It may be hard to believe, but once again the Christmas season is upon us. Along with the joy of celebrating the birth of Christ come stressors such as shopping, decorating, baking and possibly traveling. For those who also care for a loved one suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s, trying to accomplish everything while providing 24 hour care can be extremely difficult. However, if you plan appropriately, it is possible to not only maintain your sanity, but to actually enjoy the holiday season. This time of year can also create stress for your loved one whose anxiety level can often mirror your own. Simple changes in routine can cause unexpected anxiety which may increase with the inabi
By announcing that she has dementia, retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor joined a growing number of public figures who have chosen to share their dementia diagnosis. Dementia of course, can strike anyone at anytime, regardless of fame or fortune. What is relatively new however, is public figures willing to disclose their diagnosis. According to a recent New York times article, “Dementia Is Getting Some Very Public Faces”, the breakthrough came in 1994 when Ronald and Nancy Reagan released a handwritten letter disclosing his Alzheimer’s disease. “In opening our hearts, we hope this might promote greater awareness of this condition,” they wrote. Other public figures such as mu
