Fearful future

  • Posted by admin
  • On 1st July 2016
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  • #AlzheimersShow, #alzshow, activities, Admiral Nurses, alzheimer's, Alzheimer's research UK, Alzheimer's Society, break, caring, confusion, Daily Care, decline, dementia, Dementia UK, diagnosed, health, living with, memory loss, mum, patient, practical, recognise, relative, vascular dementia
Christina Macdonald reports on the decline of her mum and why the future can be a fearful place for those in the later stages of the dementia My mum’s dementia has entered a new phase. It happened almost overnight. One day she seemed chatty and friendly, the next a detached, zombie-like figure capable of only […]
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 5

Know that someone else understands

  • Posted by admin
  • On 16th June 2016
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  • #AlzheimersShow, #alzshow, activities, Admiral Nurses, alzheimer's, Alzheimer's research UK, Alzheimer's Society, break, calm, caring, confusion, Daily Care, dementia, Dementia UK, diagnosed, health, living with, memory loss, mum, relative, stress, sympathetic, together, vascular dementia
After speaking at The Alzheimer’s Show about being a carer, Online Editor Christina Macdonald reveals why it’s even more important than she realised to mix with other carers When you care for a loved one with dementia, you get good and bad days. Your perspective can change. On a good day, you’re glad to have […]
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Going somewhere? Plan, prepare and be patient

  • Posted by admin
  • On 27th May 2016
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  • #AlzheimersShow, #alzshow, activities, Admiral Nurses, Alzheimer's research UK, Alzheimer's Society, break, calm, caring, experience, health, help, holiday, living with, lunch, memory loss, mum, plan, practical, spouse, surroundings
Taking a person with dementia out for the day can seem like a nice idea, but if it’s a break from their normal routine it can be stressful for them. Christina Macdonald reveals how she handled day trips and appointments When you care for a person with dementia, you develop strategies for coping with everyday […]
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Stop thinking, start doing

  • Posted by admin
  • On 29th April 2016
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  • #AlzheimersShow, #alzshow, activities, Admiral Nurses, alzheimer's, Alzheimer's research UK, Alzheimer's Society, break, calm, care, care staff, carer, confusion, Daily Care, dementia, Dementia UK, diagnosed, distressed, emotions, health, help, living with, memory loss, mum, practical, surroundings, together
A person with dementia loses the ability to make their own choices and lead an independent life in the latter stages of the disease. Christina Macdonald explains why there’s a life lesson to be learned My friends often ask me how I feel when I visit my mum in her care home. Only last night, […]
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‘My parents were in denial’

  • Posted by admin
  • On 8th April 2016
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  • #AlzheimersShow, #alzshow, Alzheimer's Society, break, calm, care, confusion, Daily Care, dementia, Dementia UK, distressed, environment, forget, help, Lasting Power of Attorney, living with, mum, practical, stress, surroundings, vascular dementia
Angelina Manzano is a 36-year-old writer who lives in West Sussex. Her mother, Irene, who lives in Aberdeen, was diagnosed with early onset vascular dementia with Alzheimer’s in 2010. Angelina reveals what dementia has taught her about life My mum was officially diagnosed at the age of 68. An MRI scan confirmed the diagnosis. However […]
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 6

Have a peaceful Easter

  • Posted by admin
  • On 23rd March 2016
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  • #AlzheimersShow, #alzshow, activities, Admiral Nurses, alzheimer's, Alzheimer's research UK, Alzheimer's Society, bathroom, break, calm, caring, confusing, dementia, Dementia UK, diagnosed, distressed, environment, family, friendly, health, help, holiday, living with, local, relative, tired, together, vascular dementia, walk
Make the most of the Easter break and take the stress off when caring for a person with dementia – here’s how to make it as peaceful as possible for everyone. Words: Christina Macdonald If you are caring for a person with dementia, the Easter break can be a challenging time for everyone as it […]
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Every Day is Mother’s Day

  • Posted by admin
  • On 4th March 2016
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  • #AlzheimersShow, #alzshow, Admiral Nurses, alzheimer's, Alzheimer's Society, break, calm, caring, confusion, Daily Care, dementia, Dementia UK, diagnosed, help, living with, mum, practical, together, vascular dementia
Mother’s Day is not just an annual date in the diary when your mum has dementia. Christina Macdonald explains why I used to joke that every day is Mother’s Day when your mum has dementia, but in truth it wasn’t intended to be funny. When you care for a parent with dementia, it’s not just […]
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‘Exercise helped me stay sane’

  • Posted by admin
  • On 22nd January 2016
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  • #AlzheimersShow, #alzshow, activities, Age UK, alzheimer's, Alzheimer's research UK, Alzheimer's Society, body, break, carer, caring, Daily Care, dementia, energy, exercise, fitness, full-time, gym, health, living, mum, practical, pressure, run, together, yourself
You may have heard the expression: ‘You can’t look after someone else if you don’t take care of yourself’. One of the best ways to do this is to find time to exercise. Christina Macdonald explains why it’s so beneficial for carers I’m going to say something crazy. If you’re caring for a person with […]
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Good reasons to keep visiting a person with dementia

  • Posted by admin
  • On 6th January 2016
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  • #AlzheimersShow, #alzshow, alone, alzheimer's, Alzheimer's research UK, Alzheimer's Society, better, break, calm, care, caring, confusion, conversation, Daily Care, death, dementia, Dementia UK, experience, happiness, health, help, holiday, home, isolated, living with, loved, memories, memory loss, mood, practical, reassuring, recognise, relative, safe, secure, spouse, stress, surroundings, SweetTree, together, vascular dementia, visit
Is there any point in going to see a person with dementia if they don’t remember you or even recall your visit? Alzheimer’s Society certainly thinks so and Christina Macdonald agrees wholeheartedly… Every now and then a piece of research hits the headlines that sounds so obvious, you wonder why someone commissioned it in the […]
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 9

Should you take a person with dementia on holiday?

  • Posted by admin
  • On 4th December 2015
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  • #AlzheimersShow, #alzshow, Admiral Nurses, alzheimer's, Alzheimer's research UK, Alzheimer's Society, break, caring, confusion, dementia, health, help, holiday, living with, memory loss, mum, practical, relative, spouse, stress, surroundings, together
Christina Macdonald’s efforts to treat her mother to a luxury spa break backfired badly and proved to be quite a learning curve It might seem like a nice idea to treat a person with dementia to a short break away from home, especially if they have just been diagnosed or they are feeling depressed and […]
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