caregiving

Caregivers of people with dementia have to make countless decisions throughout their caregiving career. One of the decisions that isn't frequently discussed is how to assist a care recipient with the process of voting. The Alzheimer's Association has posted an article with points for caregivers to consider and tips for facilitating the vote of someone with dementia.

National Family Caregivers Month, organized by the National Family Caregivers Association, is "designated as a time of year to thank, support, educate, and empower family caregivers." This year's theme encourages caregivers to speak up for their rights.

For interesting facts about caregiving, see Selected Caregiver Statistics on the Family Caregiver Alliance website.

CNN.com put out an article today on older adults and the dangers of polypharmacy (see "Is Grandma Drugged Up?"). It includes several links to websites where you can find lists of medications that often cause problems for older adults, check drug interactions, and find professionals who review medications. While these resources can help older adults and their caregivers become more informed, obviously, no changes in medication should be made without consulting a physician.

The Alzheimer's Association recently released new information on Alzheimer's Disease in the United States. The report has a simple overview of dementia along with prevalence rates, information on family caregiving, the use and costs of care, mortality rates, and a special section on lifetime risk.