Introduction

Caregiving takes many forms. Many of us help older, sick, or disabled family members and friends every day. We know we are helping, but we don't think of ourselves as caregivers. We are glad to do this and feel rewarded by it, but if the demands are heavy, over time we can also become exhausted and stressed. We think we should be able to handle caregiving roles on top of busy work and family schedules and begin to feel guilty and depressed as our stamina wanes.

Introduction

Caregiving for a loved one can cause stress in many ways. To manage the stress—which we know can be dangerous to a caregiver’s health—we must first know what the problem is. Surprisingly, many caregivers of individuals with memory disorders or dementia report that the main problem is not the illness itself, but the ambiguity and uncertainty it causes.

Introduction

Moving is a high-stress life event, the experts tell us, and they're right. Whether it's cross-town or cross-country, whether to a small apartment or a large suburban home, tackling the organizing, packing, discarding, cleaning, paperwork and the myriad other tasks is a major challenge.

When you're older and moving from the family home to a new smaller residence, possibly in a new community or your adult child's home, sorting through decades of family history and possessions can feel overwhelming—even paralyzing.

How to Compensate a Family Member for Providing Care

Introduction

Many families reach a point when they recognize that an ill or older relative needs help. There are usually warning signs: difficulty with daily activities; memory problems; trouble with banking and finances; multiple falls; problems with driving; forgetting medications. Sometimes an elderly or ill loved one needs more than occasional assistance — they need full-time care.

Definición

La demencia con cuerpos de Lewy (DCL) es una enfermedad o síndrome degenerativo y progresivo del cerebro. Comparte algunos síntomas con otras varias enfermedades y a veces se superpone con éstas  sobre todo con dos enfermedades comunes entre los ancianos: el Alzheimer y el Parkinson.

Definición

El síndrome de Wernicke-Korsakoff (SWK) es una enfermedad neurológica. La encefalopatía de Wernicke y la psicosis de Korsakoff son, respectivamente, la fase aguda y la fase crónica de esta misma enfermedad.