Policeman talks to elderly man
Alzheimers

The Urgency of First Responder Dementia Training

There are over 6 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s Disease. There are another estimated 5 million Americans with cognitive impairment. This does not account for the people who are living with other forms of dementia, such as Frontotemporal Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, Vascular Dementia, Parkinson’s Dementia, and many other neurocognitive disorders. The numbers continue to rise with more people with dementia living in the community. Ultimately, police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and paramedics are answering 911 calls involving people with dementia. Many of whom do not have the knowledge and education regarding a person with dementia. The negative

July 21, 2021
The A-to-Z Alzheimer’s Caregiver’s Handbook, Written by One Caregiver for Another
Alzheimer's Care

Written by One Caregiver for Another

I received an email after providing an educational program entitled The Journey of Dementia: What the Family Members are Experiencing. This was so meaningful to me that I asked the author if I could use this as a testimonial on my website and here is what he had to say: “I would just like to say it was a very new and refreshing perspective. Over the past six months I have attended many online classes/courses/sessions on Alzheimer’s/Dementia/Caregiving in order to keep current, refreshed, and in tune so I can provide better caregiving support. When you take a lot of classes,

April 21, 2021
Essential Skills for Dementia Care Logo
assisted living staff development

Introducing Essential Skills for Dementia Care

As I reframe 2020 from a year of much hardship, isolation, and devastation for so many people, I am grateful for many things. I am grateful for the continued health of my family, ability to pay my bills, and the resilience to rebuild my business that ultimately took a dramatic downturn. In rebuilding Alternatives in Alzheimer’s Care, I took this past year to increase my education and knowledge. As a Dementia Specialist, I became a Board-Certified Dementia Educator through the National Institute for Dementia Education. I would like to introduce you to my newly authored and NIDE certified credentialing curriculum,

March 15, 2021
Alzheimers

Firearms and Dementia: What is the Risk?

In 2015, a woman was shot by her husband.  Her husband was diagnosed 2 years prior with a dementia disease.  He was a retired Police Chief and had access to his firearm.  He shot her during a moment of confusion and paranoia. There is no positive outcome for a person who owns a firearm and has a diagnosis of some form of dementia, more appropriately called a major neurocognitive disorder.  Dementia is a set of symptoms including poor judgment, memory loss, and decreased ability to function to name a few.  Hallucinations and delusions may be a part of that list

August 11, 2020
Alzheimer's Care

What is Alternatives in Alzheimer’s Care?

This month, I would like to explain what Alternatives in Alzheimer’s Care is and what I do as a Dementia Specialist.  Please see the video interview with Jon Younger, Owner of Assisted Living Locators below.  I speak to what services I provide as a Dementia Specialist. My professional journey over the last 24 years in healthcare allowed me to work with people living with dementia, their families, and healthcare professionals.  My personal journey began with my grandmother’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. During the early years of my profession, my maternal grandmother Ruth began to display symptoms of dementia.  Her memory

July 22, 2020
#Alzheimer's

Importance of Diagnostic Testing

During these days of the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing violence, and political uncertainty, I wanted to talk about something else.  I want to increase awareness about the reality that symptoms of dementia could very well be the consequence of something that is treatable and reversible.  Dementia is NOT a diagnosis.  It is a group of symptoms including memory loss; confusion and disorientation; lack of insight and poor judgement; challenges with sequencing and performing tasks; challenges with language and word finding; and mood and personality changes. When someone experiences any of these symptoms, a common reaction is to begin to withdraw and

June 10, 2020
Denying the Human Element
Alzheimer’s Care

Denying the Human Element

I recently interviewed Dr. Michele Ricard, Gerontologist. Dr. Ricard is a specialist in Geriatric and Internal Medicine. She is a Certified Medical Director serving patients living in skilled nursing and rehab facilities. Throughout most of her career, Dr. Ricard was a Clinical Instructor for medical students until retirement 2 years ago. She frequently lectures, sharing her years and wealth of knowledge, to inspire and educate medical professionals. I have had the pleasure of knowing and collaborating with Dr. Ricard for many years. She was the founder of the Elder Community Collaborative, originally started to improve communication and outcomes for patients

April 24, 2020

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