Kate Hanley’s discovery of her parent’s unique love language set her on a path she never anticipated—writing a book. Yet these beautiful “paper napkin sonnets,” and the story that surrounds them, were too precious and inspiring not to share, as they offer hope for anyone in the throes of caring for someone with dementia.
The overwhelming peace she had when she witnessed her mother's love for her seven children overpower dementia encouraged her to write her story. It is her hope that others will believe that their compassion and resilience in caring for someone with dementia will not be forgotten.
About Kate Hanley
Kate is passionate about the work she does with nonprofit organizations and their direct mail outreach through her work with Cathedral Corporation. She is also an adjunct professor with Utica College and Teacher Education Programs. She and her husband live in Old Forge, NY with two dogs and two grown sons who come home as often as possible to enjoy the peace and beauty of the Adirondack Mountains.
In this episode, you will be able to:
· Realize the value of anecdotes related to dementia care, shedding light on love's strength and the hurdles encountered on the journey.
· Expound on the essence of memory preservation techniques and harnessing the senses in dementia care.
· Grasp the emotional aspects of caregiving and the importance of forging supportive alliances for mental well-being.
· Recognize the early warning signs of dementia, distinguishing it from the natural aging process.
· Acknowledge the efficacy of storytelling and clear-cut communication in enhancing the caregiving experience.
After the Podcast
Read Kate’s AlzAuthors post: Love is Never Forgotten in Breakfast Memories: A Dementia Love Story
Purchase Breakfast Memories: A Dementia Love Story
Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from books sales.
Connect with Kate Hanley
Website
Facebook
***
About the Podcast
AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.
We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ .
Thank you for listening.
We are a WCN Featured Podcast.
Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network.
Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.
Thanks for listening.
AlzAuthors.com
Shop our Store
September 26, 2023
Join hosts Marianne Sciucco and Christy Byrne Yates on the Untangling Alzheimer's & Dementia podcast as they dive into a lively conversation with AlzAuthor Tami Anastasia about the challenges caregivers face in supporting individuals with dementia. Tami's book, Essential Strategies for Dementia Care: Learning to P.A.C.E. Yourself, offers guidance for caregivers on various topics, from communication techniques to managing emotions like anger and grief. The conversation begins with Tami providing insights on motivating individuals with dementia to engage in activities. She emphasizes the importance of understanding that all behavior is a form of communication and highlights the need to truly listen to the person with dementia. Tami also explores the concept of grief and loss in dementia care, emphasizing the need to connect with the person rather than correcting them.
In this episode, you will be able to:
Gain enlightenment on the unvoiced hurdles that caregivers of dementia patients face.Kickstart your efficient caregiving journey with the assistance of the P.A.C.E. model.Determine how to strike the delicate balance between personal self-care and caretaking for your loved ones with dementia.Learn techniques to reinforce your confidence and self-esteem in your role as a caregiver.Develop a deeper understanding of the emotional intricacies involved in dementia care and how to manage them.
More about Tami
Tami Anastasia is a reliable confidante to countless family caregivers, guiding them through the complexities of dementia care. Drawing strength from her personal experiences—especially her encounters with her grandmother's dementia diagnosis—she's dedicated to easing the journey for caregivers. Besides running a bustling private practice in the greater Bay Area of California, she inked her experiences and wisdom in the form of her practical book, Dementia Caregiver: Learning to P.A.C.E. Yourself.
Connect with Tami
Website
LinkedIn
Facebook
X (Twitter)
Instagram
TikTok
About the Podcast
AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.
We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ .
Thank you for listening.
We are a WCN Featured Podcast.
Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network.
Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.
AlzAuthors.com
Shop our Store
September 12, 2023
Register for Everything You've Always Wanted to Know About Living with Dementia September 1 at 10:30 AM EST
Watch the June 2021 episode on YouTube
***
Rayna Neises comes to us from the heartland of Kansas to share her experience as a former caregiver for parents with dementia. She is the author of No Regrets: Hope for Your Caregiving Season. She also hosts the podcast "A Season of Caring," and is the publisher of "Content Magazine: Finding God in Your Caregiving Season." Our conversation focuses on her belief that caregiving is "a season of life," and the necessity of finding support to navigate its challenges. She offers valuable insights for caregivers who may feel overwhelmed and isolated, and emphasizes the importance of self-care and setting boundaries. Her book, podcast, and magazine offer further support for caregivers seeking to maintain their identity and find moments of respite amidst the chaos.
In this podcast, you will:
Embrace the enlightening concept of caregiving as a pivotal life season, rather than a mere duty;Learn how to navigate the complex landscape of dementia care unveiling truths that may transform your understanding of caregiving;Acknowledge the urgent need for advanced planning and transparent conversations around personal care choices;Discover that faith-based support groups may offer much-needed comfort in this demanding journey
About Rayna Neises
Rayna Neises understands the joys and challenges that come from a season of caring. She helped care for both of her parents during their separate battles with Alzheimer’s over a thirty-year span. She looks back on those days now with no regrets – and she wishes the same for everyone caring for aging parents. To help others through this challenging season of life, Rayna has written No Regrets: Hope for Your Caregiving Season, a book filled with her own heart-warming stories and practical suggestions for journeying through a caregiving season. She is an ICF Associate Certified Coach with certifications in both Life and Leadership Coaching from the Professional Christian Coaching Institute. She is also the host of “A Season of Caring Podcast” and a passion speaker. Rayna lives on a farm in southeast Kansas with her husband, Ron, and small pack of adorable dogs. She is the baby of her family, but most would never guess that. A former teacher, she enjoys crafts of all kinds and spending time with her grandkids most of all.
Connect with Rayna
Facebook.com/ASeasonofCaringRaynaNeises
Linkedin.com/RaynaNeises
Instagram.com/RaynaNeises
Pinterest.com/thcoaching
Twitter
Website
Book
About the Podcast
AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.
We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ .
Thank you for listening.
We are a WCN Featured Podcast.
Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network.
Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.
AlzAuthors.com
Shop our Store
August 29, 2023
After a dementia diagnosis and heart surgery, Tony Copeland-Parker and his partner, Catherine, aka "Cat," traveled for years worldwide to run marathons and half-marathons. Now, due to the progression of Cat's early onset Alzheimer's, they've recently settled down in an assisted living facility. Tony and his memoir, Running All Over the World: Our Race Against Early Onset Alzheimer's, first came to AlzAuthors in January, 2022. He has appeared on our podcast and in a virtual panel discussion, Love Stories: Keeping Romance Alive in Dementia Care. Tony is an expert on traveling with a loved one with dementia, and now speaks about the intricacies involved in finding a suitable place to settle down for the duration of Alzheimer's.
