Rust Proofing: A Guide to Graceful Aging

  Understanding Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) Robin Williams suffered from Lewy Body Dementia Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) is one of the most common neurocognitive disorders in older adults. Unfortunately, it is often misunderstood or misdiagnosed. Next to Alzheimer's disease, it is the second most common cause of dementia and is frequently mistaken for Parkinson's disease due to overlapping symptoms (Galvin & Howard, 2020) . What Causes Lewy Body Dementia? LBD is caused by Lewy Bodies , abnormal deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the brain that disrupt communication between brain cells which eventually leads to the death of the cells. This affects both  thinking and memory  (cognitive function) and movement (Armstrong, 2021). Over time, the damage becomes progressively worse leading to functional decline. Watch: Understanding Lewy Body Dementia This short video explains how Lewy bodies form in the brain and why the disease is often misdiagnosed. It highlig...

  Preparing Your Home for an Older Adult: A Family Guide Modern families face many challenges when sharing their home with a parent or grandparent. Loss of privacy, changes in daily routines, and even overcrowding are sometimes overlooked when discussing future plans of an aging loved one. When a senior adult moves in, especially one that may need care or extra assistance, will affect family schedules and routines, independence, privacy and personal space. Personal Reflection & Family Structure My family household includes my mother and father, myself, and my fiancé. If an older adult were to move in with us full-time, we would need to make several adjustments. There is a lot of thought that needs to go into such an enormous lifestyle change. Some include creating a safe and comfortable living space, sharing caregiving responsibilities, and adjusting daily routines. Different Family Structures & Their Challenges 1. Single-Parent Household A single parent may struggle to ba...