2/23/2022 by Nicole Ruggiano, PhD, MSW I often talk with people who have recently become caregivers and are not sure where to turn to for information. Oftentimes, they do not know what information to look for or where to find it. Also, the resources and services available in communities varies, so I’m often at a…
2/26/22 by Nicole Ruggiano, PhD, MSW When I’m working in the community, one of the most common questions I get from caregivers is, “What is the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia?” The truth is, they are the same thing, though the answer is a little more complicated than that. Dementia is a syndrome, which is…
3/13/2022 by Nicole Ruggiano, PhD, MSW Caregiving is hard. It can be hard, physically and mentally. For many caregivers, this results in a mix of emotions from day to day. Even though it’s challenging, caregivers often feel good about being able to provide care for their loved one. However, sometimes caregivers also feel guilty. Take Kim*,…
3/20/2022 by Nicole Ruggiano, PhD, MSW When caregivers tell me how much their loved one’s dementia symptoms upset them, they are most upset when their spouse or parent does not recognize them anymore. I understand this first hand. When my grandmother’s dementia became severe, she would become scared and upset when I visited her. She didn’t…
4/15/2022 by Hyunjin Noh, PhD, MSW Watching a loved one struggling with difficult pain can be a traumatic experience for caregivers and can have a negative impact on their mental health. Many caregivers are unaware about palliative care and how it can help them and their loved one. However, palliative care may be a health…
4/17/2022 by Bryan Ford, PhD, MSW Caring for another human being can be one of the most rewarding accomplishments of your life. It can also be very challenging and at times, overwhelming. It disrupts our lives, forces us to change our schedules and habits; just when we feel our lives are already busy enough. Yet,…
6/10/2022 by Lisa M. O’Neill, DBH, MPH A person living with dementia can experience pain, just like anyone else. Dementia does not cause pain, but a person living with dementia can be at risk for other things that cause pain such as falls or other injuries. Further, as with most older adults, people with dementia…
7/7/2022 by By, Nancy Kusmaul, PhD, MSW Caring for another person can be rewarding, challenging, and overwhelming . Many caregivers choose to care for family members and friends out of a sense of love, or paying someone back for care they have received earlier in life. But what happens when you can no longer provide that care?There…
8/16/2022 by Dr. Nicole Ruggiano, PhD, MSW Caregiving can be a time intensive activity, and caregiving needs can sometimes be unpredictable. That can pose a lot of challenges for caregivers, who are often also full-time workers and have other family responsibilities. Even though most caregivers are happy that they are able to care for their…
11/27/2022 by Dr. Nicole Ruggiano, PhD, MSW Some time ago, I met a caregiver in Jefferson County named Mary who asked: How do I get my husband to stop giving out our banking information? Sometimes I catch him on the phone talking about our finances and I have no idea who he is talking to…
