Living

Before my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I never took the time to appreciate all of the beautiful little things life has to offer. I was always too caught up...

My roles as Mom to twenty-somethings, wife going on thirty-something years, and daughter for fifty-something years often has me caught squarely in a no-win territory. I try to navigate motherhood...

What was I thinking? My mom was happy. She was content. Her surroundings were familiar. What am I doing moving her across the state? I had thought that consistency was...

One of the hardest things to deal with during my mom’s Alzheimer’s battle was when she became nonverbal in the last few months of her life. It was heartbreaking to...

The other day I was explaining to my partner why I am such a huge fan of Bob Seger. Slight pause for everyone to think about their own opinions here...

Growing up, I remember my mother making small Christmas trees out of styrofoam balls and toothpicks. She dipped them in green paint and added glitter. Then she would deliver them to...

We can picture Forest Gump sitting on that park bench, saying to no one in particular, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”...

Many caregivers prioritize keeping a loved one with Alzheimer's at home. The challenge becomes keeping your loved one safe in their home. Remaining in familiar surroundings can enhance the quality...

"How's your mom?" At the beginning of my mom's Alzheimer's journey, I hated being asked this question. I never knew how to respond. I figured most people didn't really want...

Especially in these pandemic times, we all love when we’re able to have safe visits in person with our loved ones. Virtual visits are important, but they’re just not always...

Our plates are full. We are stressed. We are busy. Where did we put our keys? Where are my glasses? What was his name? I am so aggravated. Today, I...

There can be personality changes with Alzheimer's disease. My gregarious grandfather who had the best, most contagious laugh became very quiet. We wondered if he was afraid he would say...

Guilt is one of the most prevalent emotions when your loved one has Alzheimer’s. No matter how much you do for your loved one, you can always find something to...

It is often said that when a loved one has Alzheimer’s disease you grieve them twice. You grieve the loss of the person you once knew and then you grieve...

"I get by with a little help from my friends" ... I borrowed that line from a Beatles song but it is how I function these days. Many of my...

Raise your hand if you are among the people who jumped on the Peloton craze amid the pandemic. Maybe it’s just me, but I have found a startling number of...

Since sometime around February or March last year, time lost most of its meaning. For many of us, our schedules went out the window. The school calendar, weekends, workdays ...

When my mom was living with Alzheimer’s, my family found it hard to manage her care at home by ourselves, but my dad did not want to place her in...

Mom and I have been best friends since I could remember and when she was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's 10 years ago, our friendship became closer than ever. We started...

The Chinese proverb that begins by telling us that the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago doesn’t leave us hanging with regrets and missed opportunities. It...