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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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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Walk a mile in their shoes

  • Posted by admin
  • On 12th May 2016
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  • #AlzheimersShow, #alzshow, activities, Admiral Nurses, alzheimer's, Alzheimer's research UK, Alzheimer's Society, caring, Daily Care, dementia, Dementia UK, disease, distressed, environment, health, help, increasing care, mum, practical, relative, stress, surroundings, vascular dementia
When caring for a person with dementia, it’s easy to focus on practical tasks and not have time to think about how the person is feeling. Understanding situations from their perspective can make you a better carer. Words: Christina Macdonald One of the many struggles I used to have when caring for my mother was […]
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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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Know your rights

  • Posted by admin
  • On 19th February 2016
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  • #AlzheimersShow, #alzshow, Admiral Nurses, allowance, alzheimer's, Alzheimer's research UK, Alzheimer's Society, assessment, benefits, carer's allowance, caring, Daily Care, dementia, Dementia UK, diagnosed, employer, fitness, health, living, living with, mum, practical, spouse, stress, together, work
You may be missing out on financial and practical help if you’re caring for a person with dementia and you don’t know your rights, says Christina Macdonald Do you know your rights as a carer? I ask purely because I know that when you care for a person with dementia it’s so easy to get […]
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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

Feeling the fear

  • Posted by admin
  • On 21st December 2015
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  • #AlzheimersShow, #alzshow, activities, Admiral Nurses, Age UK, alzheimer's, calm, caring, confusion, Daily Care, disease, fear, fearful, living with, practical, progression, relative, tasks
A person with dementia can become fearful over everyday tasks and activities that most of us take for granted. Christina Macdonald explains how to calm them down When you are caring for a person with dementia, the learning never stops. Ideas can backfire. Something that seems like a good idea, such as taking someone out […]
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