Tag Archives: Dementia
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 […]
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 […]
The Magician’s Escape Plan
For all the years Marshall’s continued his downward spiral into Alzheimer’s disease, he’s remained otherwise healthy. He’s had symptoms disruptive to daily living since at least 2004. That’s 15 years and counting. Today what he typically remembers of his past is jumbled, understands little of what’s happening in the present, and he needs assistance with […]
Estrogen and Dementia
Statistics tell us that 2/3 of the people with Alzheimer’s are women. The basic answer as to why this might be so is that women live longer than men so there are more older women to develop the disease. Researchers have always known this may be partly correct, but there definitely is more to this […]
How Much Do You Really Drink?
Few people are honest about their weight, finances, or drinking habits. We stretch the truth even in innocent conversations. But lying to ourselves about any of these factors can put us in harm’s way. The ramifications of excessive alcohol consumption can be life-altering contributing toward both mental and physical decline. Not only is alcoholism linked […]
Mary K. Doyle 
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