Welcome to the June newsletter!
6 Things to Try Before Using Antipsychotic Medications for Dementia Behaviors
When seniors with dementia have challenging behaviors like anxiety, aggression, agitation, or others, it’s exhausting and frustrating.
When you’re at the end of your rope, you might think that behavioral medication (usually antipsychotics) could solve the problem. This is a common misconception and unfortunately, it’s often not true.
6 Myths About Elder Abuse
What do you think of when you hear the term elder abuse? Maybe you get an image of an older woman developing bedsores from neglect in a nursing home. Or a phone scammer taking advantage of a man with dementia. Maybe you assume the people who harm older adults are caregivers who’ve been stressed to the breaking point.
While all of those scenarios can and do occur, they don’t represent the complex range and severity of abuse that older adults suffer nationwide.
3 Ways to Respond When Someone with Alzheimer’s Says I Want to Go Home
Hearing seniors say “I want to go home” over and over again is something Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers often deal with. It’s especially frustrating to hear when they’re already home.
The big question is how to respond in a way that calms them down and helps them let go of the idea.
First, it helps to understand why they’re saying this and what they really mean. Next, do your best to not take it personally so you can stay calm too.