HAS SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH DEMENTIA OR ALZHEIMER’S?
Do you want to learn more about what’s to come and how to support them?
Every 65 seconds, someone in the US develops Alzheimer’s.
- Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, the 6th leading cause of death and the ONLY cause of death in the top 10 that is not preventable or curable.
- The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that there are approximately 6.2 million people in the U.S. with Alzheimer’s – 2/3 of those are women.
- One in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. It kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.
- Globally, the World Health Organization estimates approximately 44 million people have Alzheimer’s. These numbers will grow exponentially as the population ages.
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Late Tuesday night, August 2, 2016, my dad's Alzheimer's Journey came to an end. What do you say about losing a parent so slowly, and then at the actual passing? So many things about his physical departure from our life was perfect: His whole family was with him. My...
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In the end of May I had a great conversation with Tryn Rose Seley, musician, singer and author of 15 Minutes of Fame: One Photo Does Wonders. We talked about music and how it can be used to help both people with dementia or Alzheimer's as well as family members to...
7 Abilities Affected by Dementia and Alzheimer’s…
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9 Movies that Show the Challenges of Alzheimer’s
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10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s
Have you heard of "Grumpy Old Man" syndrome? I think the term became popular from the 1983 movie by the same name featuring Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau & Ann-Margret. Or was the movie named for the syndrome? No matter - it's what you HOPE is happening when you...
This is what finding out someone you love has Alzheimer’s is like…
Someone recently asked me what it was like when I found out that my dad did, indeed, have Alzheimer's. The question made me pause for a moment - on the one hand; the science-backed diagnosis meant it was real. It wasn't in our imagination; my dad wasn't going to...
Why I created this Website and wrote “What to Do Between the Tears…“
In 2012 my dad was diagnosed with dementia. As we looked back, his symptoms of memory issues, personality changes and more began 8-10 years before that.
It was scary, overwhelming and confusing – feelings you have probably had if you are reading this.
One of the first things my family and I tried to figure out was “What is the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s?”
It felt like the two words were used interchangeably.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association: Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia. Alzheimer’s is a specific disease. Dementia is not.
My dad was a college professor and instilled a love of learning in me from an early age. I’m the kind of person that wants to understand how things work (the details!) and I feel better with a plan.
As a way to feel more in control of an uncontrollable situation, I started to learn as much as I could about dementia and Alzheimer’s.
What should we be doing to help my dad now and what did we need to do to plan for the future? How could we support each other as we navigated what is commonly referred to as “the Alzheimer’s Journey”.
As I searched for answers for myself and my family, I created this website in the hopes of helping others too.
I am an artist. A daughter. A wife. A mother. A sister.
I am like you – a person whose life was turned upside down when my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
How you approach the challenges of having a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s can make all the difference in your journey. From your physical, emotional and mental health to what you make of the time you have left with your loved one.
For every person with Alzheimer’s, it is estimated that 1-4 family members are involved in their care.
Wishing you and yours strength and connection through your journey and I hope this website is of help and comfort.
– Tara Reed
Watch the video below to see the impact Alzheimer’s has on the entire family…
(This video was created less than a month before George Reed passed away…)