Blog

One of the most important conversations you are going to have when coming to terms with the possibility that a loved one has dementia is the conversation with their doctor. This can be an extremely intimidating space. Doctor’s offices can be scary and can feel final. But it’s important to be prepared and give the doctor the information they need to help your loved one. In this blog, we will discuss some of the things you should be ready to discuss.

For this blog, we spoke with Dr. Douglas Scharre, a Neuropsychiatrist and Behavioral Neurologist at the Center for Cognitive and Memory Disorders and Center for Neuromodulation at the Wexner Medical Center. Dr. Scharre is a renowned expert in dementia and other neurological disorders. Continue reading “Conversations with Dementia: What to Say to the Doctor” →

For the vast majority of us, our fondest memories usually involve being around loved ones, whether that is our family, friends, or significant others. Humans are social creatures and often need social contact to keep sharp and emotionally healthy. This holds true no matter how old you are. For seniors, socializing is especially important and can be easily overlooked. In this blog, let’s take a look at some of the barriers that seniors face in keeping social, the benefits to a healthy social life, and the way Kemper House Central Ohio helps our residents stay social.

Continue reading “Socializing Seniors” →

You’ve already gone through the tough time of helping a loved one decide that they are going to be staying in a new place that will be caring for their needs. You’ve helped them move in, and you’ve helped them get settled. As they get more acquainted with their new home, now you get the chance to visit them in their new space. This can be an important part of the process for helping a loved one feel good about their decision to be in a new space that is away from family by being able to see that they can still be a part of the family.

But with this visiting comes some responsibility on your part to help make the process easier. In this blog, we will talk about considerations as you come to visit your loved one in our community.

Continue reading “What to Know When Visiting a Loved One” →

Getting diagnosed with a chronic and degenerative disease is a terrifying moment for those diagnosed and those that care for them. It can feel like it is the start of the end for that person and can often be seen as the first nail in the coffin.

We are here to tell you that dementia doesn’t have to be a death sentence. Allow us to explain exactly what we mean when we say that.

Continue reading “MYTH: Dementia is a Death Sentence” →

You see it everywhere. Movies, TV shows, and probably amongst your own friends and family. As someone ages and they start to develop symptoms of cognitive decline, people will say, “Oh, he’s just getting old.” While there are many changes in the brain as a result of aging, there is a difference between healthy aging and the decline that comes from diseases such as dementia.

Continue reading “MYTH: Cognitive Decline is Just Aging” →

The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and Dementia can bring about more than just a worry about the health of the person who has been diagnosed, but also can bring a fear of what that may mean for their offspring and family members. The fear is simple: if my parent has a form of dementia, then that means I will have the same diagnosis when I get older. 

The truth is, 99% of all dementia cases do not have a hereditary cause. 

Continue reading “MYTH: Alzheimer’s is Genetic” →

With the rising rates of Alzheimer’s and Dementia in our world today, there is obviously much concern when one starts to become forgetful or confused more often. While these are defining characteristics of Alzheimer’s and Dementia, there are other causes for memory impairment and cognitive functioning that are important to take into account, many of which are treatable.

Continue reading “MYTH: Forgetful Means Dementia” →