On the podcast, Tony shares how he initially struggled to accept Cat's diagnosis and find a way forward. He eventually realized that focusing on making the most of their time together was a more constructive approach than searching for a cure. By dedicating their energy to activities they love, Tony and Cat have been able to maintain their connection and find solace amidst the challenges posed by Alzheimer's.
In this episode, you will:
Delve into Tony's enlightening journey as an Alzheimer's caregiver and the lessons he's learnedDiscover how to develop a balanced approach to caregiving that preserves your self-identity and allows you to follow your passionsUncover essential strategies for hassle-free traveling with a cognitively impaired loved oneLearn the art of maintaining your own identity while caregiving without sacrificing your passionsDiscover the crucial aspects of selecting the perfect care facility for Alzheimer's care and why it matters
After the Podcast
Purchase Running All Over the World: Our Race Against Early Onset Alzheimer's
Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales.
Read Tony's AlzAuthors post Anthony Copeland-Parker and Partner Catherine Become Marathon Nomads
Listen to Tony's first podcast Anthony Copeland-Parker Untangles Life as a Nomad and Early Onset Alzheimer's
Listen to our panel discussion Love Stories: Keeping Romance Alive in Dementia Care
Watch our panel discussion Love Stories: Keeping Romance Alive in Dementia Care
Connect with Tony
Website and blog
Facebook
Twitter
About the Podcast
AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.
We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ .
Thank you for listening.
We are a Whole Care Network Featured Podcast.
Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network.
Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.
Shop our Store
August 15, 2023
Jane Mullins, Ph.D. is a dedicated professional with a 30-year background in dementia care. As a trained nurse, Jane has worked in various roles, including managing care homes and supporting people with dementia in memory clinics. Her empathetic approach focuses on enhancing communication and understanding between individuals with dementia and their families. Jane's groundbreaking multisensory reminiscence technique has been a game-changer for couples impacted by dementia, encouraging connection and rekindling memories. Her book, "Finding the Light in Dementia Care," showcases her unwavering commitment to improving the lives of those living with cognitive impairment. She recently transformed the lessons in her book into an online course, available to anyone,
In this episode, Jane highlights the importance of building trust and empathy with people with dementia and their families throughout their care journey. She believes that the person with dementia should always lead the way in their care, allowing them to create a trusting environment with the caregivers. This trust enables effective communication, which can significantly improve the person's quality of life, even in advanced stages of the disease.
In this episode, you will learn:
how to enhance dementia caregiving communication by utilizing sensory props and crafting a secure atmosphereways to streamline the learning process for caregivers with easy-to-understand, engaging, and compact educational materialthe crucial role of advanced care strategies and transparent dialogues in dementia carehow to access the Duet Caregiving Training approach, embracing Dignity, Understanding, Empathy, and Training principles
About Jane Mullins, Ph. D
Dr. Jane M. Mullins is a dementia nurse consultant who has devoted over 25 years to the study and practice of dementia care. Through listening to and supporting people and their families during their diagnosis in memory clinics, caring for them in hospital and in care homes, she has helped throughout all of the stages of their condition.
Jane has uncovered certain common features that may help caregivers and the people they care for find better ways of coping. Her practice experience is backed up by expert knowledge gained from attending conferences, continuing education, lecturing and keeping up to date with research, as well as studying for her Ph.D. which explores multisensory ways of communicating and connecting.
Connect with Dr. Mullins
WebsiteTwitter Facebook LinkedInMature Times
About the Podcast
AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.
We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ .
Thank you for listening.
We are a WCN Featured Podcast.
Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network.
Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.
AlzAuthors.com
Shop our Store
August 1, 2023
A crucial aspect of caregiving is keeping those in your care engaged and productive with simple, everyday tasks. Such activities can include folding laundry, arranging books, cooking, and eating. Not only does this provide purpose and enjoyment for the care recipient, but it also promotes independence and preserves dignity. Encouraging participation in daily tasks, even in a small capacity, can significantly enhance the overall quality of life for both caregiver and care recipient.
In this podcast, Melissa Bernstein, an occupational therapist, and David Bernstein, a geriatrician with over 40 years of practice, share the importance of these regular activities and how they can benefit those receiving care. They stress the value of including all the senses in these tasks, such as playing music while cooking or eating. The goal is to create a rich, sensory experience that nurtures and engages the mind and body, thereby fostering continued independence and self-worth in the care recipient's life.
In this episode, you will be able to:
· Discover their groundbreaking "Power of Five" formula for preventing neurodegenerative diseases.
· Explore compassionate approaches to nutrition and engagement for Alzheimer's caregivers and their loved ones.
· Foster independence and uphold dignity in dementia and Alzheimer's care.
· Unlock flavorful secrets from Melissa's cookbook for healthy eating and pet care.
After the Podcast
Read Melissa and David's AlzAuthors posts
Melissa Bernstein Creates a Cookbook for Caregivers
Doctor Shares Strategies for Dealing with Unsafe Senior Drivers
Discover their books:
The Power of Five Formula:The Ultimate Formula for Longevity & Remaining Youthful
Power of 5 Test Kitchen Cookbook Your Guide to Healthy Cooking and Eating
The Power of 5 Test Kitchen Cookbook: Caregiver Edition
I've Got Some Good News and Some Bad News: YOU'RE OLD: Tales of a Geriatrician, What to expect in your 60's, 70's, 80's, and Beyond
Senior Driving Dilemmas
Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from books sales.
Connect with Melissa
The Powerof5life.com website
Facebook
Instagram
Connect with Dr. Bernstein
Website
Facebook.com/DrDavidBernstein/
LinkedIn
Twitter
***
About the Podcast
AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.
We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ .
Thank you for listening.
We are a WCN Featured Podcast.
Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network.
Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.
Thanks for listening.
AlzAuthors.com
Shop our Store
July 5, 2023
When Sandra Strauss' husband, Rick, was diagnosed with dementia overnight, she was determined to uncover the truth behind the cause--but what she discovered was far more shocking than anyone could have imagined. Unbeknownst to them, Rick had a rare genetic predisposition that made him highly susceptible to environmental toxins--a factor that could be making countless people sick. Sandra's journey to uncover the truth has now become a mission to help others navigate this complex terrain as she embarks on writing a book to share her experience and raise awareness.
