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Abstract: 

Do you ever wonder why it can be so hard to take care of someone with Alzheimer’s disease? The answer may lie in the way we were cared for as children. Our early experiences with our parents became ingrained as the way to nurture and care for another, resulting in instinctive parental behavior whenever we are placed in a caregiving role. However, when we care for an older adult with Alzheimer’s disease, the parenting approach will not always be effective since the child’s brain is different from the brain of an older adult with dementia, even though the outward behavior might be similar. Parenting skills are not the same as Alzheimer’s caregiving skills. The author delineates some of these differences and how and why they should affect caregiving.

Keywords: memory and brain functioning; role of Alzheimer’s caregivers; repetitive behaviors

Affiliations:  1: Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services Bureau of Aging and Long Term Care Resources.