Clear Guidance, LLC

HAPPY 2025! 🎉

This "New Year’s & Reminiscence Therapy" article from the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Weekly online site, offers valuable tips on how New Year's can still be a fun, enjoyable experience for loved ones with dementia. "New Year’s Eve can be stressful for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia, especially if you’re having a party. All the emotion and excitement can trigger anxiety and difficulty coping. But, New Year’s Eve can still be a fun and enjoyable experience for a loved one suffering from dementia. After all, New Year’s Eve is also a moment to reflect on past experiences and remember the moments that warmed their soul. “Reminiscence Therapy” in dementia takes advantage of strong lerm-term memories in people with early or mid-stage dementia. Steering clear of short-term memories and reinvigorating long-term memories in Alzheimer’s patients takes advantage of powerful and emotional ties to the past. This New Year’s Eve, if you are a caregiver or loved one celebrating the holiday with someone with dementia, use this opportunity of reflection to try and connect with their past memories of moments they loved. You can bring a smile to their face and a joy in their hearts with *Old movies *Old songs *Old photos *Even memories of moments from their history Reflecting on the past can make your loved one feel included in your celebration, less stressed about the new situation, and happy to be surrounded by family. And, of course, it can be fun for you. We all love to look back on the moments we love, so enjoy your trip down memory lane and take the opportunity to learn more about your loved one’s history and passions. You may find something you never knew you had in common. So, enjoy the New Year’s holiday with those you love. Be sure to include them in your celebrations, let them appreciate what makes them happy, and tell them this New Year is another opportunity to show them how much you care." #Alzheimers #Dementia

May your days be merry and bright! 🎄🕎

When Is It Vascular Dementia? It's the second most common type of dementia. Vascular dementia isn’t discussed as often as Alzheimer’s, but it’s fairly common. “Nearly 15 to 20% of dementia cases in the U.S. are due to vascular dementia,” Dr. Akil Patel explains, making it the second most common type of dementia. Unlike Alzheimer’s, which is associated with a build-up of plaque in the brain, “the crux of vascular dementia is that it forms from a lack of proper blood flow to the brain,” Dr. Patel says. “Its symptoms mimic Alzheimer’s. But it’s caused by an entirely different process.” This can make diagnosing vascular dementia more involved than with Alzheimer’s. Dr. Patel says vascular dementia is a “diagnosis of exclusion,” meaning that while looking at heart health and blood flow is critical to a diagnosis, other causes for dementia-like symptoms—Alzheimer’s, depression, thyroid conditions—need to be ruled out. To read this full article by Dr. Akil Patel from Kettering Health, please click here https://buff.ly/4gHDyGJ #VascularDementia #ClearGuidance

CLEAR GUIDANCE ENGAGEMENT SPECIALISTS Service may include: *Provide stimulating and meaningful companionship and conversation *Schedule and accompany clients to medical and non-medical appointments *Meal preparation and partnership in dining *Encourage and participate in physical activity *Engage clients in games/puzzles *Assist with household maintenance or oversight *Provide medication reminders *Escort client on outings in larger community (as appropriate) *Provide detailed reports to family members and/or responsible parties *Collaborate with professionals and advocate for clients' needs To learn more about our Engagement Specialists and all Clear Guidance services, please click here https://buff.ly/43MPTmA #EngagementSpecialists #ClearGuidance

ANTICIPATORY GRIEF & ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE "When it comes to Alzheimer’s disease, grieving begins with the diagnosis. People living with dementia become less themselves as the disease progresses, which may make them and their loved ones feel like they’re experiencing many losses along the way. You may experience the loss of who they used to be and their once-familiar and warm personality. The loss of the relationship you once had. The loss of shared memories. The loss of their independence and your sense of self. It’s normal to emotionally mourn the loss of your loved one’s life before they even die. This is called anticipatory grief, an emotional response to an expected and inevitable loss. The grief begins before the death occurs, and in cases of dementia, the grief often progresses with the disease itself until the end of life. Grief is a natural reaction to any loss, but those who experience it with an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis are likely familiar with the specific experience of “phased” grief." To read the full article from the Alzheimer's Caregiver Network, please click here https://buff.ly/3BaXvGV #Alzheimers #Caregiver #AnticipatoryGrief #ClearGuidance

WHY CLEAR GUIDANCE - consulting and life care management Liz Robinson, of L Rob Inspires https://buff.ly/3RKsWNd, interviewed Dr. Jennifer Pilcher, founder and owner of Clear Guidance https://buff.ly/42Ple7h, for her company's Inspired Insight Vlog in recognition of National Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness month. #ClearGuidance #AlzheimersAndBrainAwareness

"Researchers from Saint Michael’s College and the University of Vermont have made a groundbreaking new discovery that provides a better understanding of how Alzheimer’s disease develops in the human brain." "Guided by previous research of spider brains, the scientists uncovered evidence of a “waste canal system” in the human brain that internalizes waste from healthy neurons. They discovered that this system can undergo catastrophic swelling, which leads to the degeneration of brain tissue, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease." To read the full article posted by Elizabeth Murray, Associate Director of Public Relations, on the St. Michael's College website, please click here https://buff.ly/3VsMPKB #Alzheimers #ClearGuidance

Way to go Jenna! 🎉 Thank you for being such a valuable member of the team! To learn more about Jenna and the entire Clear Guidance team, please click here https://buff.ly/3KtS865 #ClearGuidance

TRAVELING WITH SOMEONE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA? Tips for a calm traveling experience... *Plan ahead. *Learn to recognize the warning signs of anxiety and agitation and identify strategies to reduce them. Discuss this plan with the person living with dementia. *Try not to overload the person with a lot of directions or too much information. General travel considerations... *Environmental changes can trigger wandering or confusion. Consider enrolling in a wandering response service. *It may be helpful to stick with the familiar. Travel to known destinations that involve as few changes in daily routine as possible. *Evaluate options for the best mode of travel. Based on needs, abilities, safety and preferences, decide what would provide the most comfort and the least anxiety. *When selecting destinations, consider those that have easy access to emergency health services and pharmacies. *Consider everyone’s needs and desires as you plan your trip; elaborate sightseeing trips or complicated tours may cause anxiety and confusion. *If you will be staying in a hotel, consider informing the staff ahead of time of your specific needs so they can be prepared to assist you. *Have a backup plan in case your trip needs to change unexpectedly. This may mean purchasing travel insurance if you have booked flights or hotels. *Carry with you an itinerary that includes details about each destination. Give copies to family members or friends you will be visiting or to emergency contacts at home. *Travel during the time of day that is best for the person. For example, if he or she becomes tired or more agitated in the late afternoon, avoid traveling at this time. *Have a bag of essentials with you at all times that includes medications, your travel itinerary, a comfortable change of clothes, water, snacks and activities. *Remember to pack necessary medications, up-to-date medical information, a list of emergency contacts and photocopies of important legal documents. *Allow plenty of time for rest. Don’t over-schedule. To read the full article by the Alzheimer's Association, please click here https://buff.ly/2mKSHy4 #AlzheimersAssociation #Travel #ClearGuidance