Understanding What They're Facing
Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders Team No dementia medication reverses cognitive loss. What exists are drugs that may slow the rate of decline by months, not years, and medications that can manage behavioral symptoms like agitation. The decision to medicate involves weighing modest benefits against real side
Understanding What They're Facing
Reviewed by Dr. Elena Torres, M.D. Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia, responsible for roughly 15 to 20 percent of all cases according to the Alzheimer's Association. Unlike Alzheimer's, it is caused by strokes cutting off blood supply to the brain.
Understanding What They're Facing
Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders Team Lewy body dementia is the third most common cause of dementia, affecting an estimated 1.4 million Americans according to the Lewy Body Dementia Association. It brings hallucinations, movement problems, and cognitive decline simultaneously, and carries a dangerous medication trap that
Understanding What They're Facing
Reviewed by Dr. Elena Torres, M.D. About 6.9 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association. The disease moves through recognizable stages, each one changing daily life in specific ways. Understanding what each stage actually looks
Understanding What They're Facing
Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders medical review team Alzheimer's disease is a biological process of protein accumulation in the brain that progressively destroys neurons, causing memory loss, cognitive decline, and eventual loss of basic functions. It is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for
The Wake-Up Call
Reviewed by Dr. Linda Torres, Certified Geriatric Care Manager A care journal is a simple written record of your parent's symptoms, medications, appointments, and daily changes. It turns scattered observations into concrete evidence that doctors trust, families can share, and you can reference when memory fails. Start one
Understanding What They're Facing
Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders medical review team Dementia is not a disease. It is a term that describes a set of symptoms: progressive decline in memory, thinking, and the ability to function in daily life. The actual disease causing those symptoms could be Alzheimer's,
The Wake-Up Call
Reviewed by Dr. Karen Ellison, Board-Certified Neurologist and Geriatric Specialist When something is clearly wrong with your parent but nobody can agree on what it is, you are living in the hardest part of the caregiving experience. The uncertainty is not your fault, not your doctor's failure, and
The Wake-Up Call
Reviewed by Dr. William Reeves, MD, FACP, Internal Medicine Getting a second opinion about a serious diagnosis or treatment plan is standard medical practice, not an insult to the first doctor. A competent doctor will support it. Frame it to your parent as being thorough, not doubtful. According to a
The Wake-Up Call
Reviewed by Dr. Rachel Kaplan, Licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in Caregiver Mental Health The first month after your parent's health changes will bring exhaustion, fear, guilt, grief, and probably shame. Every single person in this situation feels some version of this. You are not failing. You are not
The Wake-Up Call
Reviewed by Dr. Patricia Nguyen, MSW, Aging Services Administration There is a free, federally funded agency in every county in the United States whose entire job is to help families like yours find elder care resources. It's called an Area Agency on Aging. Call the Eldercare Locator at
The Wake-Up Call
Reviewed by Dr. Amy Goldstein, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified in Geriatric Care Your siblings will not react the way you expect. Some will deny it, some will panic, some will get angry, and some won't respond at all. None of these reactions are yours to fix. Your