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  • Alzheimer's and Dementia
    Alzheimer's and Dementia

    Dementia is a broad term for a range of conditions that involve loss of mental ability causes problems with memory, language, behaviour and emotions. Around five percent of people over the age of 65 are affected to some extent. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer's, accounting for about two thirds of cases. This community address the challenges of managing this condition early on. There may be some overlap with the Caregiver community since some of our caregiver articles and stories also relate to caregivers of persons with dementia

  • The Hardest Part is Putting in Your Best Effort Without Expecting Improvement
    Shibani Ganguly, 50 is the sole caregiver for her mother, who has Alzheimer’s as a condition. She shares her experiences of a caregiver and how she has learnt the ropes on the job. When was he/she diagnosed and what were the early symptoms? In the year 2008 when she was 70. The early symptoms were forgetfulness, repetitive talking and temper tantrums. Is there a history of Alzheimer’s in the family? No, at least it has not been diagnosed. What is the present condition? She is rapidly losing her…
  • ‘Caring for my wife is my only job’
    Dr (Prof) Nandi, 83 is a full time caregiver for his wife, Dr Gita Nandi, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He shares his experience of a caregiver in this personal account. My wife is a doctor herself and she has been suffering from Alzheimer’s for the last six and a half years. The first symptoms were that she started having breathing trouble. I admitted her to the Railway Hospital. She used to be a senior doctor with the Railways and we also used to live in the Railway quarters in…
  • Tips on Staying Active & Complementary Therapies for people with Dementia
    There are a lot of things you can do especially in the early to middle stages to manage and delay the progression of dementia. Read on to find out more: Staying Active Finding activities that the person with AD can do and is interested in can be a challenge. Building on current skills generally works better than trying to teach something new.  Don't expect too much. Simple activities are best, especially when they use current abilities. Help the person get started on an activity. Break…
  • Caregiver Tips on Bathing, Dressing and Eating for a person with Dementia
    Sometimes the Daily activties like Bathing, Dressing and Eating can be a huge challenge for caregivers looking after a person with dementia. Here are a few useful tips. Let us know which one you find helpful. Tips for Bathing For some people bath time can be a frightening, confusing experience.  Plan the bath or shower for the time of day when the person is most calm and agreeable. Be consistent. Try to develop a routine. Tell the person what you are going to do, step by step, and allow…
  • Dos and Don'ts of communicating with a person with Dementia
    Communicating with a person with dementia can be quite a challenge. There are some tips that can definitely help get the attention of the person and not agitate them. Here are some Dos and Don'ts. DO's DON'Ts Approach from the front, make eye contact and introduce yourself if necessary Don’t wave hand while talking as person’s attention could be distracted Speak slowly, calmly and use a friendly facial expression Don’t talk too fast or shout. Shouting out could have negative effect…
  • Simple Tips for Caregivers of Persons with Dementia!
    Tips for Caregivers Dementia is a general term for decline in a person's mental ability that is severe enough to interfere with his/her daily life. It may involvememory loss, difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. Dementia is progressive, which means the symptoms will gradually get worse. Even though most cases of dementia come from irreversible causes, there is still much that families can do to help their loved ones continue to function as well as possible for as…
  • Never Too Old to Sing
    The Choir of the Loaves and Fish, a musical ensemble of senior citizens, started by Pervin Varma with Regina Thomas in Bengaluru has been immensely therapeutic for the elderly and has helped bring loads of warmth and sunshine into their lives. Picture above: Ammachy taking a bow with Pervin Varma Imagine a group of people – all senior citizens between 65 and 96 – people who have suffered strokes or are living with cancer, arthritis, heart disease, dementia, physical disabilities, people with…
  • How to cope when your Spouse has Dementia
    Amrita Patil Pimpale, Dementia Care Consultant, lists out 5 things you can do to help your spouse/partner who has been recently diagnosed with dementia. Most people with dementia undergo behavioral changes during the course of the disease. They gradually lose their mental faculties and become confused and vulnerable. They tend to forget things that have happened quite recently, but may seem to have clear memory of things that happened a long time ago. They will experience mood changes, can…
  • My Mother’s Hairdresser: Dementia friendly or not?
    A touching account of how a local hairdresser volunteered to help, when others refused, to give my mother, who lived with Young Onset Alzheimer's, a glam haircut and made her look uber cool in her final years.   They say it takes a village to raise a child. As caregivers, we realize that it takes an entire community to deal with Alzheimer’s. Extended family members, friends, neighbors, healthcare professionals, coworkers, employers, employees, service providers like household help,…
  • Profile picture of Daksha Bhat, a dementia information advocate in a green top
    5 Challenges of Dementia Care in Gujarat
    Dementia is difficult. Absence of diagnosis, counselling and support makes matters worse. Basic awareness and services can help decrease caregiver stress. Daksha Bhat of Varishta analyses the situation on dementia care in Gujarat. Dementia may start as a slow, creeping change that gradually makes its inroads into our lives. It can happen to anybody who is over 60. Beginning with a gradual decline in the capacity to recall important things, it gradually manifests as a slow deterioration in the…
May I please Dr Sridhar Vaitheswaran's email id? Would like to consult with him.   Regards, Bilwa
A study by National University of Singapore and Ng Teng Fong General Hospital found that older Singaporeans who lose their hearing are 2.3 times more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Hearing loss affects more than 60 per cent…
I have lost control on urine & stool also loss of memory
know any good specialists in this area in Indiana or within reasonable distance of ft Wayne, in?
in my mind alwats bad thinking comes to see foods, gods, etc. in my mind fear also comes. sleep is disturbe. dreams comes. i feel depression, anxity etc. hope less etc.
what are treatment of dementia for my mother aged 86.
Caregiver burnout is very common amongst caregivers of dementia and respite care options are limited. Caregivers are sometimes reluctant to ask for help. How can you create a team of family and friends to support you? What are the things you can ask…
My name is Souvnik Roy. I am looking for a caregiver for my father in Ahmedabad. He is 64 years old and was diagonized of Alzheimer's in 2012. 
Understanding persons with Alzheimer's or Dementia is a huge challenge and its draining looking after them. So if you have any questions, any comments we look forward to hearing from you. 

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