AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & Dementia
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KIM BEST UNTANGLES THE ART OF MEDIATION IN DEMENTIA CARE Support AlzAuthors at https://alzauthors.com/donate Please leave a review and share this podcast with a caregiver or loved one on a dementia journey. * * * RN, MA When a family member is diagnosed with dementia, a number of complicated issues may arise: family conflict, the re-emergence of old slights and misunderstandings, disagreements on how to provide care or navigate the journey, and more. Mediator and conflict coach Kimberly Best is passionate about helping others resolve such conflicts in a productive, non-litigious way, and in finding optimal solutions to problems for all parties involved. She spent most of her career as a Registered Nurse in intensive care, trauma, and emergency medicine, where she cared for people in extreme need, and gained valuable experience in the healthcare system. This inspired her to become a Civil and Family Mediator. She is the owner of Best Conflict Solutions, where she provides conflict coaching and civil, family, healthcare, and elder mediation in Franklin, Tennessee. She serves on the board of the Tennessee Association of Professional Mediators. She is a speaker and trainer on conflict management, transitions, and difficult decisions including end of life issues. Kim is the author of . In this episode, we discuss the value of professional mediation in dementia care, why your story is your legacy, how to control the final chapter in your life, and the fine line in caregiving between hope and regret. Read Kim’s AlzAuthors Post: https://alzauthors.com/2021/04/13/kimberly-best-how-to-live-forever/ Start reading https://amzn.to/3du3VAA now! Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. CONNECT WITH KIM Website https://www.bestconflictsolutions.com/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlybestmediator/ Twitter https://twitter.com/kimberly_a_best Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kimberly_a_best/ * * * Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort, and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening. AlzAuthors.com https://alzauthors.com/
Support AlzAuthors at HTTPS://ALZAUTHORS.COM/DONATE https://alzauthors.com/donate Please leave a review and share this podcast with a caregiver or loved one on a dementia journey. * * * ABOUT SUE RYAN The caregiver journey can either make us or break us. Sue Ryan experienced dementia for more than 30 years with several loved ones, including her father, and now her husband. These journeys have opened her heart and mind to greater possibilities, to understand herself better, and to create opportunities to share her hard-earned knowledge with other caregivers, who may be lost and unsure of their way. A speaker, storyteller, educator, coach, and mentor, Sue has spent her life working with both professionals in the corporate setting and with dementia caregivers, helping them find new ways to live and work better. Over the course of her work, she says, she became the master of transitions, and she’s here to help you become the master of yours. She founded the online course, Our Journey of Love, which teaches caregiving lessons, tips, strategies, videos, and exercises to help caregivers move from feeling frustrated and overwhelmed to feeling supported and balanced as they care for a loved one. She is the author of the international best-selling book, , which offers readers lessons, tips, and tricks she learned from decades of caregiving. In this episode, we discuss dementia care during COVID, how to attain massive acceptance and radical presence for your caregiving journey, the Scarlett O’Hara approach to caregiving, and the value of V8 moments. READ SUE’S ALZAUTHORS POST: https://alzauthors.com/2020/09/01/sue-ryan/ START READING https://amzn.to/3gECRP2 NOW! Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. CONNECT WITH SUE Website https://ourjourneyoflove.net/ Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/OurJourneyofLove/ Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/PositiveCaregivingSupportCommunity/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/suearmstrongryan/ Email: sue@ourjourneyoflove.net * * * ABOUT ALZAUTHORS PODCAST Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort, and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening. AlzAuthors.com https://alzauthors.com/
Support AlzAuthors at https://alzauthors.com/donate Please leave a review and share this podcast with a caregiver or loved one on a dementia journey. * * * ABOUT DR. BARBARA ELLA MILTON, JR., LCSW Caring for a mother with Alzheimer’s can be difficult. Compound that with your own cancer diagnosis and treatment, as well as 90 miles between you, and the experience borders on impossible. But Dr. Barbara Ella Milton Jr. heeded her mother’s call to step in and offer her support throughout her journey. She asked herself three important questions when she got the call: Could I? Should I? Would I? The answers were yes, yes, and yes. So began their dementia journey, after lifelong relationship struggles and difficulties encountered due to poverty, racism, and homophobia. She tells her story in her memoir, Barbara is a disabled, retired clinical social worker who, for forty years, worked on behalf of children and communities and for progressive causes. She writes about her life, her social work career, and her research on African American resilience. Her goal is to use her energy for personal healing, advocacy, and to put love and hope into the world. She was born in Camden, New Jersey as the only child of Barbara Ella Milton Sr., who died from Alzheimer’s in January 2019. Barbara lives in North Jersey with her wife, Kay. They enjoy a life rich with family and friends. In this episode, we discuss how she managed her mother’s care while managing her own, dealing with deep-rooted trust issues, becoming the conductor of an orchestra of help, and the 40 first dates of iterative grief. * * * READ BARBARA’S ALZAUTHORS POST: HTTPS://ALZAUTHORS.COM/2021/09/07/BATTLING-CANCER-WHILE-CARING-FOR-MOM-WITH-ALZHEIMERS/ https://alzauthors.com/2021/09/07/battling-cancer-while-caring-for-mom-with-alzheimers/ START READING NOW! https://amzn.to/2X6fOJa Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. CONNECT WITH BARBARA Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DrBM2 Twitter https://www.twitter.com/DrBM2 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bemilton YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/DrBarbaraMiltonJrLCSW LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-barbara-m-9439438 Personal website https://www.drbarbaraemiltonjrlcsw.com/ Book Website https://www.heedingthecaregivercall.com/ * * * ABOUT THE PODCAST Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening. AlzAuthors.com https://alzauthors.com/
Jennifer Fink is the daughter, granddaughter, and great granddaughter of three women who have succumbed to Alzheimer’s or other cognitive impairments. Her quest to discover how to become the fourth generation in her family with this condition, while also seeking ways to better connect with her mother, led her to her new passion, podcasting. She is the producer and host of Fading Memories, a podcast that listens, hears, and offers wisdom and hope from caregivers who have lived the experience. Jennifer discovered long ago that podcasts are an easily accessible way to learn new things. She could walk the dog or do housework while learning about a variety of topics. But when she searched for shows that might help her find answers to her many questions about Alzheimer’s, she did not find what she was looking for, so she decided to create one herself. In its fourth season, Fading Memories focuses on conversations with people who offer resources and ideas for whatever stage of dementia your loved one is in. It’s part helpful information and part true stories from caregivers like you and is for anyone caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia. In this episode, we discuss the importance of estate planning sooner rather than later, dealing with a difficult sibling in caregiving, and how cycling kept her sane. You can also “read” the podcast on her blog, which is available on the FadingMemories.com website. Read Jen’s AlzAuthors Post https://alzauthors.com/2021/08/12/jennifer-fink-sh…podcast-and-blog/ https://alzauthors.com/2021/08/12/jennifer-fink-sh%E2%80%A6podcast-and-blog/ Start reading and listening to Fading Memories Podcast now! https://fadingmemoriespodcast.com/ CONNECT WITH JENNIFER FINK Website and Podcast: https://fadingmemoriespodcast.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlzheimersPodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jennifer_Fink Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alzheimerspodcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-fink-338957/ Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening.
