Category Navigating Alzheimer’s
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 […]
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™ […]
Is It Normal Aging?
What It’s Like Your husband went out to run some routine errands and said he would be back in an hour. Four hours later he calls from a clerk’s phone at a convenience store across town. He doesn’t know where he’s been or where he is. This is not the first time, and it will […]
COVID-19 Caregiving Challenges
In the best of times, caring for our loved ones with dementia can be stressful. Under the cloud of COVID-19, we can be pushed to our limits. In addition to the round the clock supervision and direction, we have the concerns about sanitation. Loved ones with dementia are typically messy in the bathroom and at […]
Work as Worship
My wise, yoga friend, Hansa, asked what I’ve been up to. I told her that I was working a lot, grateful for the work, but had little free time. She responded, “Work is worship. Yes, we get paid, but we also worship through our work.” I’ve been pondering Hansa’s words and understand what she was […]
Dementia-Style Holidays
When Alzheimer’s is on the scale, a drop of anything can send everything crashing. Families long for the traditions that mark the holidays. Special foods, music, colors, clothing, and decor trigger emotions and tie memories of the past with the ones we make today. Sadly, our meaningful traditions are likely to be too much for […]
Mary K. Doyle 
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