Nearly 20 years ago, I delivered a speech in honor of a former caregiver for her husband with Parkinson’s. I titled it, It’s NOT the Thought That Counts. The speech was inspired by regret. In 1994, while on a tight schedule in Milwaukee, I decided not to squeeze in a visit to a very ill friend who h[...]
If we’re to survive, we caregivers must find something to laugh about. We’ll thrive and find joy each day, when we tap our well of caregiver humor. There’s much to laugh about in simple everyday interactions if we stop being so serious about ourselves. I used to visit, José, my caregiver frien[...]
At Death’s Door brings to life the end of life. Many of us remain unaware of the important issues families face near the end of life. What does a DNR/DNI entail? What are the leading conditions that lead to irreversible decline? Who has the legal right to make decisions regarding our healthcare? Wha[...]
Lyn Purser was born 46 years ago with intellectual disabilities. Born four months premature, she was placed on antibiotics shortly after birth. Five months later, she and her older brother left Italy for America with their parents. At age 14, she experienced a period of seizures that were inadequate[...]
The Gift of a Clearly Established Estate Plan The last thing your heirs need while grieving your death is a jumble of confusing paperwork. Guest Article by Terry Doherty My parents were planners. If we were getting together as a family; three weeks before, Mom would call to let us know she was worki[...]
Healthcare Lessons from Both Sides of the World While we address healthcare coverage here in the US, there are a few lessons we can learn from two families – one along the eastern side of the U.S. and the other in the southern hemisphere in Sydney Australia. While healthcare laws appear to ben[...]
The Alzheimer’s Association offers tips to help families reduce tensions and stress. Guest article by Monica Moreno Receiving an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is never easy. It is life-changing for the person receiving the diagnosis and for family members. The disease may take a devastating toll[...]
What to Do When You Suspect an Alzheimer’s Misdiagnosis While a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is a life-changing event for those diagnosed and their families, it is not always accurate. Guest article by Visiting Angels Researchers have found that about 20% of Alzheimer’s cases may be misdiagnosed. Other [...]
Each person I’ve interviewed for this Voices with Dementia column surprises me. Before Brian LeBlanc, who also lives with dementia, referred me to Nancy Nelson, he wrote, “We’re all snowflakes.” Well Snowflake Nancy made me smile until my face hurt. Nancy’s life changed when she forgot three words. [...]
It’s not funny! Well, as a matter of fact, it is! Caregiving can be so intense at times, we’ll crack, if we don’t crack up. Caring for a loved one with dementia; in my case, my father with Alzheimer’s, made for some challenging times, requiring fortitude with a sense of humor. “Where’s Mardig,” I as[...]
A couple months ago, we featured a guest post, Want to Remember? Break Your Routine. The idea was to keep our minds agile and fresh by doing things differently. As I get older and my mind fills with more things, I realize it’s better to have certain parts of my life running on autopilot. For i[...]
The Caregiver’s Voice Reviews Ann Vanino’s Chrysalis – Transformation from the Inside Out There are two periods in a caregiver’s life when a metamorphosis occurs – the moment we commit to caregiving and the period after. Chrysalis is the name given to the dramatic and total re-crea[...]
