Understanding What They're Facing
Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders medical review team Frontotemporal dementia attacks the parts of the brain that control personality, judgment, and social behavior before it touches memory. Your parent may still remember your name and find their way around the house while becoming someone you do not
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. 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 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
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. 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
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. 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,
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. Rachel Simmons, LCSW, Caregiver Support and Family Systems A caregiving plan that has you doing everything is not a plan. It is a countdown to burnout. A real plan identifies the non-negotiable tasks, distributes them across family, paid help, and community resources, and protects your own