In this episode, you will be able to:
· Discover the powerful connection between environmental toxins and the development of brain disorders and dementia.
· Recognize the crucial role of addressing cognitive decline at its roots and understanding its early signs.
· Master practical solutions to caregiving challenges such as driving limitations and effective communication.
· Uncover the importance of seeking educated and functional medical professionals when addressing dementia care.
· Harness the benefits of prioritizing self-care, mental health, and support networks for caregivers.
About the Author
Sandra Strauss is an experienced consumer health educator who has dedicated her career to helping individuals navigate complex health issues and promoting healthy lifestyles. With her former role as the VP of Consumer Affairs for the Fruit and Vegetable Association, she has been a strong advocate for health, harmony, and happiness. In her work, she explores the effects of environmental toxins on the brain and their role in dementia development. Sandra is the author of several books, including A Toxic Brain: Revelations from a Health Journey.
After the Podcast
Read Sandra's AlzAuthors post: A Toxic Brain by Author Sandra Strauss Details Her Husband’s 12-Year Dementia Journey
Purchase A Toxic Brain: Revelations from a Health Journey
Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from books sales.
Connect with Sandra
Website
LinkedIn
FB page
Instagram
Twitter
TikTok: #atoxicbrain
About the Podcast
AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.
We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ .
Thank you for listening.
We are a Whole Care Network Featured Podcast.
Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network.
Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.
Thanks for listening.
AlzAuthors.com
Shop our Store
May 23, 2023
In celebration of National Poetry Month, we hosted a gathering of poets on April 18, 2023, to share work inspired by their dementia experiences.
We understand that storytelling, of any kind, but especially through poetry lightens burdens. For many caregivers, poetry can be a means of expression, of sharing their experience, opening hearts to joy, or drowning sorrows. Finding the right words to tell our stories can ease our journey. Reading the words of others can inspire us, give us strength, and let us know we are not alone.
The response to our initial invitation to a poetry reading was tremendous and better than we expected. More than 60 authors RSVP'd, and on the day of the reading more than 30 showed up to read and share their beautiful words and stories with honesty and grace. We shared laughter and tears, too.
Now, thirty poets is a lot of poets! And a lot of poems. We accommodated everyone by stretching the program out to two hours. Many poets got to read twice. What resulted is almost 2-hours of recorded poetry on the dementia journey, now available on our podcast in two episodes and on our YouTube channel. Welcome to episode two.
Get out the tissues and start listening!
Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Gms7c16PGyQ
Here are some of the comments we've received:
· "The reading was heartfelt and healing. Thank you so much everyone!" Therese Halscheid
· "Thanks to the organizers and readers for a beautiful and healing session." Mariana Mcdonald
· "I want to thank everyone for sharing so many superb poems revealing so much on such a difficult subject." Walter Bargen
· "This was a wonderful, powerful, affirming reading. I want to thank AlzAuthors for organizing this. I am so grateful to all the brave voices who speak from a deep authority on Alzheimer’s/dementia." Margaret Stawowy
· "Today I was privileged to be one of many poets associated with AlzAuthors on a conference call. To hear the shared words of their experiences similar to my own gave me a sense of unity. I felt part of a village. That’s what we are, really. We’re all part of the village, managing whatever life has given us. Never forget, whatever your life is, you are part of the village." Rene Terry Mucci
· "This was so wonderful. I have been so touched by everyone’s words today. Keep writing!" Christy Byrne Yates
· "Remembering our loved ones like this always heals my heart." Charlie Becker
Featured Poets
Alan BernAnn CampanellaAnnette WickCaroline JohnsonCharlie BeckerDorothy HorneFelicia MitchellJoy JohnstonJudith LechnerKelly DuMarLori AdenMargaret StawowyMariana McdonaldMarion CohenMarjorie MaddoxMarsha BarberMary CrescenzoPaul SoharPauletta HanselPauli PedersenRene Terry MucciSandra BerrisSherri LevineSteve GiblinSue Fagalde LickSusan J. FareseThereseTom and Karen BrennerTony Copeland-ParkerVirginia PasquarelliWalter Bargen
Resources
Storms of the Inland Sea: Poems of Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiving by Margaret Stawowy (Editor), Jim Cokas (Editor)
Download our free booklet "Poetry for the Dementia Journey," featuring 17 collections of poetry.
May 9, 2023
In celebration of National Poetry Month, we hosted a gathering of poets on April 18, 2023, to share work inspired by their dementia experiences.
We understand that storytelling, of any kind, but especially through poetry lightens burdens. For many caregivers, poetry can be a means of expression, of sharing their experience, opening hearts to joy, or drowning sorrows. Finding the right words to tell our stories can ease our journey. Reading the words of others can inspire us, give us strength, and let us know we are not alone.
The response to our initial invitation to a poetry reading was tremendous and better than we expected. More than 60 authors RSVP'd, and on the day of the reading more than 30 showed up to read and share their beautiful words and stories with honesty and grace. We shared laughter and tears, too.
Now, thirty poets is a lot of poets! And a lot of poems. We accommodated everyone by stretching the program out to two hours. Many poets got to read twice. What resulted is almost 2-hours of recorded poetry on the dementia journey, now available on our podcast in two episodes and on our YouTube channel. Welcome to episode one.
Get out the tissues and start listening!
Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Gms7c16PGyQ
Here are some of the comments we've received:
· "The reading was heartfelt and healing. Thank you so much everyone!" Therese Halscheid
· "Thanks to the organizers and readers for a beautiful and healing session." Mariana Mcdonald
· "I want to thank everyone for sharing so many superb poems revealing so much on such a difficult subject." Walter Bargen
· "This was a wonderful, powerful, affirming reading. I want to thank AlzAuthors for organizing this. I am so grateful to all the brave voices who speak from a deep authority on Alzheimer’s/dementia." Margaret Stawowy
· "Today I was privileged to be one of many poets associated with AlzAuthors on a conference call. To hear the shared words of their experiences similar to my own gave me a sense of unity. I felt part of a village. That’s what we are, really. We’re all part of the village, managing whatever life has given us. Never forget, whatever your life is, you are part of the village." Rene Terry Mucci
· "This was so wonderful. I have been so touched by everyone’s words today. Keep writing!" Christy Byrne Yates
· "Remembering our loved ones like this always heals my heart." Charlie Becker
Featured Poets
Alan BernAnn CampanellaAnnette WickCaroline JohnsonCharlie BeckerDorothy HorneFelicia MitchellJoy JohnstonJudith LechnerKelly DuMarLori AdenMargaret StawowyMariana McdonaldMarion CohenMarjorie MaddoxMarsha BarberMary CrescenzoPaul SoharPauletta HanselPauli PedersenRene Terry MucciSandra BerrisSherri LevineSteve GiblinSue Fagalde LickSusan J. FareseThereseTom and Karen BrennerTony Copeland-ParkerVirginia PasquarelliWalter Bargen
Resources
Storms of the Inland Sea: Poems of Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiving by Margaret Stawowy (Editor), Jim Cokas (Editor)
Download our free booklet "Poetry for the Dementia Journey," featuring 17 collections of poetry.
May 9, 2023
Cindy Weinstein is an English professor at the California Institute of Technology and the author of the award-winning Finding the Right Words: A Story of Literature, Grief, and the Brain, based on her experience with her father's early onset Alzheimer's in the 1980's. During her father's illness she was a graduate student at the University of California at Berkley, separated from her family in Florida by more than 3,000 miles.
Her family's dementia journey had a long-lasting impact on her, and decades later she decided to write a book about it with the assistance of neurologist Bruce Miller, MD. It's the tale of a daughter's grief, of how she was studying and mastering language while her father struggled with word-finding. This irony intrigued her to the point she went on to study neurology herself with an interdisciplinary group of scientists, artists, social scientists, and physicians at The Global Brain Health Institute based at the University of California at San Francisco and Trinity College, Dublin. During this time, she worked with Dr. Miller on Finding the Right Words, which won third place in Memoir Magazine's 2022 Memoir Prize for Books.
Cindy was born and raised in Verona, New Jersey. She received her B.A. in English and American Literature from Brandeis University, after which she went to UC Berkeley for her Ph.D. in English. She is currently the Eli and Edythe Broad Professor of English and has been at the California Institute of Technology since 1989, during which time she has published three monographs on American literature, edited several volumes, and taught classes on Herman Melville, Edgar Allan Poe, Women’s Fiction, and Black literature. She has had several administrative roles at Caltech, including Vice Provost and Chief Diversity Officer.
In this episode, we discuss the shock of her father's death and her lifelong grief, her desire to study the language that surrounds a dementia diagnosis and her mission to help others by writing a book about it, and how working with Dr. Miller helped her better understand the changes dementia brought to her father's brain.
After the Podcast
Read Cindy's AlzAuthors post: Cindy Weinstein’s Memoir of Father’s Early-Onset Alzheimer’s
Purchase Finding the Right Words: A Story of Literature, Grief, and the Brain
Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from books sales.
Connect with Cindy
Amazon.com
Website: Finding the Right Words – Cindy Weinstein & Dr. Bruce Miller (weinsteinandmiller.com)
Cindy Weinstein – Professor Of English – Caltech | LinkedIn
Instagram
Mastodon
Other Mentions
Emory and Aging Center UCSF
Bruce Miller, MD
Ruth Stevens Podcast
Susan Farese, MSN, RN, Podcast
Sign up for Laura Davis' Writing Workshop
***
About the Podcast
AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.
We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ .
Thank you for listening.
We are a WCN Featured Podcast.
Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network.
Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.
Thanks for listening.
AlzAuthors.com
Shop our Store
March 14, 2023
Poetry, whether reading or writing it, can be a powerful tool to ease our dementia caregiving journey, allowing us to express our deepest emotions, unravel our confusion and angst, and learn from and understand others.
Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN is the author of Poetic Expressions in Nursing: Sharing the Caring, poems written when she became a nurse poet in the 1990's. Heartbreaking memories of losing her grandmother, Ann, to early onset Alzheimer's when she was a young teen inspired her first poem, Ann's Zest Ends.
In this episode, we discuss how witnessing her grandmother's decline as a child profoundly impacted her even 50 years later, why a chance scene in a movie inspired her to start writing poetry, and the value of poetry as expression for nurses and caregivers.
A native of New Jersey, Susan has decades of experience in health care and communications, including military and civilian nursing practice, management, education/training, public speaking, research, and consulting. She is owner/president of SJF Communications, based in San Diego, California. SJF Communications provides public relations, marketing, social media, websites, writing, filmmaking, acting, public speaking, mentoring and photography. She currently teaches "Capturing Your Creativity with Haiku" workshops and has published poetry and articles on a variety of topics.
In addition to being on the advisory board of San Diego Film Week, Susan is a member of SAG-AFTRA, American Legion Post 43, Veterans in Media & Entertainment, San Diego Writers Ink the San Diego Press Club, the Southern California Writers Association, the Army Nurse Corps Association. Since 2017, she has been a Mentor in San Diego State University’s Aztec MentorProgram.
April is National Poetry Month
Please join us on April 18th at 2 pm when we present Poetry for the Dementia Journey, an AlzAuthors Live! Virtual Q&A featuring several of our poets. Subscribe to our website at alzauthors.com to receive notice of these events.
After the Podcast
Read Susan's AlzAuthors post:
Susan J. Farese Reflects on Alzheimer’s and Nursing in Poetry
Buy the book:
Purchase Poetic Expressions in Nursing: Sharing the Caring
Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from books sales.
Listen to Susan read Ann's Zest Ends, her tribute to her grandmother, on Audible
Connect with Susan
Website
Facebook Business Page
Instagram @sjfcommo
Twitter @sjfcommo
Contact:
[email protected]
***
About the Podcast
AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.
We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ .
Thank you for listening.
We are a WCN Featured Podcast.
Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network.
Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.
Thanks for listening.
AlzAuthors.com
Shop our Store
February 27, 2023
Angela G. Gentile, MSW, RSW, is the author of two books in the AlzAuthors collection. She came to us in 2016 with her book, Caring for a Husband with Dementia: The Ultimate Survival Guide, inspired by her experience counseling eight amazing caregiving women. Her second book, Alzheimer’s, Dementia, & Memory Loss: A Helpful Guide for Caregivers, was recently published and was featured on our blog on February 10th. Her books have been referred to as "a first aid kit," for caregivers.
A social worker specializing in geriatrics with more than 25 years' experience, Angela currently works as a consultant to assist families on a dementia journey using a variety of modalities.
Her carer spans work in healthcare, private practice, long-term care, home care, and non-profits, and she has written seven books and countless articles, contributed to two books, and co-authored a mobile app for iOS called Dementia Caregiver Solutions.
In 2021, she started up a little hobby business called Gentle Angel Treasures, which includes her handcrafted bracelets and jewelry made from genuine, semi-precious, crystal healing gemstones.
Angela is married, has two adult children, and lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. When she is not working or making jewelry, she enjoys writing, travelling, photography, and exploring what it means to age well.
In this episode we discuss the value of working with a social worker one-on-one to navigate the myriad of issues related to dementia care, how language affects discussions around dementia, the upside to using humor in caregiving, and the realities of canine cognitive dysfunction, aka doggie dementia.
After the Podcast
Read Angela's AlzAuthors posts: add the second
Caring for a Husband with Dementia: Self-Help Book Educates, Supports and Comforts
Purchase Angela's books:
Caring for a Husband with Dementia: The Ultimate Survival Guide
Alzheimer’s, Dementia, & Memory Loss: A Helpful Guide for Caregivers
Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales.
Check out Dementia Caregiver Solutions, app
Watch the video for Brent Hoag's song, "Sail On, which he wrote as a poem for his wife, Sally, who lives with Alzheimer’s. The words were put to music by Songfinch and are sung by Effee.
Connect with Angela
Website
Facebook
Dementia Caregiver Solutions Support Group on Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
***
About the Podcast
AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.
We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ .
Thank you for listening.
We are a WCN Featured Podcast.
Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network.
Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.
Thanks for listening.
AlzAuthors.com
Shop our Store
February 14, 2023
This podcast is a duet with authors Annette Jannuzzi Wick and Pauletta Hansel, both of Cincinnati, Ohio, who are not only good friends but collaborators on writing workshops. Both have cared for mothers with dementia.
Annette is a writer, speaker, and author of I’ll Have Some of Yours: What my mother taught me about dementia, cookies, music, the outside, and her life inside a care home, essays inspired by her dementia journey.
Pauletta is a poet, essayist, and teacher who was Cincinnati’s first Poet Laureate (2016-2018). She is the author of Palindrome, a collection of poetry inspired by her personal caregiver experience.
In this episode, we discuss their upcoming creative writing workshop for caregivers, beginning February 16, 2023, how digging deep through creative writing can be a therapeutic tool, and family dynamics in caregiving.
After the Podcast
Read Annette's AlzAuthors post: Writing Restores a Mother-Daughter Relationship in "I’ll Have Some of Yours"
Read Pauletta's AlzAuthors post:
Poetry Book on Dementia Caregiving: Palindrome by Pauletta Hansel
Buy the books
I’ll Have Some of Yours: What my mother taught me about dementia, cookies, music, the outside, and her life inside a care home (Three Arch Press)
Palindrome (Dos Madres Press, 2017)
Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from books sales.
Mentions
Caregiver Writing Workshop
Caregivers Writing Journal
Storms of the Inland Sea
Before the Diagnosis, Volume 2
Connect with Annette
Website (includes links to blogs)
Find You in the Sun (blog)
Instagram
Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
Medium
Connect with Pauletta
Website
Facebook
***
About the Podcast
AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.
We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit our donor page.
Thank you for listening.
We are a WCN Featured Podcast.
Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network
Member of the New York City Podcast Network
Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.
Thanks for listening.
AlzAuthors.com
Shop our Store
January 31, 2023
Tom and Karen Brenner have a passion for helping those with dementia and their families connect on a meaningful level. Both bring their professional experience to their work. Tom is a gerontologist who specializes in creating dementia care programs that are strength-based and positive leaning. Karen is a Montessori educator who co-founded a Montessori school for children who are deaf. They have worked together for the past twenty years researching and implementing the application of the Montessori Method to dementia care.
After years of working directly with people living with dementia and their caregivers, they have published two books about their work: The Montessori Method for Connecting to People with Dementia, and You Say Goodbye and We Say Hello: The Montessori Method for Positive Dementia Care.
Based in Chicago, they travel throughout the United States presenting workshops, training programs, and speaking engagements about their uplifting and positive approach to dementia care.
In this episode, we discuss the beauty of being in the moment, how to change the conversation around dementia, and practical methods to reach people who may seem unreachable.
After the Podcast
Read the Brenner's AlzAuthors posts
Tom and Karen Brenner write, You Say Goodbye and We Say Hello: The Montessori Method for Positive Dementia Care
Tom and Karen Brenner Write 2nd Book: The Montessori Method for Connecting to People with Dementia
Purchase the books
You Say Goodbye and We Say Hello: The Montessori Method for Positive Dementia Care
The Montessori Method for Connecting to People with Dementia
Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from books sales.
Connect with Tom & Karen
Email:
[email protected]
Twitter: @BrennerPathways
Resources
Dr. Cameron Camp and the Center for Applied Research in Dementia
***
About the Podcast
AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.
We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ .
Thank you for listening.
We are a WCN Featured Podcast.
Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network.
Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.
Thanks for listening.
AlzAuthors.com
Shop our Store
January 10, 2023
Welcome back to the podcast! This episode is a duet with two of our authors who happen to be years long friends brought together by their work in dementia care and the arts. Tryn Rose Seley and Mary Crescenzo are award winning authors and master teaching artists who have each worked for decades to empower caregivers and enhance the lives of those living with dementia. In this episode, we discuss the value of the creative arts in dementia care, how caregivers can use these modalities at home, and, for the first time, we have singing on the podcast! For more details on our guests, please see the show notes. Let's get started!
About the Authors
Tryn Rose Seley is an award-winning author and a master teaching artist. Through her experiences with the creative arts, she witnesses a profound transformation in people living with dementia, from lower energy to higher energy, and more happiness and satisfaction, which leads to more comfort and success during daily routines of care. This work inspired her to write a book to teach others how to bring out the best in each other, develop positive relationships, and build trust and effective interactions between care partners. This book, 15 Minutes of Fame: One Photo Does Wonders To Bring You Both Back to Solid Ground, won a Firebird Book Award in the “Inspiration” category in 2022.
