Really Aunt Annie is a compilation of all of the men and women who have helped us over the years. Her wisdom is a tribute to their creativity.
Ask Aunt Annie how to take the keys away from your Dad or how to keep Mom from hurting herself in the kitchen. You name it and she can solve it!
Ask Aunt Annie has advice on living with Alzheimer's and being a caregiver
The Ask Annie Archive has answers and practical caregiving tips.
The Buddy Plan pairs caregivers for one-on-one friendships with people who have been there.
Read about nursing homes and how to make a safe transition for your loved one.
Read about coming home from a nursing home and how to plan to bring your loved one home.
Check out some of the nutrients, vitamins and supplements that we have tried and what to ask your medical team.
Read about where to find resources and how to decide what you need.
Read about Alzheimer's Disease and its stages in normal people-talk.
Read about the warning signs for Alzheimer's Disease.
How your family can live with Alzheimer's Disease.
How our family has lived with Alzheimer's Disease.
How home health care professionals can help your family live with Alzheimer's Disease at home.
Advice for Caregivers & Families
Dad is in the late stages of Alzheimer's and hasn't driven a car for several years. Lately he gets upset and wants to know where his car is and I just don't know what to do. I'm afraid he's going to fall and hurt himself trying to get outside to see the car.
Carl with Car Troubles in Carolina
Dear Carl,
It's very common for men with Alzheimer's to have great anxiety related to their cars. It's an ancient American rite of passage to get a car and a sign of independence and success to have a car. A person with Alzheimer's knows, on some levels, that they are no longer the adult that they were and that knowledge can be received painfully or with sadness.
I'm very sorry, I know it hurts to see your loved one in pain and to not be able to help. Max still gets really upset about cars and I'm just glad that he's stopped hot-wiring them.
Try to find a special key chain that your Dad used or buy one with his name on it and put some old (non-working!) keys on it. Slip these into his pocket and the next time he asks about the car remind him that he has the keys in his pocket. Sometimes just that comfortable, familiar weight will soothe his frustration.
Good Luck and Best Wishes, Annie
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