Edie Weinstein is the youngest of the AlzAuthors. She published her illustrated children’s book, at the tender age of 16! But today, at 18 and a college student, she may be one of our wisest contributors. Unlike most of our authors, Edie did not write her book because of a personal experience with dementia. She wrote it as a Girl Scouts Silver Award Project because her grandpa did have dementia. After learning about the condition at a Dementia Friends meeting, she realized that for many kids, dementia is a barrier to a happy relationship with their grandparent, which prevents them from enjoying the kind of loving relationship she enjoyed with her Grandpa. So, she wrote a heartwarming story and seven of her teen friends collaborated with her on the illustrations. Their goal was to help other kids understand the condition, and to show them that their relationship with Grandpa (or Grandma) need not change after a diagnosis. Edie is an inspiring, intelligent young woman who is clearly going places. You will enjoy this delightful interview, where we explore what sparked her interest in dementia, what happened after she published her book (hint: theater is involved), and how the experience of publishing a book about dementia at such a young age has enhanced her life. Read Edie’s AlzAuthors Post: https://alzauthors.com/2020/03/10/12299/ Start reading now! https://amzn.to/2TOPhuo Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. Watch the play, Grandpa and Lucy, on CLIMB Theater https://tinyurl.com/grandpaandlucydigital CONNECT WITH EDIE Website: www.inkypuppypaws.com http://www.inkypuppypaws.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inkypuppypaws/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/InkyPuppyPaws Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inkypuppypawsmn/ Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort, and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening. AlzAuthors.com
The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Huling Hummel is an Alzheimer's artist, author, and advocate. She is the author of "UnMasking Alzheimer's: The Memories Behind the Mask,” a collection of photos of the 36 masks she created as a participant in an arts program called "Art Reflects" for those living with memory loss and their care partners. Cynthia says she started with one mask and couldn't stop! Each one reveals a story that speaks to her experience of living with early onset Alzheimer’s. She hopes that her mask collection will travel around the country and provide a better understanding of the challenges of living with a cognitive disorder. She also hopes that it will reduce the stigma of a dementia diagnosis and serve as a catalyst for opening discussions about the condition. Cynthia was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment in 2011. This changed to clinical Alzheimer's in 2016. She does not let her diagnosis stop her. In fact, she does everything she can to raise awareness and funds for research and support services for those living with memory conditions. She’s enrolled in several clinical trials and urges everyone to learn more at Trialmatch.alz.org. She loves public speaking and has given more than 50 talks to community groups. A former pastor, she especially enjoys speaking to faith communities on how to be more dementia friendly. In this episode, we discuss how life doesn’t stop after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, her new ministry as an advocate for those living with dementia, and her exhaustive schedule of activities, filled with the arts, education, and many surprising adventures. Read Cynthia’s AlzAuthors Post: https://alzauthors.com/2019/09/03/cynthia-huling-unmasking-alzheimers/ Start reading https://amzn.to/2DqQ90E now! Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/revchh LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-huling-hummel-20829117/ View Cynthia’s YouTube message about COVID-19 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQuR_PNnT8Q Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening. AlzAuthors.com https://alzauthors.com/
Pam Ostrowski was the first to recognize her mother’s Alzheimer’s symptoms and spent 14 years with her on her journey. This led her to become a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®, a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP®), and Certified in Dementia Care® (CDC®). She is passionate about educating families on dementia care, to help them attain peace of mind while caring for a loved one. Pam pulled together her caregiver experience and her skills in marketing and promotion to write , the book she wished for during her caregiving yearsand created Alzheimer's Family Consulting, an agency that provides caregivers with one-on-one dementia guidance. She now works directly with Alzheimer’s and dementia families to help them navigate the difficult conversations and the many processes, decisions, and emotions they encounter on their journeys. In this episode, we discuss the many levels of dementia care, the difference between loving and caring, and debunk the many myths that surround the dementia journey. READ PAM’S ALZAUTHORS POST: https://alzauthors.com/2021/05/26/pam-ostrowski-its-not-that-simple/ START READING IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE: HELPING FAMILIES NAVIGATE THE ALZHEIMER'S JOURNEY https://amzn.to/3pBpDr7 NOW! Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. CONNECT WITH PAM OSTROWSKI Website: https://itsnotthatsimple.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Pam_AlzSupport LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pam-ostrowski-ma-56159717/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pamatsos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pam_alzsupport/ Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening. AlzAuthors.com https://alzauthors.com/
James Russell is a man caring for his daughter with early onset Alzheimer’s in assisted living. Lynn was diagnosed in 2017 at the age of 51. She represents the fourth generation of the Russell family affected by dementia. In the early days of her diagnosis, Jim, her dad, and her mother, Karen, relocated from their home to be closer to Lynn, and to assist with the care of her three growing sons. Eventually, Karen succumbed to cancer and Jim carried on, moving to an apartment two blocks from Lynn so he can be involved daily in her life. He tells their story on his blog, Nevertheless Dementia, We Persist, where he recounts the daily struggles, joys, and epiphanies of life with Alzheimer’s. In many ways, Lynn’s condition has brought them closer together, especially as Jim is researching and writing a memoir about their experience which has allowed him to enter parts of his daughter’s life he had not ventured into before. His research has given him the privilege of interviewing many of her friends and work colleagues across her lifespan and he now sees his daughter in a whole new light, appreciating accomplishments he knew nothing of and seeing her through others’ eyes. In this episode, we discuss the wonders of the village that emerged to help him care for Lynn, how he goes about documenting her life, and how we can support someone in assisted living. READ JAMES’ ALZAUTHORS POST https://alzauthors.com/2020/09/10/james-russell-blogger-younger-onset-alzheimers/ START READING NEVERTHELESS DEMENTIA WE PERSIST NOW! https://neverthelessdementiawepersist.com/ CONNECT WITH JIM Jim on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/james.s.russell.3 Twitter: https://twitter.com/james_s_russell CONNECT WITH LYNN Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynneru Find Jim’s COVID-19 Videos of Support here: https://alzauthors.com/covid-19/ Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening. AlzAuthors.com
Bobbi Carducci is a national speaker on Alzheimer’s and dementia, how it affects entire families, and how to prepare to care – what adults need to know about these diagnoses before and after they strike home. Taking on the role of caregiver for her father-in-law, Rodger, for seven years ultimately inspired her to embark on a new path in life, where she is a caregiver advocate, support group leader, Certified Caregiving Consultant (CCC), Certified Caregiving Educator (CCE), author, blogger, and podcaster. Her personal experience on the dementia journey allows her to connect with and educate caregivers as she speaks with honesty, compassion, and humor about caring for an aging family member. She is the author of and . In this episode, we discuss the challenges that a history of mental illness brings to a dementia diagnosis, the differences between being an inadequate caregiver vs. an imperfect caregiver, and the many ways dementia is a “family disease.” Read Bobbi’s AlzAuthors Posts Bobbi Carducci’s Alzheimer’s Journey Caring for Father-in-law: Confessions of an Imperfect Caregiver https://alzauthors.com/2018/02/06/6696/ Bobbi Carducci Shares Dementia Caregiver Stories in Anthology: You Are Not Alone https://alzauthors.com/2019/04/23/welcome-back-bobbi-carducci-author-of-caregiver-you-are-not-alone/ Start reading The Imperfect Caregiver http://amzn.to/2zfZ5Bq and Caregiver - You Are Not Alone https://amzn.to/2pmIOYB now! Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. CONNECT WITH BOBBI Website http://bobbicarducci.com/ Podcast: Rodger That https://www.rodgerthat.show/ Facebook https://twitter.com/BobbiCarducci Twitter https://twitter.com/Bobbicarducci2 Email: info@bobbicarducci.com Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort, and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening. AlzAuthors.com https://alzauthors.com/
Alex Winstanley is a best-selling author and award-winning social entrepreneur from Wigan, England. Through his books, he raises awareness of a range of long-term health conditions, in a positive and supportive way, for children and young people. He is extremely passionate about promoting a diverse and inclusive society, where every person is valued and celebrated. Each of his books are inspired by real people, as Alex believes nothing is more important than giving a voice to those with lived experience. His first book, My Grandma Has Dementia, inspired by his own grandmother, won a Dementia Hero Award in 2021. In this episode, we discuss his work with the disabled, what happens when we don’t shield children from confusing medical conditions such as dementia, and how to find support services to help care for a loved one. All book sales directly support the work of Alex's not-for-profit training organization, Happy Smiles Training CIC http://www.happysmilestraining.co.uk/, which is led by disabled young adults. See more about their nationally recognised work on their website http://www.happysmilestraining.co.uk/ or on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/happysmilestrainingcic, Instagram http://www.instagram.com/happysmilestrainingcic and Twitter http://www.twitter.com/happysmilescic. Read Alex’s AlzAuthors Post: https://alzauthors.com/2021/09/01/alex-winstanley-…dma-has-dementia/ https://alzauthors.com/2021/09/01/alex-winstanley-my-grandma-has-dementia/ Start reading now! https://amzn.to/3usNZWf Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. CONNECT WITH ALEX WINSTANLEY Website: https://www.happysmilestraining.co.uk/our-books/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/alexwinstanleyauthor Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/alexwauthor Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/alexwinstanleyauthor Happy Smiles Training CIC: http://www.happysmilestraining.co.uk/ See Alex talking about his second book, 'My Uncle Has Depression', on ITV News here https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2021-05-12/wigan-teacher-turns-author-to-help-children-deal-with-some-of-lifes-most-difficult-issues?fbclid=IwAR25iTVkeefEnFkR3hpX9bINWubkvaEEqF3i_J6QDEOreaAuou6tvRJ3Tos. Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening. AlzAuthors.com https://alzauthors.com/
Donna Thomson and Dr. Zachary White are co-authors of (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019). Donna Thomson is a caregiver, author, and activist. The mother of two grown children, one who has severe cerebral palsy and medical complexity, she also helped care for her mother who lived with dementia until she passed away in the summer of 2018 at the age of 96. She is also the author of (McArthur and Co., 2010 and The House of Anansi Press, 2014), and blogs regularly at The Caregivers' Living Room. She is a board director of the Kids Brain Health Network and is a leader and instructor in family engagement in health research. She also teaches families how to advocate for care at The Advocacy School and at Huddol.com. Dr. Zachary White Zachary began living, researching, and exploring the caregiver experience in 2002 during his mother's diagnosis with brain cancer. His research and teaching focus on helping people manage meaning and communicate life experiences amidst high levels of uncertainty and stress. He is the founder of the award-winning blog and resource for caregivers called "The Unprepared Caregiver." He earned his Ph.D. in communication from Purdue University and is an Associate Professor in the James L. Knight School of Communication at Queens University of Charlotte. He has researched a range of care experiences, including birth (parental NICU experiences), chronic caregiver experiences, and end-of-life caregiving (hospice care). His academic articles have been published in Management Communication Quarterly, Journal of Family Communication, Communication Research Reports, OMEGA: Journal of Death and Dying, Health Communication, and Volunteering and Communication: Studies from Multiple Contexts. In this episode, we discuss the delicate relationship between caregiver and care receiver, the multiple roles caregivers fulfill, authenticity in caregiving, and the value of silence. Read Thomson and White’s AlzAuthors Post: https://alzauthors.com/2020/02/04/unexpected-journey-caring-thomson-white/ Start reading The Unexpected Journey of Caring: The Transformation from Loved One to Caregiver https://amzn.to/2QEfzz6 now! Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. CONNECT WITH DONNA THOMSON Blog: The Caregivers' Living Room http://www.donnathomson.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donnathomsonauthor https://www.facebook.com/donnathomsonauthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/Thomsod CONNECT WITH ZACHARY WHITE Blog: The Unprepared Caregiver https://theunpreparedcaregiver.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZMWhite Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unpreparedcaregiver/ ABOUT THE PODCAST Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort, and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening. AlzAuthors.com https://alzauthors.com/
Susan Cushman cared for her mother during her dementia journey and considered it a blessing. One of the upsides to Alzheimer’s, she says, is that she got a new mother. After a lifetime of abuse, her mother “forgot” to be cruel to her, and their relationship improved. About her book, Tangles and Plaques: A Mother and Daughter Face Alzheimer’s,” she says, “The tangles and plaques that destroyed Mother’s brain weren’t only in her brain, but also in our relationship.” She is also the author of a novel that explores interracial relationships and the complexities of reconnecting with a lost love when your spouses wind up in the same memory care center. Much of her writing is infused with elements of her own life, including the very mystical spirituality of her Orthodox Christian faith and the personal demons she has been chasing since childhood. Her essays, short stories, memoir, and novels all reflect what she has learned through many dark nights of the soul, but also contain elements of hope and healing, and honor her Southern roots. In this episode, we discuss how she discovered an unexpected upside to Alzheimer’s, the downside of being a long-distance caregiver, and the healing power of forgiveness. MORE ABOUT SUSAN Susan was co-director of the 2013 and 2010 Oxford (Mississippi) Creative Nonfiction Conferences. She was director of the 2011 Memphis Creative Nonfiction Workshop. She was a panelist at the 2017 Decatur Book Festival, the 2012, 2017, and 2018 Southern Festival of Books, the 2017 and 2018 Mississippi Book Festival, the 2013, 2017, 2018 and 2019 Louisiana Book Festival, the 2018 Mississippi Writers Guild Conference, the 2018 Alabama Writers Conclave Conference, the 2018 Pat Conroy Literary Center Visiting Author Series, the 2019 Southern Literary Festival, and the 2020 AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Professionals) annual conference. Her published books include four she has written: (novel), (short stories), (a memoir), and (a novel). She has edited three collections of essays: , and In addition, she has over a dozen essays published in four anthologies and various journals and magazines. PURCHASE TANGLES AND PLAQUES AND JOHN AND MARY MARGARET NOW! https://amzn.to/3EXQztz READ SUSAN’S ALZAUTHORS POSTS Susan Cushman Reveals Alzheimer’s Caregiving Struggles with Mom: Tangles and Plaques https://alzauthors.com/2019/01/08/meet-susan-cushman-author-of-tangles-and-plaques/ Three AlzAuthors Featured in Chicken Soup for Soul Book https://alzauthors.com/2021/09/28/3-alzauthors-featured-in-chicken-soup-book/ Susan Cushman Explores Interracial Relationships and Dementia in New Novel https://alzauthors.com/2021/09/27/18861/ CONNECT WITH SUSAN Website: http://susancushman.com/ Blog: http://susancushman.com/author/susan/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sjcushman Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjcushman/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/SusanCushman YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmK08WUEuxQ ABOUT THE PODCAST Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort, and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening.
Leah Stanley is the author of Goodnight, Sweet: A Caregiver’s Long Goodbye, the memoir she wrote years after caring for her beloved grandparents, both diagnosed with dementia. At the time she was a 29-year-old newlywed with no clue about elder issues, dementia, or caregiving. She had to learn fast! When her dementia journey ended, she realized she wanted to take her hard-earned lessons and share them with others so they would not be as unprepared as she was when duty called. Her degree in journalism gave her the confidence to start writing and she began a memoir, and then put it on hold for years while she raised her children. When they were teens and no longer needed her full-time, she got back to writing and published her book in 2019. This led to her becoming a caregiver advocate and a well-known speaker in the Houston area. In this episode we discuss the challenges of becoming a caregiver at a young age, how to continue a loving relationship with elders after a dementia diagnosis, and the sweet story behind the title Goodnight, Sweet. Read Leah’s AlzAuthors Post: https://alzauthors.com/2019/05/21/meet-leah-stanley-author-of-goodnight-sweet/ Start reading Goodnight Sweet now! https://amzn.to/3fXCeme Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. CONNECT WITH LEAH STANLEY Website: http://www.leahstanley.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LStanleyBooks Twitter: https://twitter.com/OneCareVoice LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahstanleybooks/ Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening.
Joy Johnston is a digital journalist, author, and caregiver advocate based in Atlanta, Georgia. Her collection of personal essays on caregiving, titled , received a gold medal at the 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards. She also writes about dementia and caregiving on her blog, The Memories Project https://memoriesproject.com/, which was honored as one of the “Best Alzheimer’s Disease Blogs of 2020” by eMediHealth, and she is a featured author on The Caregiver Space http://thecaregiverspace.org/author/joyjohnston/. An only child, she assisted her mother as a long-distance caregiver to her father with dementia for ten years. A few years after his passing, she left her career and home to move across country to care for her mother when she was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. This was not a role she wished for as their relationship had always been challenging. In this episode we discuss the difficulties of managing your parents’ health care needs as an only child living hundreds of miles away, the shortcomings of rural health care, and why paid caregivers need recognition for the value they bring to family caregiving. Read Joy’s AlzAuthors Post: https://alzauthors.com/2016/09/21/meet-author-joy-johnston/ Start reading The Reluctant Caregiver now! https://amzn.to/38jsVZs Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. CONNECT WITH JOY JOHNSTON Website: http://joyjohnston.com/ Memories Project: https://memoriesproject.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMemoriesProject/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/joymemories LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyjohnstonatl/ Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort, and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening.
Tracey Shorthouse was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s and Posterior Cortical Atrophy in 2015 at age 45. A staff nurse in the United Kingdom’s National Health Service, she had to retire due to her diagnosis. Not being one to give up, she started to write short stories but found writing poetry was easier for her brain to contend with. Although at first her poems were about how she coped with her dementia, she then started writing about life, nature, and other things. In 2017 she published a book of poetry named . She stays active on social media, Facebook and Twitter, and is a well-known speaker on dementia in her community. In this episode we discuss her life after being diagnosed at such a young age, what she’s lost and gained, how she came to write poetry post-diagnosis, and her hopes for the future. Read Tracey’s AlzAuthors Post: https://alzauthors.com/2017/05/24/meet-poet-tracey-shorthouse/ Start reading now! https://amzn.to/3xQuBnw Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. CONNECT WITH TRACEY SHORTHOUSE Website: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracey.shorthouse Twitter: https://twitter.com/TraceyShorty28 Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening.
This is the third and last in our Summer Book Series with HFC https://studio.podcast.co/whole-care-network-1/alzauthors-untangling-alzheimers-dementia/wearehfc.org, aka Hilarity for Charity, for 2021. In this session Loretta Woodward Veney joined us for a discussion of her book We talked about her work as a LEGO Ambassador and how that fits into her dementia care for her mom, and discussed other activities to help caregivers connect and engage with their loved ones. ABOUT LORETTA WOODWARD VENEY Loretta Woodward Veney is a special friend to AlzAuthors and was one of the first authors to appear on our blog in July, 2016. Her mission is moving caregivers from "I give up" to "I've got this"! She recently retired from a 35-year career in security management and corporate training and is embarking on a new full-time career as a motivational speaker and trainer for those caring for a loved one with dementia. She is also a LEGO Ambassador, sharing her lifelong love for the little plastic building blocks with strategies to nurture creativity, communication, and connections between those with dementia and their loved ones. In 2006, when Loretta's beloved mom Doris was diagnosed with dementia, she began learning everything she could about the disease, and hoped to share that information so others could be better prepared than she was for this diagnosis. In 2013, that hope turned into her first book, , which highlights the first six years of the family's dementia journey. An updated version was published in December 2019 and includes a new chapter that picks up at the end of the first book until late 2019. Soon after publishing , Loretta began receiving requests for presentations on her caregiver experience, and since that time has given more than 275 presentations and keynote addresses to audiences across the United States. She has published two additional books for caregivers: a motivational photo book, and, an easy-to-use coloring book for those with dementia. READ LORETTA’S ALZAUTHORS POSTS: Meet Loretta Woodward Veney, Author of Being My Mom’s Mom https://alzauthors.com/2016/07/07/meet-loretta-woodward-veney-author-of-being-my-moms-mom/, July 7, 2016 Loretta Woodward Veney Updates Her Memoir, Being My Mom’s Mom https://alzauthors.com/2020/05/26/memoir-mother-loretta-woodward-veney/, May 26, 2020 START READING "BEING MY MOM’S MOM: A JOURNEY THROUGH DEMENTIA FROM A DAUGHTER’S PERSPECTIVE": HTTPS://AMZN.TO/2BCS18S https://amzn.to/2BCS18s CONNECT WITH LORETTA WOODWARD VENEY Twitter: HTTPS://TWITTER.COM/LWVENEY https://twitter.com/lwveney Conquering Life Blog: HTTPS://LWVENEY.WORDPRESS.COM https://lwveney.wordpress.com/ Website: HTTPS://LORETTAVENEY.COM https://lorettaveney.com/ ABOUT THE PODCAST Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, marketing expenditures to improve our reach, expand our content, and promote our authors, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit HTTPS://ALZAUTHORS.COM/DONATE/ https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening.
This is the second in our Summer Book Series with HFC https://studio.podcast.co/whole-care-network-1/alzauthors-untangling-alzheimers-dementia/wearehfc.org, aka Hilarity for Charity. In this session Daniel Potts, MD, FAAN, and his wife Ellen Potts joined us for a discussion of their helpful book Daniel C. Potts, MD, FAAN is a neurologist, author, educator, and champion of those living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and their care partners. Selected by the American Academy of Neurology as the 2008 Donald M. Palatucci Advocate of the Year, he also has been designated an Architect of Change by Maria Shriver. In 2016, he was chosen by the University of Alabama Medical Alumni Association as a recipient of the Martha Myers Role Model Award, which honors physician alumni whose lives epitomize the ideal of service to their communities. Along with his wife, Ellen W. Potts, MBA, he co-authored , which is recommended by the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Academy of Neurology and Maria Shriver. Inspired by his father’s transformation from saw miller to watercolor artist in the throes of dementia through person-centered care and the expressive arts, Dr. Potts seeks to make these therapies more widely available through his foundation, Cognitive Dynamics. Additionally, he is passionate about promoting self-preservation and dignity for all persons with cognitive impairment. He practices neurology at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center. Read Dr. Potts’ AlzAuthors post: https://alzauthors.com/2017/02/21/meet-daniel-c-potts-physician-author-and-dementia-advocate/ Listen to Dr. Potts podcast on Untangling Alzheimer’s and Dementia: https://alzauthors.com/podcast Start reading “A Pocket Guide for the Alzheimer's Caregiver” with Ellen Potts now! HTTPS://AMZN.TO/3NP2IIB https://amzn.to/3nP2IIB Additional books by Dr. Potts: “Finding Joy in Alzheimer’s: New Hope for Caregivers,”with Marie Marley, https://amzn.to/2KIAi4h with Richard Morgan, Ph.D., https://amzn.to/3mBxjYr https://amzn.to/2LVFySH “The Unlatched Door: A Collection of Poetry,” https://amzn.to/37AZe6L “A Heart That Knows Your Name: Poetry Inspired by Persons Living with Dementia and Care Partners,” https://amzn.to/3nDWRFB “The Second Crossing: A Poetry Anthology,” https://amzn.to/3r8Ngc6 “At End of Day,” https://amzn.to/2KFznkX “Verses of Recovery,” https://amzn.to/2LOtFh7 “Soul Fire: Celebrating life and creation through word and image,” https://amzn.to/3p862i2 Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. Connect with Dr. Potts Blog: https://danielcpotts.wordpress.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daniel.potts.92372 Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanielCPotts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielcpotts/ Cognitive Dynamics: www.cognitivedynamics.org http://www.cognitivedynamics.org/ Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening.
ALZAUTHORS https://alzauthors.com/ has again partnered with HFC /wearehfc.org, (Hilarity for Charity) to present a Summer Book Series for Alzheimer’s and dementia families and caregivers. Each month one of our authors meets with readers and caregivers online to discuss their book. The authors talk about their own dementia journeys and why they chose to write about them. They also answer questions from the attendees. It’s a wonderful way to learn more about dementia and caregiving. Peter Berry kicked off the first in our series on June 8th. Peter’s book, “Slow Puncture: Living Well with Dementia,” was written by his friend, Deb Bunt. Peter and Deb both participated in the book club, and it is a lively discussion. Peter discussed the deep depression that engulfed him after his diagnosis and shared how he managed to not only climb out of it but learned how to live well with dementia, and to inspire others to do the same. He is an important voice in dementia world and one can learn a lot from him about positive living. ABOUT PETER BERRY Diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at age 50, Peter took an early retirement from his job working in the family’s timber business. After the devastating diagnosis, he became depressed but, being a ‘glass half full’ personality, battled through his depression and focused on his lifelong passion for cycling. He has used this passion to raise awareness of the condition, particularly in younger people. Peter’s philosophy is to live well with dementia and to inspire others to do the same. He maintains an active lifestyle due to his love of cycling, which keeps him fit both below and above the eyebrows, he says. Along with his friend Deb Bunt, Peter cycles nearly every day. Their travels throughout Suffolk, England have led them to have many serious heart-to-hearts about his disease, which Deb put together in “It's a book about me,” Peter says, “but a book I have never read and never will read as my short-term memory means I have forgotten the previous sentence as soon as I have started a new one.” Read Peter’s AlzAuthors Post: HTTPS://ALZAUTHORS.COM/2020/12/29/EARLY-ONSET-ALZHEIMERS-BUNT-BERRY/ https://alzauthors.com/2020/12/29/early-onset-alzheimers-bunt-berry/ Listen to Peter’s AlzAuthors Podcast: HTTPS://ALZAUTHORS.COM/PODCAST https://alzauthors.com/podcast Start reading now! HTTPS://AMZN.TO/3TBDSIS https://amzn.to/3tbDsis Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. CONNECT WITH PETER AND DEB Website: HTTPS://PETERBERRYLWA.WIXSITE.COM/PETERBERRY/THE-BOOK https://peterberrylwa.wixsite.com/peterberry/the-book%C2%A0 Facebook: HTTPS://M.FACEBOOK.COM/DEBBUNTAUTHOR https://m.facebook.com/DebBuntAuthor Facebook: HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PETERBERRYLIVINGWITHALZHEIMERS/ https://www.facebook.com/PeterBerryLivingWithAlzheimers/ Twitter: https://alzauthors.com/HTTPS://TWITTER.COM/PETERBE1130 https://twitter.com/PeterBe1130 Instagram: HTTPS://WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/PETERBERRY8/ https://www.instagram.com/peterberry8/ Join us on August 10th for the third and last session in the series with Loretta Woodward Veney, author of Being My Mom's Mom. Register here: HTTPS://ZOOM.US/MEETING/REGISTER/TJWQFUCQRTSQH9V-VYV2F3YDMNLRY6BGRBZH https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwqfuCqrTsqH9V-vyV2F3ydmnLrY6BgRbzH Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit HTTPS://ALZAUTHORS.COM/DONATE/ https://alzauthors.com/donate/. Thank you for listening.
On June 15, 2021, 5 of our authors came together for our first Virtual Q&A called “Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know About Living with Early Onset Dementia but Were Afraid to Ask.” We talked about their diagnoses, and they answered questions regarding their daily lives, how they cope with their condition, how they manage to keep a positive attitude, and so much more. You will learn a lot! For a transcript, please email marianne@alzauthors.com. Let’s get started! OUR PANELISTS: MICHAEL ELLENBOGEN was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 49, after experiencing symptoms for 10 years. This led to an early retirement from his career in information technology. Following his diagnosis, he has become an outspoken advocate for those with dementia and has written articles and blog posts in addition to his book, He has appeared on podcasts and television and has testified before the United States Congress. GERDA SAUNDERS was the Associate Director of and taught in the Gender Studies Program at the University of Utah; she also taught gender and literature courses in the English Department. At the age of 61, she was diagnosed with cerebral microvascular disease, a precursor to dementia. She retired a year later. She maintains an active lifestyle, writing and speaking about the disease in a variety of settings. She is the author of and blogs at Living With My Dementia. https://www.gerdasaunders.com/ WENDY MITCHELL started a blog, https://whichmeamitoday.wordpress.com/ after being diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia in 2014. She was 58. Her blog eventually became a memoir, Wendy remains active in the dementia community, participating in workshops and lectures across England. She has a very active Twitter presence, which she calls her lifeline. DR. JENNIFER BUTE, FRCGP worked in Africa as a doctor before working as a GP (Family Doctor) for 25 years and was involved in medical education. She was diagnosed with dementia ten years ago. She speaks at conferences and on radio and has been involved in television programs raising awareness and understanding of dementia. She passionately believes more can be done to improve both the present and the future for those living with the disease. Her book is her story and explains these principles. Her website GloriousOpportunity.org https://www.gloriousopportunity.org/ includes many videos where she discusses different aspects of the condition, and she also blogs on Facebook at Glorious Opportunity. https://www.facebook.com/gloriousopportunity PETER BERRY ran the family’s timber business for decades before being diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at age 50. He immediately stopped working and fell into a deep depression. After some time, he realized that he still had a life to live, overcame his depression, and now fills his days with cycling across the English countryside with his friends, and advocating for those with dementia in his community and on social media. To date he has raised more than £20,000 for dementia charities through cycling challenges. He tells his story in , with Deb Bunt. Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort, and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening.
Today’s guest is Australian Kate Swaffer, a humanitarian and activist for disability rights in dementia and aged care. She is the Chair, CEO and co-founder of Dementia Alliance International, a global advocacy and support group for people living with dementia. Kate is also living with younger onset dementia, diagnosed in 2008 at age 49. She has won many awards for her work, including the 2018 Australian 100 Women of Influence Global Leader, and the 2017 South Australia Australian of The Year. Kate is an elected board member of Alzheimer’s Disease International, and a current PhD candidate at the University of South Australia. Her first dementia book, What the Hell Happened to My Brain? Living Beyond Dementia, and her second book, Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, co-authored with Associate Professor Lee-Fay Low, were released in 2016. She has also written and published a book of poetry, Love Life Loss - A Roller Coaster of Poetry Volume 2: Days with Dementia. Since 2010, Kate has given many keynote presentations on dementia, human rights, disAbility, discrimination, stigma, the lived experience of dementia, dementia-enabling design principles, language, Prescribed Disengagement®, Information Technology for people with dementia, dementia policy, and loss and grief. In this episode we discuss how she managed to complete two master’s degrees and part of a PhD post diagnosis, her life as an “accidental activist,” and how to break down the wall of silence that surrounds a dementia diagnosis. Read Kate’s AlzAuthors Post: https://alzauthors.com/2016/07/19/meet-kate-swaffer-author-of-what-the-hell-happened-to-my-brain/ Start reading What the Hell Happened to My Brain? now! https://amzn.to/3xuIqZG Start reading Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another dementia now! https://amzn.to/2VtmQ9K Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. Connect with Kate Swaffer Website: https://kateswaffer.com/ Dementia Alliance: https://www.dementiaallianceinternational.org/ Blog: https://kateswaffer.com/daily-blog/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kate.swaffer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kateswaffer/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/KateSwaffer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-swaffer-502a5b13/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZZQitZb0pttEpGxNLwldjg Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort and support on their own dementia journeys AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening.
Judy Cornish is the founder of the Dementia & Alzheimer’s Wellbeing Network (DAWN®) in Moscow, Idaho. Through her hands-on work with dementia, she developed a proprietary method for working with people who have dementia—one that helps them develop and retain a sense of security and wellbeing. She is the author of Dementia with Dignity and The Dementia Handbook. The DAWN Method® is simple enough to be used by caregivers in the home and works in care facilities as well. It targets the emotional distress that accompanies cognitive decline so that behaviors are avoided, and caregiver stress is minimized. Judy is an attorney licensed in Idaho and a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Before becoming a lawyer, she worked in vocational rehabilitation with people who have brain injuries and as a Qualified Mental Health Associate with the mentally ill. With her background in traumatic brain injury, mental illness, elder law and disability law, Judy brings a distinctive set of abilities to her work with dementia and Alzheimer’s. In this episode, we discuss the importance of intuitive thinking skills, which Judy calls “the seat of our souls,” the medical model of dementia care vs. the experiential model, and how her desire to help a neighbor with dementia remain in her home launched a philosophy and program that helps families dealing with dementia worldwide. Start reading Judy’s books now: https://amzn.to/3hwN7eq (Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales.) Read Judy’s AlzAuthors Posts: Judy Cornish, Author of Dementia with Dignity, Offers Tools and Techniques for Home Care https://alzauthors.com/2019/07/30/welcome-back-judy-cornish-author-of-dementia-with-dignity/: https://alzauthors.com/2019/07/30/welcome-back-judy-cornish-author-of-dementia-with-dignity/ The Dementia Handbook: Judy Cornish Answers How to Care at Home https://alzauthors.com/2017/06/27/meet-judy-cornish-author-of-the-dementia-handbook/: https://alzauthors.com/2017/06/27/meet-judy-cornish-author-of-the-dementia-handbook/ Connect with Judy at the DAWN Method! Website: https://thedawnmethod.com Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/DAWN-Method-1684106525201898/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JudyCornishDAWN LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judycornish/ Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening.
