After my father who lived Alzheimer’s lost his ability to be understood, I tried even harder to adapt caregiver communication skills so we could connect. Then both of us seemed to make a discovery. It had been there all along – my father had found an alternate way to connect and I would [...]
“When my wife, Shannon, started explaining, it was one of the most eye-opening WOW moments,” Brian says when I ask him about his blog post entitled, Alzheimer’s has, at least, Two Faces. [4/28/2023 TCV Update: This URL is no longer available.] Inspired by Barbra Streisand’s, movie, The Mirror has Tw[...]
Caregiver, don’t reach your breaking point! In the article, Knowing When You Need Help With Caregiving, I wrote, “We caregivers are a stubborn lot. This helps us… when times are tough. But when we keep trying to the detriment of our own well-being, what good are we?” Why do w[...]
Many family caregivers step into the world of caregiving after a crisis. It wasn’t until the Milwaukee County on Aging case worker called me that I realized my father’s forgetfulness and disorientation were more serious. But what can I do? I’m in California. Besides, what is dement[...]
Our Dementia Diary: Irene, Alzheimer’s and Me Rachael and Irene were supposed to live a long and happy life, retire and travel the world. But a thief called Alzheimer’s visited in 2004 and began tearing apart the lives they had carefully built for a quarter century. This is a remarkably honest[...]
Robert Vaughn best known for his role in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. co-stars with writer, director, and actress Victoria Negri in her debut film. Gold Star is a semi-autobiographical 87-minute film about Vicki, a twenty-something daughter who drops out of music school in New York City to return to her [...]
Guest article by Brian Wu, PhD Increasingly, the media have been covering the uncertain future of Medicaid. We’ve heard and read about the consequences if this government program goes broke or gets into other financial trouble. It’s important for people to understand why Medicaid is impo[...]
Overwhelmed Caregiver Backs Car into Closed Garage Door Uh ohhh, a case of caregiver dementia! One morning, after a fitful night of tossing and turning, my mind filled with thoughts… What else can I get done while out and about with my father? Oh, I’d better get the papers together and drop th[...]
After 43 years as a registered nurse (RN), newly retired Marcia Atkinson faces the next challenge in her life—living with Parkinson’s. She knew something was amiss before retirement from Long Beach Memorial Medical Center in 2014. Serving as an ICU nurse and in palliative care, Marcia knew something[...]
Having the “Money Talk” with Your Elder Parents Guest article by Emily Lutz Talking to your aging parents about money isn’t easy. If you feel uncomfortable or intimidated by it, you’re not alone. Whether you’re facing heavy resistance or a bit of anxiety before you bring up the topic, th[...]
Alzheimer’s Doesn’t Stop His Words from Being Featured in the Congressional Record Michael Ellenbogen, diagnosed with younger onset dementia at age 49, wastes no time using what abilities he has left. As an advocate, author, and spokesperson, he campaigns passionately to raise awareness [...]
Sometimes we need to look beyond our borders to see what’s possible for caregivers in residential care communities. College tuition has risen to stratospheric levels making higher education almost unaffordable. The problem near Amsterdam is worse. Students can’t even find a place to live[...]