Mary Crescenzo is one of five 2022 Individual Winners of the Maude’s Awards for Innovation in Dementia Care. She is a multi-hyphenate artist working as an author, playwright, blogger, podcaster, singer, director, and actor. She is the author of The Planet Alzheimer’s Guide: 8 Ways the Arts Can Transform the Life of Your Loved One and Your Own, and has written and produced the play, Planet A. As a teaching artist for decades with an intergenerational approach, her current focus is on social engagement art for older adults, including those with Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
After the Podcast
Read
Tryn's AlzAuthors post: Find Advice for Dementia Caregiving in Book by Tryn Rose Seley: 15 Minutes of Fame
Mary's AlzAuthors post: Mary Crescenzo Engages with Alzheimer’s Through the Arts
Purchase
15 Minutes of Fame: One Photo Does Wonders to Bring You Both Back to Solid Ground, by Tryn Rose Seley
The Planet Alzheimer’s Guide: 8 Ways the Arts Can Transform the Life of Your Loved One and Your Own, by Mary Crescenzo
Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales.
Connect with Tryn
Website: Caregiverheart.com
Email:
[email protected]
Facebook
Linked In
Connect with Mary
Instagram
Twitter
Alzheimer's Speaks blog
Podcast
LinkedIn
Dementia Map
Facebook
Website
Clink to play excerpt: Planet A (originally titled, Piece of Mind)
***
About the Podcast
AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.
We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ .
Thank you for listening.
We are a WCN Featured Podcast.
Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network.
Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.
Thanks for listening.
AlzAuthors.com
Shop our Store
January 3, 2023
This episode is a replay of a recent panel discussion the management team did with Sue Evans of Kensington Senior Living. You'll hear us share our personal caregiving stories, and we'll explain why we chose to share them in our books. We'll also talk about the value of storytelling in caregiving and the many resources in our collection to support your journey. As this was a video event, you'll hear references to visuals you cannot see in a podcast. I recommend you queue up our website – AlzAuthors.com - and follow along during the virtual tour of the bookstore.
Meet the Panelists
Marianne Sciucco: Retired Innkeepers Struggle With Alzheimer’s in Blue Hydrangeas, a Love Story
Jean Lee: Jean Lee Writes Her Family Memoir, Alzheimer’s Daughter, About Becoming The Caregiver To Both Parents
Vicki Tapia: Both parents had dementia, Vicki Tapia writes compelling memoir: Somebody Stole My Iron
Ann Campanella: Inspiring Alzheimer’s Book: Motherhood: Lost and Found by Ann Campanella
Susan Landeis: Susan Landeis Cares for Her mother with Lewy Body Dementia: In Search of Rainbows
Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales.
Kensington Senior Living
***
About the Podcast
AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.
We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ .
Thank you for listening.
We are a WCN Featured Podcast.
Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network.
Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.
AlzAuthors.com
Shop our Store
December 12, 2022
In this AlzAuthors Live! Virtual Q&A Dementia with Difficult People (November 8, 2022) you'll meet four of our authors who either cared for a parent who had hurt them in the past, or dealt with siblings who made caregiving difficult, or both. A professional mediator is also on hand to offer advice on how to navigate a dementia journey with a difficult person.
Potential discussion topics:
Heeding the call to careReckoning with the pastSetting aside differencesProblems/issues encounteredForgivenessBuilding a support network without family
Our Panelists
Kimberly Best, RN, MA is the author of How to Live Forever, A Guide to Writing the Final Chapter of Your Life Story. She is a speaker and trainer on conflict management, transitions, and difficult decisions, including end of life issues. She is the owner of Best Conflict Solutions, focusing on Conflict Coaching, Civil, Family, Healthcare, and Elder Mediation in Franklin, Tennessee. Read Kim’s AlzAuthors post here.
Malia Kline is the author of Sisterly Shove, a memoir that tells the story of when she and her sister took on their parents’ care despite their personal differences. She is the younger sister in the book. Read Malia’s AlzAuthors post here.
Susan Landeis is a member of the AlzAuthors management team and Board of Directors. She is the author of In Search of Rainbows: a daughter’s story of loss, hope, and redemption where she writes about the gifts she found while caring for her mother with whom she’d had a tumultuous relationship. Read Susan’s AlzAuthors post here.
Barbara Ella Milton, Jr. PhD, LCSW is the author of Heeding the Caregiver Call: The Story of Barbara Ella Milton, Sr. and Alzheimer’s Disease. This tells the tale of her caring for her estranged mother when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease while she herself endured treatment for bladder cancer. Read Barbara’s AlzAuthors post here.
Vicki Tapia is a co-founder of AlzAuthors and a member of the management team and Board of Directors. She is the author of Somebody Stole My Iron: A family memoir of dementia, which chronicles her story of caring for both parents with dementia. She and her mother shared a difficult relationship, and Vicki found herself without the assistance of her only brother who chose to deny, rather than participate in, the situation. Read Vicki’s AlzAuthors post here.
About the Podcast
Our podcast brings you insightful, moving interviews with our authors who share their personal dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort, and support on their own dementia journeys.
AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please donate here.
We are a WCN Featured Podcast
Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network
Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.
Thanks for listening.
AlzAuthors.com
Shop our Store
December 6, 2022
Welcome to the third and last episode in our 2022 Summer Book Series with HFC featuring Christy Byrne Yates, MS. Christy is an expert in navigating the challenges and opportunities in life, including living in the “Sandwich Generation” (those raising children who are also caring for an aging parent), special needs education, and parenting. A former school psychologist, she applied many of the skills used in her work in her approach to caring for both of her parents, who each had dementia, while raising her own two children. She is the author of Building a Legacy of Love: Thriving in the Sandwich Generation.
This episode is a replay of our August 16th HFC Summer Book Series. We discuss the gifts bestowed when we plan for our end-of-life needs, surviving life when you’re in the middle of the caregiver sandwich, and the bittersweet decisions that must be made when juggling caring for ill or aging parents while raising kids.
After the Podcast
Read Christy's AlzAuthors post:
Christy Yates Helps Caregivers Raising Children Ease the Squeeze
Purchase Building a Legacy of Love: Thriving in the Sandwich Generation on Amazon
Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from books sales.
Connect with Christy
Website with blog
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
***
About the Podcast
AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.
We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ .
Thank you for listening.
We are a WCN Featured Podcast.
Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network.
Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.
Thanks for listening.
