Emma Hamilton's blog

Whilst the majority of our caregivers are women. Male caregivers account for a large part of the caregiver population. In the future the number of male carers looking after a spouse with dementia is predicted to grow.

Many older people consider their relationship with their GP as one of the most critical relationships in their life. Unfortunately if you have a loved one entering residential aged care this relationship could come to an abrupt end. Time constraints, lack of financial incentive and simple geography mean your loved one may have to choose a new GP.

We all want our loved ones to settle comfortably into life in a nursing home. Forming new friendships and finding people you connect with on a deeper level can be difficult at any age. But imagine having to make new friends in an environment where the only thing you have in common with other residents is your need for care.

One of the most common signs of Alzheimer's disease and the one sign that gets the most attention is memory loss. However, memory loss is only one sign that may indicate Alzheimer's disease. There are a bunch of other subtle signs that are often overlooked.

It's not uncommon for people experiencing problems with their memory to postpone seeing a doctor, perhaps out of fear or because it's easy to dismiss changes in memory or behaviour as a problem of 'old age'.

If you are caring for an older loved one you could find yourself making frequent hospital visits or a sudden dash to the emergency room. Whilst most people receive great care in our hospitals a busy medical ward is not always the most comforting place to spend the night. For many older people living with dementia the experience can be traumatic and lead to further decline.  

Have you ever wondered how you could help out a pensioner? The Adopt-a-Pensioner program is a great community scheme that helps link pensioners to volunteers in the community. Many older people live on their own or far away from family. Some have lost close friends and find it difficult to get out and about. I heard about this scheme sometime ago and recently found their website and thought it was worth a mention.