“Music is deeply embedded in our minds, lodged in our hearts, woven into our lives and experiences. Even when we no longer have words or physical power, music is still a language we recognize, still a key to life.” –…
Dementia is a complex condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is not a disease but rather a group of symptoms that impair cognitive function, including memory loss, impulsive behavior, and hallucinations. While dementia is incurable, its symptoms can…
In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy declared a national loneliness and social isolation epidemic throughout the country. Loneliness and social isolation are serious issues plaguing our nation and the world, and the stigma associated with them only exacerbates…
Setting up a room for a person suffering from dementia, whether it’s a room in a family home or in a memory care community, requires careful consideration to ensure safety, comfort and a sense of familiarity. The goal is to…
Last month, we discussed the option of remaining in a person’s home once they’ve started experiencing cognitive decline. A close option to that is living with family members. What is family care?Living with family is another ‘easy’ decision to make,…
Dementia is a term used to describe a range of diseases that affect memory, thinking, personality, mood and other cognitive functions. It is further subdivided into three groups: primary, secondary, and reversible dementia. Primary dementia encompasses diseases such as Alzheimer’s…
One of the many important factors to consider when dealing with cognitive decline is deciding upon the right living environment. The question of how to approach living arrangements for seniors with dementia can be confusing, given the various living options…
Aging is a natural process that occurs in all our organs. The brain is no exception: brain shrinkage and loss of neural connections over time can lead to deficits in cognitive abilities such as thinking, memory and spatial reasoning [1].…
In the modern age, we commonly apply labels such as isolated, lonely and alone to express our emotional states. We feel isolated when we spend Friday nights at home, while others may be out partying. We feel lonely when we…
Loneliness is often misunderstood due to societal misconceptions. One such misconception is that loneliness is associated with physical isolation. That is, believing that loneliness is caused by being alone, that a person who is alone will be lonely, or that…