Elizabeth Miller is the creative genius behind Happy Healthy Caregiver, a community built for caregivers who may be overwhelmed with their responsibilities and long to find others to connect with as well as resources to make life easier. Her mission is to help caregivers become happier and healthier while caring for others. “We can do hard things,” she says, “but we don’t need to do them alone.” Her years as a former caregiver for both parents and a certified caregiver consultant have given her a wealth of experience which she shares on the Happy Healthy Caregiver website and podcast, as a caregiver consultant, and much more. She is a sought-after speaker at caregiver conferences nationwide and coordinates a Daughterhood Circle in Atlanta. She’s also the author of Just for You: A Daily Self-Care Journal. In this podcast, we discuss juggling caregiving with a full-time job, commuting, and raising children, finding time for self-care, and the beauty of life after caregiving. Read Elizabeth’s AlzAuthors Post: https://alzauthors.com/2020/11/10/elizabeth-miller-just-for-you-self-care-journal/ Start journaling now with Just for You: A Daily Self-Care Journal! https://amzn.to/35MWvW9 Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales Connect with Elizabeth Website: https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/ Podcast: https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happyhealthycaregiver/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happyhealthycaregiver/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/HHCaregiver Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/HHCaregiver/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethbmiller YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAcYkpMK6I3Y0ep-kyvrZaQ Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening.
What happens when two dementia advocates from opposite sides of the Atlantic who have each written books and blogs and host podcasts on the condition get together for a chat? The conversation flows and grows into a wealth of storytelling and sharing. This is what happened when Pippa Kelly joined me for a Zoom call. Pippa is the author of , a novel that explores a man’s relationship with his mother who has dementia. She also blogs on all things dementia, and hosts the popular podcast, “Well I Know Now,” featuring a variety of guests sharing their dementia stories. Her dementia journey started when her father became ill and she needed to step in to care, not only for him, but for her mother, who had dementia. She was thrust into caregiving unexpectedly and says she felt ill-equipped for the role. Like most caregivers she had to learn everything on the spot and tackled such issues as moving her mother out of her home against her will and convincing the National Health Service to provide services for her father at home. A journalist, she soon began writing about their experiences, won an award for her writing, and became known across England as a campaigner and trusted speaker on the subject. In this discussion we touched on all of these topics, as well as the emotional chaos of dementia, and what you can get back from dementia care. Read Pippa’s AlzAuthors Posts: Meet Pippa Kelly, Dementia Writer and Advocate https://alzauthors.com/2016/06/16/meet-pippa-kelly-dementia-writer-advocate/ Meet Pippa Kelly, Author of Invisible Ink https://alzauthors.com/2017/04/12/meet-pippa-kelly-author-of-invisible-ink/ Start reading Invisible Ink now! https://amzn.to/3pYpXSh (Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales.) Connect with Pippa Website https://pippakelly.co.uk/ Blog https://pippakelly.co.uk/blog/ Podcast https://pippakelly.co.uk/blog/ Twitter https://twitter.com/piponthecommons Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening.
Richard Creighton began his blog, “Living with Alzheimer’s: A Real-Time Account of Dementia Caregiving,” the day his wife Kate was diagnosed in 2011. His goal was to keep a record of their experience for their children. He and Kate cared for family members together for 24 years, which included both his parents and his in-laws throughout various illnesses. Now he cares for her, deep into her dementia, at home with the assistance of paid caregivers. Richard and Kate recently made a major life change, leaving their home of many years to start anew at a Continuing Care Retirement Community, where they can age in place. Richard made this decision to make life easier for himself and for Kate, and to make sure their children’s responsibilities for their care would be minimal. He wanted a plan for an easy transition to the last chapter of their lives. In addition to his blog, which he writes under a pseudonym, Richard is also an AlzAuthors Associate, creating videos for our Dementia Caregiving During COVID video series. In this episode we talk about making a residential move late in life, their traumatic bout with COVID-19, how he keeps himself active and busy while caring for his wife at home, and what he’s got in his “Caregiver Toolbox” that may also be helpful to other caregivers on the dementia journey. Read Richard’s AlzAuthors post: https://alzauthors.com/2019/01/15/meet-blogger-richard-creighton-living-with-alzheimers/ Watch Richards’s Dementia Care During COVID videos: https://alzauthors.com/covid-19/ Start reading “Living with Alzheimer’s: A Real-Time Account of Dementia Caregiving” now! http://livingwithalzheimers.com/ Connect with Richard Creighton Blog: http://livingwithalzheimers.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/LivingWthAlz Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening.
Today’s guest is Dr. Jennifer Bute who lives in a dementia inclusive retirement village in Somerset, west of London. Previously she worked in Africa as a doctor before working as a GP for 25 years in England and was involved in medical education. Her career was cut short when she was diagnosed with young onset dementia ten years ago. She speaks at conferences and on radio and has been involved in television programs raising awareness and understanding of dementia. She passionately believes more can be done to improve both the present and the future for those living with the condition. Her book is her story and explains these principles. Her website GloriousOpportunity.org includes many videos where she discusses different aspects of dementia, and she also blogs on Facebook at Glorious Opportunity. In this episode we discuss the Japanese Memory groups she runs at her retirement village, how to find someone in their dementia, why she insists on always telling the truth to those with dementia, and the wonders of Alexa. Read Jennifer’s AlzAuthors Post: https://alzauthors.com/2020/09/15/dr-jennifer-bute-dementia-from-inside/ Start reading now! https://amzn.to/2Qm36mg Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. Connect with Jennifer Website: https://www.gloriousopportunity.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gloriousopportunity Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ Thank you for listening.
