*** They told me Millie was “mean”. They also used the words “aggressive”, “combative”, and “violent”. Millie was a tiny, older woman with a diagnosis of Dementia with Behavioral Disturbances. The caregiving staff reported that she resisted self care and ...
Read More »Fetal Tuck Reflex
There is research to support the theory that primitive reflexes and movement patterns (like the ones seen in babies) re-emerge in late stage Alzheimer’s disease. It’s not that the reflexes “come back”, because they never really went away. It’s because ...
Read More »Palmar Grasp Reflex
If you’ve ever played with a young baby, perhaps you’ve noticed that uncanny ability they have to grasp onto your fingers. They even have enough grip strength to hang on while they’re pulled from their backs up to a ...
Read More »5 Tips for Dealing with Physical Aggression in Dementia
Lilly sits in in front the nurse’s station in a nursing home. She is seated in a wheelchair with a lap tray to prevent her from getting up. She pounds the tray repetitively with a tight fist and mumbles angrily ...
Read More »10 Ways Living with Alzheimer’s Disease Is Like Training for a Marathon
I have been running for most of my adult life. For all the physical benefits that come with pounding the pavement several hours a week, I find that the ability to push beyond my perceived limits is the most valuable ...
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