Practicing Patience: Alzheimer's and the Importance of EmpathyIf I had a nickel for every time I snapped at my mom during the early stages of Alzheimer's, I would be rich. How about you? It took me a... By Lauren Dykovitz2 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Your Loved One Can Still Have a Meaningful Life with Alzheimer'sWhen a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, everything changes. Their life as they once knew it is gone. They are forced to let go of the way they... By Lauren Dykovitz2 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
My Mom's Alzheimer's Taught Me to Appreciate the Little ThingsBefore my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I never took the time to appreciate all of the beautiful little things life has to offer. I was always too caught up... By Lauren Dykovitz2 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
3 Ways to Connect with Your Nonverbal Loved OneOne of the hardest things to deal with during my mom’s Alzheimer’s battle was when she became nonverbal in the last few months of her life. It was heartbreaking to... By Lauren Dykovitz3 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Responding to Questions About a Loved One with Alzheimer's"How's your mom?" At the beginning of my mom's Alzheimer's journey, I hated being asked this question. I never knew how to respond. I figured most people didn't really want... By Lauren Dykovitz2 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Managing Guilt When a Loved One Has Alzheimer'sGuilt is one of the most prevalent emotions when your loved one has Alzheimer’s. No matter how much you do for your loved one, you can always find something to... By Lauren Dykovitz2 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
How Your Grief Changes When Your Loved One DiesIt is often said that when a loved one has Alzheimer’s disease you grieve them twice. You grieve the loss of the person you once knew and then you grieve... By Lauren Dykovitz2 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments6 comments
Tips for Introducing Professional In-Home CareWhen my mom was living with Alzheimer’s, my family found it hard to manage her care at home by ourselves, but my dad did not want to place her in... By Lauren Dykovitz3 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Helping Your Loved One with Alzheimer's Maintain Their Dignity and IndependenceHave you ever stopped to think about when was the last time your loved one did something? Like, when was the last time they dressed or did their own makeup?... By Lauren Dykovitz2 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Losing My Mom, Finding MyselfDuring the ten years my mom suffered from Alzheimer's, I was never her full-time caregiver and she never lived with me. My mom lived with my dad in my childhood... By Lauren Dykovitz2 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Learning to Forgive Yourself When You Mess UpWhen my mom was in the middle stages of Alzheimer’s, I would often take her to get her hair done and then we would go out to lunch afterward. One... By Lauren Dykovitz2 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Arguing with Your Loved One Won't Help AnyoneAbout five years into my mom's Alzheimer's journey, I was spending the night at my parents' house and decided to help my mom get ready for bed, so my dad... By Lauren Dykovitz3 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Loving Every Version of Your Loved OneThere were many different versions of my mom throughout the ten years she battled Alzheimer’s disease. With each new stage of the disease, my mom became a different version of... By Lauren Dykovitz2 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Putting Your Life on Hold to Care for a Parent With Alzheimer'sMy mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s when I was 25 years old. When I was 28, I decided to quit my full-time job and become a caregiver for my mom... By Lauren Dykovitz3 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
The Importance of Finding Community and Sharing Your StoryThe day after my 62-year-old mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, I called my best friend to tell her the news. My friend’s response was that her grandmother had Alzheimer’s... By Lauren Dykovitz3 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
How to Handle Resentment Toward Family MembersIs there a member of your immediate or extended family who you feel doesn’t do their part in helping care for your loved one? Do you harbor resentment toward this... By Lauren Dykovitz3 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Should You Tell Your Loved One When Someone Has Died?When my mom was in the middle stages of Alzheimer’s, her mom went into the hospital. We told my mom and took her to visit my grandmother often because the... By Lauren Dykovitz3 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Dealing With a Misdiagnosis: Anxiety or Alzheimer's?My sister and I first started noticing signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in my mom almost a year before she was officially diagnosed. She had short-term memory loss, trouble... By Lauren Dykovitz2 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Acceptance Won't Change the Outcome, But It Can Change the JourneyEarly on in my mom’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, I could not be around her without having to leave the room to cry at some point. I would look at her and... By Lauren Dykovitz2 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Grieving Someone with Alzheimer's Who Is Still AliveDo you remember the last time your loved one called you on the phone? What about the last time your loved one remembered your birthday? Or the last time your... By Lauren Dykovitz3 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments
