By Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster
The Caregiver’s Journey podcast is an innovative and refreshing way to learn how to tackle day-to-day Alzheimer's and dementia family caregiving challenges with strength, patience, and peace o
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The podcast currently has 20 episodes available.
“We’ve both had ‘that’ trip — the last trip that you take when you decide we’re not traveling ever again with our care receiver. Or, as we like to say, it’s the trip after the last trip you should have taken!”
We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, we’ve learned travel decisions require careful consideration. Through our experiences, and what we’ve learned from support groups and others on their journeys, we’ve developed four important tips to help you decide whether you and your care receiver should stay home or go on what could be ‘that’ trip.
See Full Show Notes here
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Takeaways
Tip 1: Pre-test Travel Readiness
Key points:
Tip 2: Evaluate All Trip Components
Key points:
Tip 3: Plan Comprehensively
Key points:
3. Plan around normal routines:
4. Prepare for emergencies:
Tip 4: Prepare Others
Key points:
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The moment you realize your loved one with dementia is missing, every second feels critical. While the natural instinct is to immediately begin searching, having a clear action plan can make the difference in finding them quickly and safely. Through insights from John Clark, a specialized dementia search and rescue expert in Georgia, we've compiled three essential tips for these frightening situations.
Additional Resources Mentioned
Georgia Emergency Search and Rescue
John Clark USA 404-309-7386
[email protected]
Professionally Trained in Urban Searches
Alzheimers, Dementia, Children, Evidence Recovery, Major Disaster Search, NASAR, Disaster Assistance
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Takeaways
Tip 1: Make the Right First Move
Key points:
Tip 2: Provide Critical Information to Searchers
Key preparation points:
Essential information to share:
Tip 3: Know What to Expect After They're Found
Standard procedures:
For More Read Full Blog here
Building Better Local Resources
Not every community has specialized dementia search and rescue teams, but there are ways to improve local capabilities:
Steps to take:
Note: If you're in Georgia, specialized dementia search and rescue services are available. Contact your local emergency services or Alzheimer's Association chapter for more information.
The secret to successful holiday celebrations with our dementia care receivers isn't perfect decorations or parties—it's having a peaceful retreat space ready for them when needed.
As caregivers navigating the holiday season with loved ones who have Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, we've learned that intentional planning makes all the difference. The holiday season brings additional activities, decorations, and visitors that can disrupt the routines so vital to our care receivers' well-being. Success requires careful observation, thoughtful preparation, and gradual adaptation of celebrations.
Through our experiences, what we've learned from support groups, and from others on their journeys, we've developed five essential tips to help create positive holiday experiences while maintaining the calm and familiar environment your care receiver needs.
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Takeaways
Tip 1: Preserve Daily Routines
The holidays and routines might share the same number of letters, but that's where their similarities end. While the season pulls us toward special events and gathering, we must remember that routines are the cornerstone of stability for our care receivers. These familiar patterns aren't just habits—they're vital anchors that help our loved ones navigate their days with confidence and security.
Tip 2: Be Prepared With a Calm Retreat Space
In the midst of holiday celebrations, having a sanctuary becomes essential. Think of this space as your loved one's personal haven—a place where the overwhelming stimuli of holiday gatherings can't reach. Just as we all need a quiet moment sometimes, our care receivers often require a calm, familiar space where they can retreat and regroup when festivities become too much.
Tip 3: Set Expectations With Visitors While Also Acknowledging Their Feelings
The holiday season often brings an increase in visitors, each carrying their own expectations and memories of past celebrations. While these visits can be precious opportunities for connection, they require careful management to ensure everyone's comfort—especially our care receivers. Understanding and communicating about the current reality of your loved one's condition helps create more meaningful interactions and minimize uncomfortable situations.
Tip 4: Teach Visitors How To Visit
Creating successful visits is about helping others understand how to connect with your care receiver in their current reality. As their ability to process information changes, the ways others can best interact with them evolves too.
Tip 5: Introduce Changes Gradually
The magic of holiday decorations and traditions can quickly become overwhelming for someone with dementia. What once brought joy might now cause confusion or distress. This doesn't mean we must abandon all holiday cheer—rather, we need to be thoughtful about how we introduce these changes to our environment. Think of it as slowly turning up the dimmer switch rather than flipping on bright lights all at once.
