in my head as I tried to fall asleep. It is the question I asked myself over and over again as it became clear that my father was dying, that I was about to become responsible for my disabled mother, and this responsibility would include among other things: her safety, finances and home. Being prepared is … [Read more...]