-
Myths About Parkinson’s
My Dad had Parkinson's disease. I had never been around anyone who had Parkinson's before dad. I knew next to nothing about it except the famous Parkinson's shake. As a result, I didn't handle everything perfectly. (I probably wouldn't have done it perfectly even with all the information in the world!) But, there are things I could have done better. All we can do is keep learning and applying our new knowledge for the benefit of others. To that end, I felt the need to write some Myth Busters about Parkinson's disease specifically. First, here's an old pic of my sweet Mom and Dad before the diagnosis. Myth #1 Since…
You May Also Like
7 Stages of Alzheimer’s
-
Rosalynn Carter had it Right!
According to Rosalynn Carter, former first lady of the US, there are only four kinds of people in the world: "those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers." As a decades-long champion for the rights of US caregivers, Carter knows what she is talking about. The number one greatest risk factor for developing Alzheimer's is AGE. We are now living longer, thereby increasing our risk of getting this dreaded disease. All is not doom and gloom though, there are things we can do to minimize our risk of developing dementia. Would you like to know a few ways to…
You May Also Like
7 Stages of Alzheimer’s
-
SUP (Straight Up Positive) Interview
You May Also Like
7 Stages of Alzheimer’s
-
Join me on Alzheimer’s Speaks Radio
Today at 1pm central time, I will be interviewed LIVE by Lori LaBey on Alzheimer's Speaks Radio. You can call in and have your questions answered live! Debbie Compton: 3x Caregiver & Author of 9 Books (dementiamap.com) If you miss the live show, you can still catch the replay. Hopefully, we will address any issues you may be having. I am a 3x caregiver of parents with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Vascular dementia. I’m a Certified Caregiving Consultant & Certified Caregiver Advocate, Alzheimer’s educator, Author of 9 books, and keynote Speaker. I know what the caregiver life is all about, regardless of the specific disease. I can coach you…
You May Also Like
7 Stages of Alzheimer’s
-
10 Reasons You Should Be Coloring
Did you wake up one morning and say to yourself, "I think I'd like to be a caregiver cause that sounds like fun!" Yeah, I didn't think so. Most of us became caregivers because our loved ones needed help. Not necessarily because we WANTED to, it typically was because they needed us to. If you have a different reason or situation, let me know. Regardless of how or why, here we are, caring for another human. We're all doing the best we can in a position few feel qualified to do. Many of us did or are still doing a pretty good job of raising our kids, but caregiving for…
-
8 Ways to Help Your Loved One Sleep
8 Ways to Help Your Loved One Sleep Just as sleep is essential for us, the caregivers, it is also essential to our care receivers. Their brain needs time to process, reset, clear, and rest more than ours. This is mainly due to the fact that their brain has to work 3-4 times harder than ours. We remember where we are, who we are, who others are, and more that they do not. Following are 8 things to try to assist in the sleep process: Cut down on caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate, cola) and nicotine during the day, but especially several hours before bedtime. Caffeine can have a pronounced…
You May Also Like
7 Stages of Alzheimer’s
-
Eliminate Limiting Beliefs and reduce your stress
There are some very effective brain hacks that you can use for stress management. You need to retrain your brain to react in a different way to stress triggers. This will take time and consistent effort but you can do it. In this article, we will discuss three of the most powerful brain hacks you can use to reduce and control your stress. Identify Limiting Beliefs and replace them We all have some limiting beliefs stored away in our subconscious minds. Some of these have been there for a long time. Many of us created these limiting beliefs when we were children. Kids are often told many negative things by…
-
5 Warning Signs of Caregiver Burnout
5 Warning Signs of Caregiver Burnout We all feel stressed from time to time. In fact, small amounts of stress are beneficial as they may help us to stay alert and focused. Long or intense periods of stress, however, can be extremely hard on your physical and mental health. If you’re a caregiver, as the disease progresses, the needs of the care recipient increase and the isolation of the caregiver can intensify. Feelings of loneliness, depression, and sadness are common. There are steps we can take to reduce these damaging side effects but before we get into those, let's get a few things straight. You are doing a wonderful…
-
Is it just me?
Is it just me or do you sometimes feel anxious too? Most of us are caregivers, which is an extremely stressful job by itself. Yet, many are working a regular job while caregiving, and raising kids!! It’s called the sandwich generation, but I think at least at times, it could be called the pressure cooker generation! How can we manage the stress of all the events in our home, when added to the community, state, nation, and now the craziness of the world?I have some tips for you. First, we must recognize we aren’t alone. No situation is totally unique. Nearly 6 million people in the U.S. today are…
You May Also Like
7 Stages of Alzheimer’s
-
How to Protect Your Mental Health During the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has been brutal on the state of mental health in Americans. You’ve been limited in how you can celebrate birthdays, graduations, and weddings. You’ve seen loved ones hooked up to a ventilator fighting for their lives. You’ve got an entire hygienic routine every time you leave the house: Wear a mask, stay six feet apart, wash your hands, and repeat. Here’s what you can do to protect your mental health during this ongoing pandemic. Get Some Exercise You don’t have to go to the gym to stay in shape. There are actually plenty of exercises and routines that you can do from the comfort of your own…
You May Also Like
7 Stages of Alzheimer’s