As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, we've learned eating and drinking become significant challenges. Through our experiences, and what we've learned from support groups and others on their journeys, we've developed seven important tips to help you and your care receiver navigate dining.
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These resources contain affiliate links so we may receive a small commission for purchases made at no additional cost to you.
Takeaways
Tip 1: Observe Their Natural Eating Habits
Tip 2: Utilize Pre-made Meals and Visual Cues
Tip 3: Pre-cut Food, Adjust Portions, Observe How They’re Able to Eat and Drink
Tip 4: Prepare for Messier Eating
Tip 5: Simplify Eating Utensils and Tableware
Tip 6: Monitor and Adjust Nutrition
Tip 7: Gradually Take Over Feeding and Hydration
Read More in This Blog here
See full show notes here
As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, we've learned that shaving, trimming nails, brushing teeth and trimming hair - what we’re calling personal care - can become challenging. These challenges often arise around the same time as bathing and dressing difficulties. How we provide support for our loved one will vary based on whether they stay at home during their journey or move into a care community. Not surprisingly, personal care is an area where many tips can be provided!
Through our experiences, what we've learned from support groups, and others on their journeys, we've developed four initial areas of tips to help you and your care receiver with their personal care.
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Full Show Notes https://thecaregiversjourney.com/personal-care-four-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/
Takeaways
Understanding Personal Care Challenges in Dementia Care
Tip 1: Mastering the Art of Shaving
Transition to an electric razor as early as possible.
Tip 4: Hair Care and Trimming
Read More in This Blog here
As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, we've learned overnight incontinence is one of the most challenging aspects of the journey. It's not a topic often discussed, yet it's a reality for us to face with compassion, dignity, and preparation. We are Nancy Treaster and Sue Ryan. Through our experiences, we've developed four important tips to help you navigate overnight incontinence in your caregiving journey.
Takeaways
Overnight incontinence can be particularly challenging because it affects the sleep of both the care receiver and the caregiver.
It often requires a balance between managing a mess and getting necessary rest.
This stage can be an inflection point in the caregiving journey, potentially requiring additional help or considering moving your loved one into a care community.
Here are four tips to help you navigate this challenging phase:
Tip 1: Transition to Nighttime and ultimately Disposable Incontinence Underwear
It's important to ensure your care receiver has appropriate protection overnight.
Tip 2: Protect the Mattress
Accidents will happen, so it's important to protect the bed.
Tip 3: Make the Bathroom Easy to Find
Help your care receiver locate the bathroom easily if they wake up during the night. We cover this in detail in podcast episode 9 Preparing for Incontinence.
Tip 4: Keep Your Care Receiver Comfortable Overnight
As incontinence progresses, it becomes important to take additional steps to ensure comfort.
Navigating overnight incontinence in Alzheimer's and dementia care is challenging in the beginning as you’re both adapting. With patience, curiosity, compassion, preparation and the right mindset, it can be manageable.
Key points:
Blog here
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As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, we've learned bathing and dressing can become significant challenges. These activities are often early signs of transitioning from the initial phase of the caregiving journey where we’re simply prompting and helping them, to what we call the "messy middle”, when we begin asserting more control. We are Nancy Treaster and Sue Ryan. Through our experiences, what we've learned from support groups, and others on their journeys, we've developed four important tips to help you navigate bathing and dressing for your care receiver.
Takeaways
Here are four tips to help you navigate this phase:
Tip 1: Simplify Instructions
As the journey progresses, your care receiver may begin struggling with multi-step instructions.
Start giving one instruction at a time.
Break down their tasks into smaller steps.
Consider adaptive clothing options.
Tip 2: Gradually Insert Yourself into the Process
As their challenges increase, it’s time to become more involved in their bathing and dressing process.
From early in their journey, if you haven’t already learned their natural bathing and dressing routines, observe and note them.
Prompt or assist them in their routine order.
Set up the bathroom to make it as easy for them as possible to bathe (if you normally keep everything put away, put the items out where they can see everything they’ll need),
Put their clothing out. (Tip: When I began putting my husband’s clothing out, I began putting my clothing out as well, explaining to him I had heard this was a great tip to simplify dressing, and wanted to try it myself.) This helps maintain their dignity.
