Columns

I was several years into caregiving before realizing that my five children were also carers. My mother was diagnosed with pre-Alzheimer’s disease before my youngest was born. My father was still alive, and he and my mother lived in a different part of the country. My mother was…

According to a statement released by his family last week, actor Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with aphasia and is stepping away from his acting career. Aphasia can occur when the part of the brain that controls speech is damaged. Willis’ family didn’t reveal the reason behind his condition,…

There’s a lot unknown about Alzheimer’s disease, and many myths surround the mind-altering disease. It’s necessary to separate fact from fiction. As misnomers are addressed, it removes some of the stigmas attached to Alzheimer’s. Because knowledge is power, it delivers hope to people who fear developing the most common form…

Alzheimer’s disease isn’t curable — yet. However, we can all take precautions that may help to prevent it, and we should, since everyone is at risk of developing dementia. Dementia isn’t a natural part of aging, although age is a risk factor. The mind-altering disease can take a long…

Maybe you’ve noticed: There’s never a situation so dire that someone can’t make it worse by preying on desperate people. Think about it. The COVID-19 pandemic, the 9/11 attacks in the U.S., earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes — all of these tragedies have been exploited by someone willing to deceive kindhearted…

Football season has come to an end in the U.S., and for some of us, that’s good news. For others, not so much. I have a love-hate relationship with the game, and I have very little interest in it when my team isn’t on the field. By some folks’ estimation…

People from all walks of life and socioeconomic backgrounds are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. Nearly 6 million people in the United States have Alzheimer’s, and according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, by the year 2060, that number is expected to…

Last Wednesday would have been my mother’s 94th birthday. While she wasn’t famous, she was an exceptional person before Alzheimer’s disease claimed her life, and she is the inspiration for this column. Of course, there was no guarantee that without Alzheimer’s she would have lived long enough to witness her…

Caregiving is strenuous, so if you’re a caregiver and haven’t started a physical exercise routine, don’t put it off any longer. Better yet, get your loved one started on a physical exercise program, too. Nobody needs another reminder about the benefits of exercise — they’re as common as TV…

New caregivers can easily become overwhelmed by their responsibilities. But all of us who are caregivers were also overwhelmed at the start of our own caregiving journeys. Daunting is an overused term, but it is the most descriptive word for caregiving newbies. It is daunting to learn the ropes, especially…