Sarah Jane is a freelance writer/researcher and part-time caregiver for her mother Eleanor* who has dementia and lives at a rest home nearby. Sarah and her mother spend Saturdays enjoying each other’s company, pottering about and having the occasional adventure. Sarah lives in New Zealand where she writes and speaks about dementia-related issues.

Articles

Article
People with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia often experience difficulty recognizing faces and recalling names of their family, friends, and...

Article
Helping a loved one with dementia find activities that match their interests and physical and mental abilities can be trying. Adapting old hobbies to be...

Article
For individuals living with dementia, music has a powerful effect. Music has the incredible ability to transport us back in time, reduce stress, help us escape...


Article
Younger generations are surprisingly insightful when it comes to handling their elders’ dementia-related behaviors. See what techniques this teenager uses...

Article
I could tell Mum was nervous, but with her new bathing suit and some gentle encouragement, her confidence grew. Surprisingly, a day at the pool left her...

Article
For the last ten years, Mum and I have been navigating a different kind of relationship. Things turn into a kind of dance with dementia, and sometimes it’s...


Article
Christmas has come and gone, but in Mum’s mind the planning has just begun. When her anxiety returns and her questions become repetitive, white lies...

Article
As a dementia caregiver, I see Mum fading in and out of reality, sometimes recognizing the severity of her illness and other times not even realizing...

Article
Even though Mum didn’t remember the details of our picture-perfect day together, she was very happy. With dementia, the memories may not stick...

Article
We may eventually have to consider transitioning our loved ones to independent or assisted living, nursing care, or even memory care. Of course, many of...

Article
Mum hasn’t been herself lately, and it’s been weighing heavily on my mind. Perhaps something is wrong with her medication regimen, or it could be what I...

Article
Memory problems and dementia-related behavior changes can get you into some sticky situations. As a caregiver, I’ve discovered a simple solution for...

Article
Mom can still enjoy the comics section of the newspaper, but her granddaughter found a new way to appeal to her sense of humor. Surprisingly, a mix of...

Article
Both Mum’s memory and physical stamina seem to evade her these days. As a dementia caregiver, it’s my job to find something to help both her mood...

Article
I had heard the benefits of personally meaningful music in dementia care. Last Saturday, I brought headphones and an iPod loaded with old music to the...

Article
Like many other dementia patients, my mother repeatedly asks a handful of complex and emotionally charged questions. This is how I try to set her mind...

Article
Caregivers need respite, but the thought of spending time away from our care recipients is often anxiety-inducing. Based on the success of our latest...

Article
While many family caregivers might consider writing about their experiences to be a chore, there is something especially therapeutic about putting things...

Subscribe to
Our Newsletter