Prepare everything needed for their bathing and dressing in advance.
Consider marking the preferred shower temperature on the faucet.
Tip 3: Transition to Sponge Baths
At some point, traditional showers or baths may become too challenging or stressful.
Use non-rinse bathing wipes for body cleansing.
Try non-rinse shampoo caps for hair washing.
For facial cleansing, consider products like Burt's Bees Micellar Water.
Maintain a regular schedule of cleaning, even if it's not a full bath every day.
Tip 4: Assist with the Dressing Process
As with bathing, dressing will require more assistance over time.
- Transition to adaptive clothing when appropriate, especially if incontinence becomes an issue.
- Ensure safety during the dressing process (e.g., have them seated when putting on socks).
- Be attentive to their comfort, including temperature preferences.
- Encourage participation in the process as much as possible.
Read More in This Blog here
Additional Resources Mentioned
These resources contain affiliate links so we may receive a small commission for purchases made at no additional cost to you.
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As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, we’ve learned that full incontinence is an inevitable part of our journey. It’s a topic not often discussed, yet it’s a reality for us to navigate with compassion, dignity, and preparation — for both us and our care receiver. We are Nancy Treaster and Sue Ryan. Through our experiences, we’ve developed 2 valuable tips to help you navigate bowel and bedbound incontinence in your caregiving journey.
Watch Bowel and Bedbound Incontinence: Two Essential Topics / Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias
https://youtu.be/PD4zOctyfPw
Takeaways
Read More in This Blog here
Additional Resources Mentioned
Rate, Subscribe and Share Your Tips on Social Media!
Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.
Please click here to review, follow or subscribe to our podcast.
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As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, we’ve learned managing incontinence is one of the most challenging aspects of our journey. It’s a topic where having detailed information is vital to our adjusting to this part of our journey mentally, physically, and emotionally.
We are Nancy Treaster and Sue Ryan. Through our experiences, and insights we’ve learned from others in support groups, we’ve developed three indispensable tips to help you navigate the important component of incontinence care with your care receiver — cleaning them
Takeaways here
Additional Resources Mentioned
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Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.
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Who knew that understanding the stages of incontinence could make such a difference in our caregiving journey? As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, we’ve learned incontinence is an inevitable - and can be - a challenging part of our journey. It’s a reality and a topic that’s not often discussed. It’s helpful for us to be prepared to navigate incontinence with compassion, dignity, and grace for our care receivers and for us. We are Nancy Treaster and Sue Ryan. Through our experiences, we’ve developed four tips to help you navigate the pre-incontinence and early incontinence phases on your caregiving journey.
Takeaways
Before we introduce your tips, it’s helpful to understand what we mean by ‘pre-incontinence’ and ‘early incontinence’.
Pre-Incontinence
This is the phase before actual incontinence begins, when our care receiver is showing signs incontinence may be on the horizon.
Signs include:
Early Incontinence
When actual incontinence begins, it usually starts with urinary incontinence. Your loved one may still be trying to find the bathroom but often doesn’t make it in time.
Signs include:
Tip 1. Make it Easy to Find the Bathroom
Yes, to us this sounds simple. To our loved one, they are disconnecting with the signs their bodies are telling them they need to go, and the steps to use the bathroom. One of the most effective ways to support your loved one during pre-incontinence and early incontinence is by making the bathroom as accessible and easy to find as possible.
Tip 2. Schedule Bathroom Breaks
Establishing a consistent bathroom routine can significantly reduce accidents and make the transition into full incontinence more manageable.
Tip 3. Simplify Cleanup
As incontinence progresses, accidents will happen. Being prepared can make cleanup easier and less stressful for both you and your loved one.
Tip 4. Think Positively and Have Lots of Grace
Perhaps the most important tip of all is to maintain a positive attitude and extend grace to both you and your loved one.
Read More in This Blog here
Additional Resources Mentioned
These resources contain affiliate links so we may receive a small commission for purchases made at no additional cost to you.
Rate, Subscribe and Share Your Tips on Social Media!
Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.
Please click here to review, follow or subscribe to our podcast.
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The podcast currently has 20 episodes available.
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