January is International Quality of Life Month. This first month of the year symbolizes a new beginning. For people living with dementia and their caregivers, quality of life does not necessarily diminish as your loved one's dementia progresses. If your loved one was recently diagnosed with dementia it may feel like a life sentence, but that is not the case. There are ways to add joy and improve life quality with some small changes in daily routine.
For over a decade, experts have identified this growing need for neurologists nationwide and the gaps this shortage creates across our health care system. This decline in working neurologists has and will continue to have serious ramifications for those needing this care. As a family caregiver, you may have already experienced the effects of the neurologist shortage. We offer some helpful solutions to this crisis.
Local Caregiver Shares Perspective on Support Groups
Caring for someone with dementia can be overwhelming and isolating. Support groups can provide a safe space to share feelings, frustrations, and victories with people who understand. Members can also exchange valuable tips and strategies for managing daily challenges, such as communication, handling behavioral changes, and self-care. Watch a short video about Ed Girard's experiences. Ed's wife Terry has dementia.
If you are caring for a person living with dementia at home, Ask Mary is the place to get your questions answered and to learn about helpful resources. In her role as a skilled care services professional at St. John’s, Mary provides care and support for people living with dementia and their families. Check this page on St. John’s Online Dementia Resource Center to see Mary’s answers to submitted questions.
