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Bruce

I don’t usually produce a daily post. So even though I posted yesterday, this morning’s national news coverage of Bruce Willis’ frontotemporal dementia diagnosis prompted me to post again and share some thoughts. Those of us who are or have been...

Gobsmacked!

An interesting word, gobsmacked. It comes from the Irish and Scottish Gaelic meaning to be surprised or shocked as though someone smacked you in the mouth. That is the perfect word for what caregivers of dementia patients feel when they first realize their loved one...

Holiday Activities, to do or not to do!

In addition to enjoying traditional holiday meals, part of the fun of long holiday weekends, is traditional activities. Those can include anything from a long hike to attending a football game to skiing. Is your loved one capable of participating in activities? You...

Ahhh, the Holidays, Part One

The Holidays.  That time of year when from mid-fall to New Year’s Day we are obsessed with planning. There’s decorations, meals, presents, family visits, entertaining,  etc. to plan  for. Now imagine trying to plan and execute all that activity with the...

Taking it on the road!

I had a wonderful experience addressing a dementia support group in Winchester, VA last month. I am so grateful to be able to present before live audiences again!  Now I am ready to take this presentation on the road again! I have a 1- hour power point presentation...

Statistics and Timelines

Today is the first anniversary of the day I admitted my husband to a dementia care facility.   Lots of  dates & stats have popped up in my head. Nine years since he was diagnosed with vascular dementia. Six years since his stroke. The average life expectancy after...

Dementia Action Alliance

This morning I was introduced to the Dementia Action Alliance, an advocacy group for people living with any form of dementia and their caregivers.  For the most part, their programs are virtual.   The organization has been around for 26 years, and been...

Expectations

I have recently  heard some distressing stories about caregivers’ “surprise” at the behavior of their loved one with dementia. A woman couldn’t figure out why her marital relations had diminished. A family who were not prepared to meet the...

Essential Self-Care

I just read a post on a group I belong to: myALzTeam.  A person was talking about caring for her father while he was caring for her Moher with Alzheimer’s.  That reminded me of all the advice I have been given about caring for one’s self. What I would like...