6 in 10 people with dementia will wander. A person with Alzheimer's may not remember his or her name or address, and can become disoriented, even in familiar places. Wandering among people with dementia is dangerous. However, there are strategies and services to help...
The Trip I Didn’t Plan – Packing my Bags for Caregiving
Small indicators are often the keys that open caregivers’ eyes to their parents decline. It is a new reality about their aging and no longer being able to manage their lives as before. Many times, it is easier to look the other way and pretend nothing has changed....
This Magic Moment Memory Cafe
This Magic Moment Memory Café presents Paint Your Springtime Day with guest artist Karen Keenan Takis from Express Yourself. The Memory Café is for caregivers and their loved ones to escape the cold and enjoy a couple of hours relaxing and being creative. Free...
This Magic Moment Memory Cafe – Enjoying the Holidays Together
The Family Caregiver Support Program at Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley has collaborated with the Newburyport Council on Aging (COA) to present “This Magic Moment Memory Café, Enjoying the Holidays Together”. We would like to invite you and your loved one to...
A Walk That Really Makes a Difference This Fall, The Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Living in New England we get to experience the beautiful array of foliage colors that takes place every autumn starting in September. The red, orange and yellow leaves create a magnificent landscape and walking outdoors to see this spectacle of colors is not only...
PlumFest
Plum Island has attracted artsy crowds for decades; poets, musicians, painters and writers, all looking to be inspired by the island’s beauty and tranquility. So, when two musically motivated residents were looking to bring a sense of unity and fellowship to this...
Food For Thought
Peggy Knickerbocker’s article, Brain Food, Cooking Light, November 2016, focuses on the effect of food on brain health and highlights Hunter Lewis’ statement that “there’s hope in taking charge”. The article focuses on award-winning food writer Paula Wolfert, who...
Dementia vs Alzheimer’s
Many times caregivers are told by a primary care doctor that the loved one they care for has dementia and it is not Alzheimer’s. Dementia as a diagnosis is really not a complete diagnosis. Additionally many PCP’s are often still reluctant to refer a person who has...
Music and Memory
My dad was a musician before he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. How can I incorporate his love of music into a plan for his care going forward? Music has proved to be very therapeutic, especially for those who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a...
Support Groups
I recently heard about a caregiver support group that meets at my local hospital. What can I expect if I choose to attend and what are some of the benefits? It can feel intimidating if you’ve never attended a support group before but here are some things you should...