We’re doing something a little different on the podcast today. It’s AlzAuthors 6th anniversary, and we’re celebrating by bringing the entire team together to talk about what goes on behind the scenes of this global organization of authors. We’ll talk about upcoming events and projects and plans for the coming year. You’ll learn about our acquisitions process, which is how we find the great books and blogs in our collection, how to become an AlzAuthor, our new book club with Amazon, and how you can help to support our mission to bring quality resources to caregivers and others concerned about these conditions. Be sure to check the show notes as they are packed with information on how to get more from AlzAuthors. Follow AlzAuthors: Website: https://alzauthors.com Blog: https://alzauthors.com/blog/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlzAuthors/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alzauthors/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/alzauthors LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alzauthors Volunteer: https://alzauthors.com/volunteer/ Submit Your Book: https://forms.gle/oTaGH1S3b52VHdTB6 Donate: https://alzauthors.com/donate/ Purchase an Anthology: https://www.amazon.com/AlzAuthors/e/B07K8YDZZB Join our Amazon Book Club: https://www.amazon.com/amazonbookclubs/detail/amzn1.club.bookclub.96bc133f-1784-0992-c0b0-cdead946f145? Dementia Caregiving During COVID Videos: https://alzauthors.com/covid-19/ Podcast: https://alzauthors.com/podcast Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ Thank you for listening.
Today’s guest is Katya De Luisa, an artist, expressive arts program designer, freelance writer, and author with 20 years’ experience working with those living with dementia and their families. She firmly believes that when we change the way we look at something what we look at changes. Katya’s experience working in long-term care facilities as both a caregiver and as an art director has given her a wealth of insight into the dementia diseases, family dynamics, communication, miscommunication, and more. Her passion is communicating with people in late-stage disease using the visual arts, collage in particular. She believes that no matter how advanced a person’s dementia may be there is still a person inside who is reachable if we use the right tools and methods. She is the founder and director of the non-profit The Infinite Mind Dementia Project in Costa Rica, and the author of the book In this episode overflowing with practical advice and much to think about, we discuss how to connect with those who have dementia, why we should “move into the now,” tips on how to evaluate a nursing home, and why dementia instills such paralyzing fear in all of us, as individuals and as societies. Read Katya’s AlzAuthors Post: https://alzauthors.com/2021/02/02/katya-de-luisa-alzheimers/ Start reading now! https://amzn.to/3nB6zcC Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. Connect with Katya De Luisa Website: https://www.theinfinitemind.org Blog: https://www.theinfinitemind.org/category/katyas-blog/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katya.deluisa.37 Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheInfiniteMin1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katya-de-luisa-5a789319/ Info on MP3 players for those with dementia: The Purple Angel (UK): https://purpleangel-global.com/mp3-players/ Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening.
Today’s guest is Renée Brown Harmon, MD, author of the teaching memoir “Surfing the Waves of Alzheimer's: Principles of Caregiving That Kept Me Upright.” She and her husband Harvey created, developed, and shared a thriving family medicine private practice in Birmingham, Alabama, for more than twenty years. In 2010, Harvey, at age 50, was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s and forced to retire. Renée became “The Queen of Everything” at work and at home. She was a solo physician at their practice as well as Harvey’s primary caregiver, and primary parent to their two teenaged daughters. With reluctance and resentment, she also took on the role of head of household. It was a lot, but she managed to “surf the waves,” which she shares in her insightful book. Harvey’s dementia journey ended in memory care in 2018. Renée retired in 2019 and uses her time and talents to write and speak on Alzheimer’s and dementia while advocating for caregivers. In this episode we discuss how being a physician affected her caregiving journey, how she tried to do it all herself but learned to reach out for help, and the creative ways her friends helped her and Harvey. Read Renée’s AlzAuthors Post: https://alzauthors.com/2020/06/16/renee-harmon-earlyonset-alz-blog/ Start reading "Surfing the Waves of Alzheimer's: Principles of Caregiving That Kept Me Upright" now! https://amzn.to/3atH7jU Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. Connect with Renée Website: https://www.reneeharmon.com/ Blog: https://www.reneeharmon.com/blog/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reneeharmonauthor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reneeharmon_writes/?hl=en Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening.
Ann Campanella is a former magazine and newspaper journalist, the author of two memoirs and four collections of poetry, and an AlzAuthors manager and director. Her award-winning writing has appeared in literary journals, newspapers and magazines across the country and around the world, and she has discussed her work on numerous podcasts. Ann’s first memoir, Motherhood: Lost and Found, was twice named “One of the best Alzheimer’s books of all time” by Book Authority. In 2018, she was recognized by her hometown newspaper as one of the Most Influential Women in her community. She has a degree in English Literature from Davidson College and lives with her family and animals in North Carolina. In this episode, we discuss her heartbreaking journey to become a mother while losing her own mother to dementia at the same time, the healing power of horses, and the “season” of caregiving. Read Ann’s AlzAuthors Posts: Motherhood: Lost and Found https://alzauthors.com/2017/01/18/meet-ann-campanella-author-of-motherhood-lost-and-found/ The Beach Poems https://alzauthors.com/2017/11/08/what-flies-away-poetry-byann-campanella/ What Flies Away https://alzauthors.com/2019/09/17/meet-ann-campanella-alzauthors-manager-and-author-of-what-flies-away/ Start reading Ann’s work now! Motherhood Lost and Found: https://amzn.to/3eC5izw The Beach Poems: https://amzn.to/3lsFPu1 What Flies Away: https://amzn.to/3clNBSi Celiac Mom: https://amzn.to/38VsV Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. Connect with Ann Campanella Website: http://anncampanella.com/ Blog: https://fieldsofgrace22.wordpress.com/author/awcamp/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ann.campanella.7 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awcampanella/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorAnnC Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening.
Vincent Zappacosta has been a writer and photographer ever since he was a little boy back in Catholic school. His professional background has been in theatre, yoga, and graphic design. All of these skills came to be a blessing when his mother, Mama, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and he and his husband Douglass became her caregivers. “Mama was a ham,” he says, and loved being the focus of attention. She was thrilled when he began sharing their dementia journey with the world through his blog, Dementia Mama Drama. The blog became a play, and then a book, all by the same name. In this episode we discuss how Vincent and Douglass coped as caregivers to the dramatic Mama with daily doses of humor, always keeping Mama in the spotlight, and maintaining their own sanity with The Three W’s: writing, walking, and wine. Read Vincent’s AlzAuthors Post: https://alzauthors.com/2020/12/15/a-daily-dose-of-dementia-mama-drama/ Start reading Dementia Mama Drama now! https://amzn.to/3rZiwdS Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. Connect with Vincent Zappacosta Blog: https://www.dementia-mama-drama.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Mama.Drama Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_mama_drama/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DementiaMama Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort and support on their own dementia journeys. AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening.
