by Larea Mcqueen | Caregiving
What I Wish I Knew Before Starting Dementia Care When I first became a nurse and began caring for individuals with dementia, I was unprepared for the challenges that would come with it. I had medical knowledge, but I didn’t fully understand the personal and emotional...
by Larea Mcqueen | Safety
Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia can be both rewarding and challenging, especially when aggressive behaviors arise. For many caregivers, the sudden outbursts of anger, frustration, or physical aggression can be frightening and difficult to...
by Larea Mcqueen | Safety
If your loved one has both dementia and diabetes, you already know how tricky it is to keep things balanced. Add insulin to the mix — and things can go from concerning to dangerous in a heartbeat. Managing diabetes takes clear thinking, memory, and routine — all...
by Larea Mcqueen | Caregiving
If you’re caring for a loved one with dementia and there’s a pet in the home—you’re not alone, and you’re probably juggling more than you ever expected. Pets can bring so much comfort, but they can also bring unexpected challenges when dementia...
by Larea Mcqueen | Caregiving
What Dementia Taught Me About Patience When I first became a nurse 30 years ago, I thought I understood what patience meant. I’d waited in long lines, navigated difficult conversations, and handled frustrating customers. But nothing could have prepared me for the kind...
by Larea Mcqueen | Caregiving
Have you ever had your loved one tell you there’s a cat in the room when there clearly isn’t? Or maybe they’ve heard voices, or seen people outside the window who aren’t really there? If you’ve experienced this, you’re not alone—and you’re not crazy for...
by Larea Mcqueen | Caregiving
Bathroom problems can be one of the more difficult parts of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. You may notice your loved one: Having more accidents Waiting too long to use the toilet Refusing to go to the bathroom Having trouble...
by Larea Mcqueen | Caregiving
If you’ve ever found yourself in a frustrating back-and-forth with a loved one who has dementia, you’re not alone. It’s natural to want to correct misinformation, set the record straight, or get them to see things the way they used to. But here’s the truth—arguing...
by Larea Mcqueen | Caregiving
Caring for a loved one with dementia can feel like navigating an unpredictable and ever-changing journey. As the disease progresses, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, and sometimes it’s hard to keep track of everything happening. That’s where keeping a dementia care...
by Larea Mcqueen | Caregiving
Caring for a loved one with dementia can be an emotionally challenging journey, especially when they experience agitation and anxiety. These behaviors are common, but that doesn’t make them any easier to handle. Understanding why they happen and learning how to...
by Larea Mcqueen | Caregiving
Is Hospice for Someone with Dementia? If you are a dementia caregiver, you may have come across discussions about “Dementia Hospice” in online groups. But for many, the idea of hospice care, let alone dementia-specific hospice care, can be overwhelming and...
by Larea Mcqueen | Caregiving
Caring for a loved one with dementia can be challenging. As the disease progresses, communication becomes more difficult, and it can often feel like the emotional connection you once shared starts to fade. But there’s one powerful tool that can help: storytelling. By...
