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[...]
Despite how much we’ve learned, people with dementia are still stigmatized. Often, it’s due to not knowing enough about the disease. Other times, it’s people losing patience and jumping to conclusions. Here’s a four-minute video from Singapore that will inspire, slow us down [...]
Have you ever said, “I’ll never turn into my mom or dad”? Well, guess what? There comes a time – usually in our fifties, when we look in the mirror and… What happened? That’s Mom staring back at me! Or we’re doing something and a grandchild exclaims, R[...]
A half dozen years ago, people began wishing me a Happy Memorial Day. I didn’t think much of it the first year. A couple years went by and I heard news anchors signing off with “Have a happy Memorial Day weekend.” Then I noticed advertisements inviting people to celebrate “th[...]
The Elder Health Tree: A Resource for Healthy & Happy Aging Guest article by Justin Schein One day, we may find ourselves in the challenging role of caregiver. If life unfolds as expected, we’ll have a supportive community to help us care for our loved one at the end of their rich and full[...]
James McKillop, husband and father of four, was awarded the MBE by the Queen of England and received an honorary doctorate degree.* Before being bestowed with these two honors, he was forgetting how to do his job, which he describes as “simple clerical work.” He was also forgetting the n[...]
Last year, 15-year old Harry Gardner wrote and performed, Not Alone, a tribute to his grandmother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. When his 77-year old “nan” forgot his name, Harry was distraught. He came home and penned the words to his song, which has raised money for Alzheim[...]
Almost daily, there’s an article about how poorly prepared we Americans are for retirement. Sure, we may not be the best savers on the planet; but sometimes, our long-term plans take a detour. A loved one is stricken by illness or we’re still drowning with only a fraction of our savings [...]
