Category Alzheimer’s disease

Shadows in the Night

Imagine living your night time dreams and nightmares when awake, This is the experience of people with Alzheimer’s disease and suffering from a condition called sundowners or sundowning. Fantastical images, past memories, and present activities jumble together for a disturbing reality. As the sun rises later in the day, and sets earlier in the evening, […]

Visiting Memory Care Homes

Adding to the heartbreak of having a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented families from viewing memory care homes and seeing their loved ones once they were placed. I can only imagine how difficult this was. Visiting my husband, Marshall, as often as I wished allowed me to remain close to him […]

Memory Lane Games

Visiting with a loved one with dementia can be complicated. We must watch what we say, how we say it, and the words we use. “Discussions” need to be basic and clear to avoid confusion and frustration for both of us. Finding activities enjoyable for both family members offers an opportunity to share time and […]

In the End, Will You Remember God?

If your faith is solid, will it carry you through your life even if you develop dementia? I believe it is possible. Your faith may even grow stronger. My husband, Marshall, was a believer raised in a devout family, but, from my observation, he did little to build on his spiritual foundation. He rarely went […]

Price of Protection from COVID in Memory Care Facilities

Under the best of circumstances, overseeing care of loved ones in a memory care home is emotionally draining. Our loved ones’ care is beyond what we alone can provide. They require a team, and that is what they are getting in their care facilities, along with our love and attention. Yet, it’s difficult to witness […]

New Blood Test for Alzheimer’s Disease

The earlier someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease the earlier treatment may begin. The ability to plan for the future and utilize resources may then be done before cognition is diminished. Finally, a blood test is market-ready that can identify amyloid plaque, the strongest pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease in the brain. C2N Diagnostics’ PrecivityAD™ […]

Love from a Distance

When Marshall was at the end of his life, he was surrounded by family. We smothered him with love. I am especially grateful to have held his hand through his last breath and my head close to his while listening intently to his final gasp. COVID has robbed families of this blessing. If your elderly […]

First Place Award for The Alzheimer’s Spouse

Whether fiction or nonfiction, quality books require diligent research, experience, wisdom, imagination, and years, if not decades, of time. From concept through publication and on through marketing, books are the offspring of authors. We live and breathe them. Most books have a life, a period of time in which they are relevant and of interest […]

Easy Test with Big Answers

Do you struggle to remember names? Do you forget where you are going or what you wanted to do? Is it difficult for you to complete basic math? When multi-tasking, juggling work, home, and family, or exhausted from a long day, it’s not unusual to forget things. We misplace credit cards and keys, forget to […]

Choosing a Memory Care Home Sight-Unseen

We may be sheltering in place but Alzheimer’s disease is not holding still. It’s doing what it always does. It progresses. There is no cure for this disease. Symptoms may be somewhat controlled with medication and behavioral modification, but loved ones’ health conditions continue to decline. Should the symptoms become unmanageable from the loved one’s […]