Living

To say that my dad was a planner would be...well, a lie. A planner he was not. This could be both a blessing or a curse depending on the day...

One definition of Occupational Therapy is a form of Therapy for those recuperating from physical or mental illness that encourages rehabilitation through performing activities required in daily living. Occupational Therapy...

Receiving a life-changing diagnosis, like Alzheimer's, can be incredibly challenging not only for those receiving the diagnosis but also for their loved ones. Just as you may be adjusting to...

I've often heard about soon-to-be moms "nesting." Toward the end of gestation, these women dive into making fitting accommodations for their new, long-term house guests. They get busy using some...

When my grandmother got sick, my mom would make the six hour drive up from New Orleans, Louisiana, to the little farmhouse in the Mississippi Delta to take care of...

We are country folks. I grew up much like my dad in rural areas surrounded by vast fields of cattle, soybeans, corn, and cotton. We joke that as children we...

I have had a lot of time lately to reflect on the journey I watched my dad walk with Alzheimer's, which led to his passing. The journey was horrible for...

I have a hard time saying “no” to things, especially when they are in relation to my advocacy for Alzheimer’s. I know there are caregivers out there who don’t get...

The MUSIC & MEMORY Program helps people with dementia and memory loss by providing them with playlists of music they loved from their past. Familiar music can help people with...

I’m not the type of person who makes a scene. I don’t try to draw attention to myself in public. I don’t typically send food back at a restaurant. I...

I’m going to start this article with an apology. When I think of Alzheimer’s, I think of older folks, seniors. It is an ‘older’ person disease. But in actual fact...

I had a rough time starting school when I was five. I was a shy kid around strangers and had never really been away from Mama and Daddy. On the...

Being the primary caregiver to people with Alzheimer's is a difficult job, especially if you feel like the only person in your loved one's life who is doing any work...

I am working on a series of editorial cartoons about my mother's struggle with Alzheimer's in the hope that it will help other caregivers. I'm going to be looking at...

The primary caregiver for a loved one living with Alzheimer's needs support. There are many ways that can be done. Sometimes it is as simple as providing support with a...

If you’re a caregiver, chances are good that you are familiar with that old “idle hands” saying. Whenever Daddy was hospitalized, he would often grab at wires or IV lines...

A number of years ago we really started to notice that Mom was having a more difficult time starting and completing daily tasks. She did not want to take a...

When we think about Alzheimer's symptoms, we often go straight to memory loss or cognitive issues. While these are hallmark features of Alzheimer's, there can be other, not-so-obvious issues that...

Everyone touched by Alzheimer's, whether it's directly or by virtue of having a loved one with it, knows that Alzheimer's is a disease of the brain. The brain deteriorates. As...

Caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease can be a full-time job, even if you're lucky enough to have the help of family and friends. Thankfully, there are people in the...