A Tribute to George Reed
On my dad's passing – a new stage in my family's Alzheimer's Journey
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...
Resources for Family Members & Caregivers
6 months after our Alzheimer's Journey ended…
6 months ago today my family spent the day at my dad's bedside... We held his hand. We talked to him. We told him what an amazing husband, dad and grandfather he was... We told him it was ok to let go. That we would be ok. That we'd take care of each other... It was...
When tears seem to come out of nowhere…
We went to an amazing wedding last week. I was a little nervous because at the last wedding I went to I spontaneously burst into tears during the father / daughter dance. I hadn't expected it at all and ran fleeing like Cinderella at midnight to compose myself and so...
The Aftermath of Alzheimer's…
One day, it is over. No more care choices to make, no more changes to adjust to, no more grieving the living while doing your best to stay connected at the same time. No more wondering how long the journey will last, how and when it will end. One day, your loved one...
Have medical advances ruined a peaceful death?
If we witnessed the peace and tranquility that is given in the hours before death, we would be less afraid. - Jennifer Worth. I'm currently reading In the Midst of Life* by Jennifer Worth, a retired nurse and author. She shares her experience with the advances in...
Bringing George home…
Once someone goes into a Memory Care Home when they have dementia or Alzheimer's they rarely return home. This video is another in our "I Remember When..." series. It tells the story of why my mom made the decision to bring my dad, George Reed, home after nearly 3...
3 ways to Use Music When a Loved One Has Alzheimer's
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...
A few ways to keep your loved one safe at home when they have dementia or Alzheimer's
As our loved ones age, we begin to worry more about their safety. If a loved one has dementia or Alzheimer's, and begins to wander, safety becomes an even greater concern. If your loved one has Sundowners (a symptom of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia....
When a parent has dementia or Alzheimers
Life gets turned on it's head. (That's the simplified version of what happens!) Life before dementia seems like a distant memory. It comes on like a subtle fog - barely perceptible until you are engulfed and can't see two feet in front of you. The world goes gray as...
I Remember When…
As my dad has entered the final stages of dementia my family has had more "I remember when..." conversations. As his memory and abilities fade, we are looking back on this Alzheimer's journey and remembering both the struggles and the silver linings... I remember the...
Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad
Today is my parent's 53rd wedding anniversary. My mom was 19 when she vowed to stand by my dad through better or worse, in sickness and in health. My dad was 24. Thankfully there was more BETTER and HEALTH through the 53 years but there has definitely been a lot of...
We all need more empathy in our lives…
Have you ever stopped to think about the difference between SYMPATHY and EMPATHY? They are similar at a glance but worlds apart when you really look at how they work and more importantly, how they FEEL. After watching this video by Brene Brown I find myself referring...
Finding and keeping your strength to move forward…
"Sometimes you have to leave the safety of the shore to find your strength." This is a design that I created for my art business but that is inspired by the dementia and Alzheimer's journey. Strength and inner peace seem to ebb and flow. There are days when things are...