AlzAuthors.com
Shop our Store
November 14, 2022
Laura Davis and her mother had a troubled relationship that began in her teenage years. It seems Laura did not live up to her mother's expectations. They were often at war with each other and grew estranged over decades, finally coming to some sort of functional truce after Laura became a mother herself. When her mother was in her eighties and showing signs of cognitive decline, she surprised Laura by moving cross-country from her home in New Jersey to live near Laura and her family in California. Laura's memoir, The Burning Light of Two Stars, tells her dramatic story of becoming caregiver to her mother who had betrayed her in the past. Her inspiring book is not only raw and honest but filled with compassion and forgiveness.
Laura is also the author of six other non-fiction books, including The Courage to Heal, Allies in Healing, I Thought We‘d Never Speak Again, and Becoming the Parent You Want to Be. Her groundbreaking books have been translated into 11 languages and sold 1.8 million copies.
In addition to writing books that inspire, the work of Laura’s heart is to teach. For more than twenty years, she’s helped people find their voices, tell their stories, and hone their craft. Laura loves creating supportive, intimate writing communities online, in person, and internationally. You can learn about Laura’s books and workshops, read the first five chapters of her memoir, and receive a free e-book: Writing Through Courage: A 30-Day Practice at www.lauradavis.net
In this episode, we discuss mending broken relationships, caregiving for a loved one with dementia who has caused you great pain, and the healing power of writing.
After the podcast
Read Laura’s AlzAuthors post: Laura Davis Shares How She and Her Mother Recovered from an Embattled Relationship
Start reading The Burning Light of Two Stars now. Buy on Amazon.
Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales.
On Audible:
https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Burning-Light-of-Two-Stars-Audiobook/B09G8WJQP7
And on Libro.fm for independent stores: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781950144471
Independent Bookstores:
Get Signed Copies Through Bookshop Santa Cruz:
https://www.bookshopsantacruz.com/burning-light-two-stars-get-it-signed)
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/books/the-burning-light-of-two-stars-a-mother-daughter-story-9781954854161/9781954854161
Laura recommends: Moving a Parent with Memory Loss by Laurie White and Beth Spencer
Connect with Laura Davis
Website
Facebook @LauraDavis&TheWritersJourney
Instagram @laurasaridavis
***
About the Podcast
Our podcast brings you up close and personal with authors who share their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort, and support on their own dementia journeys.
AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please donate here.
We are a WCN Featured Podcast
Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network
Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.
Thanks for listening.
AlzAuthors.com
Shop our Store
November 1, 2022
Welcome to the second in our 2022 Summer Book Series with HFC. In this episode, Renée Harmon, MD, author of Surfing the Waves of Alzheimer's shares her story of caring for her husband, Harvey, who had younger-onset Alzheimer's. This interview was recorded on July 12th. Christy Byrne Yates, MA moderated. We discuss the important of acknowledging your vulnerability while caregiving, asking for and accepting help, why a good support group can make all the difference, and how to rewrite your script when dementia enters your story.
About Renée Harmon, MD
Renée Brown Harmon, MD, is a retired family physician in Birmingham, Alabama. After eighteen years of sharing a thriving medical practice, her husband, Harvey, was forced to retire after a diagnosis of younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Harmon cared for her husband for the eight years of his illness while maintaining their medical practice and rearing their two teenage daughters. The challenges of caregiving while working and parenting full-time led her to a deep appreciation for all caregivers.
Connect with Renée
Website
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook
About Christy Byrne Yates, MA
Christy is the mother of two – now adult – children. She is an expert in navigating the challenges and opportunities in life including living in the “Sandwich Generation” (those raising children who are also caring for an aging parent), special needs education, and parenting. She incorporates meditation, mindfulness practices and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) into her work along with other evidence-based practices to support growth, goal achievement and a pathway to living your best life now. In California she is a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP), an author, speaker, and coach. She is the author of Building a Legacy of Love: Thriving in the Sandwich Generation available on Amazon.
After the Podcast
Read Renee’s AlzAuthors post: Renée Harmon, MD Teaches Caregivers Through Memoir of Spouse’s Early Onset Alzheimer’s
Purchase Surfing the Waves on Amazon
Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales.
About the Podcast
Each season our podcast brings you six of our authors sharing their dementia journeys. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort, and support on their own dementia journeys.
AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please donate here.
We are a WCN Featured Podcast
Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network
Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.
Thanks for listening.
AlzAuthors.com
Shop our Store
October 18, 2022
In this AlzAuthors Live! Virtual Q&A we explore the similarities and differences caregivers and those living with dementia encounter as they seek care and search for solutions to the many questions and problems a dementia diagnosis brings. The authors featured in this event represent the United States, Canada, and Argentina. We hope their stories will inspire and empower you on your own dementia journey.
Topics included:
• obtaining a diagnosis
• accessing care
• community resources
• financial concerns
• insurance considerations
• home care, assisted living, long-term care
• stigma surrounding a dementia diagnosis
This discussion was recorded on September 13th, 2022.
Note: This event was originally scheduled with three of our authors - Cindy Weinstein (US), Donna Thomson (Canada), and Katya De Luisa (Costa Rica) - but heavy rainstorms prevented Donna and Katya from participating, although we did get to hear from Donna briefly. Both Donna and Katya have been on the podcast in the past. You can find their episodes here: https://alzauthors.com/podcast . Thankfully, many of our participants shared their experiences and we had a well-rounded discussion.
The speakers:
Marianne Sciucco, New York, US:
https://alzauthors.com/2018/05/02/meet-marianne-sciucco-alzauthors-admin-and-author-of-blue-hydrangeas-an-alzheimers-love-story/
Cindy Weinstein, California, US:
https://alzauthors.com/2022/01/18/cindy-weinstein-finding-right-words/
Donna Thomson, Canada:
https://alzauthors.com/2020/02/04/unexpected-journey-caring-thomson-white/
Ethelle Lord, Canada:
https://innocareofdementia.com/news/ethelle-lord-the-warrior-of-dementia-who-is-she/
Virginia Naeve, California, US:
https://anewpathformom.com/
Dennis Dulniak, Florida, US: https://www.nanasbooks.org/
Luis Cordero, Argentina and Chicago: https://www.davidson.edu/news/2022/04/19/watson-fellows-ready-tackle-questions-health-and-well-being-around-world
Vicki Tapia, Montana, US: https://alzauthors.com/2018/05/15/meet-vicki-tapia-alzauthors-admin-and-author-of-somebody-stole-my-iron/
We hope to revisit this subject with authors from other countries in the future, so please keep in touch with us at https://alzauthors.com.
You can follow us on social media - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn - to stay updated on events, new authors, books, and resources.
