Columns

One of the greatest privileges of my life was to care for my mother, who had Alzheimer’s disease. However, I was constantly fighting an internal battle. A feeling of inadequacy always bubbled beneath the surface. Many caregivers fight similar battles. This is why I wrote the following, which is…

Have you heard the saying, “Talking to yourself is OK as long as you don’t expect a response”? Most of us do it, and I believe that self-talk is particularly prevalent among caregivers. I am an audible self-talker, whispering declarations and questions to no one in particular. And I’ll admit…

This week people around the world celebrated International Day of Friendship. In 2011, the United Nations General Assembly designated July 30 as a day to recognize the power of friendship to address disharmony in the world by “accumulating bonds of camaraderie and developing strong ties of trust.” The saying,…

An Alzheimer’s diagnosis is perhaps one of the most difficult to accept, and yet an estimated 50 million people around the globe have Alzheimer’s or related dementia. How many suffer from the disease but haven’t been diagnosed — or deny their diagnosis — is unclear. Described by the…

Caregivers of a certain age may remember the late comedienne Lucille Ball’s “Vitameatavegamin“ sketch. The famous, very funny redhead asks: “Are you tired, rundown, listless? Do you poop out at parties?” For most caregivers, the answer is a resounding “yes,” perhaps especially for those who care for loved ones…

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition that affects almost 6 million people in the United States. People with the disease experience mental decline, and symptoms include memory loss — but that’s not the only forfeiture. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia. However, despite its prevalence, some…

The Alzheimer’s Association has chosen the summer solstice, June 21, to shed light on Alzheimer’s disease and to raise awareness about the mind-altering, life-changing condition through a fundraising event called The Longest Day. The second purpose is to raise funds for research to benefit the 53 million people…

In the United States, 2.1 million men age 65 and older have Alzheimer’s disease. With Father’s Day approaching, we recognize that these numbers represent many dads, though fewer men than women have the disease. Caregiving isn’t gender-specific. Among Americans age 71 and older, 16 percent of women and 11…

Mourning a person who is still living is a sad and surreal experience. I’ve had my fair share of grief as a caregiver for a person with Alzheimer’s disease. My emotions have ranged from feelings of abandonment to denial and guilt. …

We tend to categorize loss. The loss of a child is the pinnacle of grief. That’s understandable. The loss of a parent is also devastating. However, it wasn’t until my mother received her dementia diagnosis that I genuinely understood that loss doesn’t always involve finality. Dementia isn’t final, but…