Alzheimer’s Awareness and Family Caregivers Month

I have combined two “month” observances in one post, because there has been a close connection between the two in my own life. November is both National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month. In the late 1980s, my father started to exhibit occasional memory loss. He drove to town to pick up … Read more

Stop Alzheimer’s

September 21 is World Alzheimer’s Day. a day set apart by organizations around the world to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. I have been caregiver for two Alzheimer’s patients—my father and my husband—and I have seen two other family members—my grandfather when I was a preteen and an aunt when I was an … Read more

World Alzheimer’s Day

If you’ve read my blog for a while, you know raising awareness of Alzheimer’s is a cause close to my heart. I saw my grandfather being hauled off to the state hospital (the only mental institution available) when I was twelve years. At the time, the doctors said he had “hardening of the arteries.”  Three … Read more

World Alzheimer’s Day

Help! What Do I Do Now? cover

Today is World Alzheimer’s Day, a day to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and dementia. When my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in the late 1980s, no one in my family had ever heard of the disease. Later, as we saw the progression of my father’s disease, we realized that was what my grandfather had when … Read more

National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and Family Caregivers Month

Help! What Do I Do Now? cover

November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month. I have been a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s twice in my life—first for my father in the late 1980s and early 1990s, then for my husband two decades later. I was one of several caregivers for my father. One of the other … Read more

World Alzheimer’s Day

Today is World Alzheimer’s Day, a day to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s Disease. This is very close to my heart because of my personal experiences: My grandfather had what I’m sure now was Alzheimer’s, but nearly six decades ago, it was called “hardening of the arteries.” At age twelve, I watched him being forced into … Read more

National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month

Help! What Do I Do Now? cover

November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month. My first exposure to Alzheimer’s disease occurred in the late 1980s. My father, a very strong, intelligent, and independent man, started having episodes of confusion, memory loss, and changed behavior. When he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, none of us had ever heard of … Read more

World Alzheimer’s Day

September 21 is World Alzheimer’s Day, a day to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s and other dementias. If you know someone with Alzheimer’s–and especially if you are a caregiver–I highly recommend the book written by a sister, Nancy Nicholson. Nancy has both personal experience (as a caregiver for our father) and professional experience (as a social … Read more

National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and National Caregiver Month

November is National Azheimer’s Awareness Month and National Caregiver Month.  The photo at the left shows both an Alzheimer’s patient (my late husband Jack) and a caregiver (myself). Jack has been in Heaven for more than two years,but for several years before his death, I cared for him as his disease progressed. If you search the … Read more

World Alzheimer’s Day

Help! What Do I Do Now? cover

Today is designated as World Alzheimer’s Day, a day to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. There are many tragic diseases that destroy the body; what makes dementia so tragic is that it destroys the memory and the personality. I cared for my husband for several years until his death two years … Read more