Remember: You are not alone. One can sing a lonely song, but we chose to form a choir, and create harmony.
About the Podcast
Our podcast features authors who share their dementia journeys, talk about what led them to tell their stories in whatever medium they’ve chosen, and offer unique and painfully earned insights into life with dementia. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort, and support on their own dementia journeys.
AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ .
Thank you for listening.
AlzAuthors.com
Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.
October 4, 2022
Susie Singer Carter is a Los Angeles-based creative specializing in film and podcasting. She’s a writer, director, producer, and actress. She’s also an advocate for dementia caregivers having been on a journey with her own mother for 16 years. This inspired her to write, direct and produce the 2018 Oscar Qualified short film, “My Mom and the Girl,” starring Valerie Harper in her final performance.
She’s also the host and producer of the award-winning podcast “Love Conquers Alz,” launched in December 2019, which received Best Podcast 2020 from the New Media Film Festival for Episode 6 featuring Leeza Gibbons.
Susie is proud to have served as one of the faces seen in several awareness campaigns for Alzheimer’s Los Angeles, where she also trained to be a volunteer speaker.
Unfortunately, Susie's beloved mother Norma Pecora passed away after we recorded this interview.
In this episode, we discuss her long, exhausting, enriching dementia journey, how it made her a “better person,” and the idea that Alzheimer’s is sort of like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
After the Podcast:
Please leave a review and share this podcast with a caregiver or loved one on a dementia journey.
Read Susie’s AlzAuthors post
Watch My Mom and the Girl
Trailer:
Vimeo
YouTube
Complete film:
Amazon
Apple TV
Listen to or watch “Love Conquers Alz”
Connect with Susie Singer Carter:
IMDB
WEBSITE
MY MOM AND THE GIRL
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
INSTAGRAM
LINKEDIN
WIKIPEDIA
LOVE CONQUERS ALZ LINKS
I LOVE LUCIFER LINKS
Other references
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Dopesick
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About the Podcast
Our podcast features authors who share their dementia journeys, talk about what led them to tell their stories in whatever medium they’ve chosen, and offer unique and painfully earned insights into life with dementia. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends in need of knowledge, comfort, and support on their own dementia journeys.
AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ .
Thank you for listening.
AlzAuthors.com
Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.
September 20, 2022
The podcast you are about to listen to is a recording of an event we did with Kensington Senior Living in June, 2022. "On the Same Page this Summer: A Collection of Stories to Support You on Your Caregiving Journey" features four authors discussing their personal dementia experiences. You'll hear from a young woman whose mother was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's when she was just 25; a professional in dementia care with strategies to help you manage your own situation; a mom in the "sandwich generation" who shares how she balanced care between her school-age children and her parents with dementia; and a psychologist who has investigated and encountered "shared death experiences." This is an insightful, inspiring episode and you're sure to walk away with greater confidence and knowledge to guide your own dementia journey. Please join us for our next live event on September 13th at 2 pm eastern time when we discuss Dementia Care Around the World with three authors representing the United States, Canada, and Costa Rica. For more details, visit our website.
Watch this panel presentation on YouTube
After the Podcast
Learn more about these authors:
Christy Byrne Yates
Christy Yates Helps Caregivers Raising Children Ease the Squeeze
AlzAuthors and HFC Present Summer Book Series
Podcast:
Christy Byrne Yates, MS Untangles Dementia Care and the Sandwich Generation
Lauren Dykovitz
Millennial Caregiver Writes About Mom With Early Onset Alzheimer’s
Lauren Dykovitz Shares Story of Mother’s Final Dementia Days
Three AlzAuthors Featured in Chicken Soup for Soul Book
Podcast:
Untangling Life as a Millennial Caregiver with Lauren Dykovitz
Tammy Anastasia
Tami Anastasia Comes Full Circle with the Dementia Journey
William Peters
SharedCrossing.com
Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales.
Visit Kensington Senior Living, a premier senior living operator and developer bringing the highest quality senior care to America’s most sought-after locations.
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About the Podcast
AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.
We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ .
Thank you for listening.
We are a Whole Care Network Featured Podcast
Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network
Also on UK Health Radio and The NYC Podcast Network
Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.
Thanks for listening.
AlzAuthors.com
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September 7, 2022
Daniel Gibbs is a retired neurologist confronting his own early onset Alzheimer’s. His is a unique perspective once the doctor diagnosing other people’s cognitive issues and now the patient facing his own. Alzheimer’s disease was never on his radar, he says, because both of his parents died in midlife from cancer, but he unexpectedly discovered through genealogical research that he has two copies of the APOE-4 allele, putting him at very high risk for dementia. He has written his story in a memoir, A Tattoo on My Brain: A Neurologist’s Personal Battle Against Alzheimer’s Disease, where he reveals his personal story and explains how it is possible to decrease the risk and slow the progression of the disease through lifestyle modifications, especially when started early.
In this episode, we discuss the value of testing for the Alzheimer’s gene, the importance of life plans, concerns regarding work and retirement, and the Viacom documentary currently in production about his dementia journey.
After the Podcast
Read Dr. Gibbs AlzAuthors post: Neurologist, Dr. Daniel Gibbs, Reveals His Personal Story in A Tattoo on my Brain
Start reading A Tattoo on My Brain https://amzn.to/3zD6IlO
Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales.
Other authors/books mentioned:
Thomas DeBaggio, Losing My Mind: An Intimate Look at Life with Alzheimer's
Slow Puncture: A Memoir About Living Well with Early Onset Alzheimer’s by Peter Berry and Deb Bunt
Wendy Mitchell Writes Courageous Memoir of Younger Onset Dementia: Somebody I Used to Know
Tracey Shorthouse’s Poetry Provides a Glimpse into Early Onset Alzheimer’s
Laurette Klier Creates Nana’s Books: Nostalgic Picture Books for Seniors
Susan Ostrowski Helps Seniors with Cognitive Issues Enjoy Reading Again
Greg O’Brien, On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s
Greg O’Brien, Psychology Today articles
Columbia Kindred
Daniel Alejandro Drubach, MD, FAAN, Twilight and Me: A Soliloquy (Lewy Body disease article mentioned at end)
Connect with Dr. Gibbs
Website
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About the Podcast
AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.
We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ .
Thank you for listening.
We are a WCN Featured Podcast.
Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network.
Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know.
Thanks for listening.
AlzAuthors.com
Shop our Store
August 24, 2022