Treading Dark Waters - a Column by Ray Burow

happiness, breast cancer, death, secret, disaster preparedness, support

As a former caregiver to an elderly parent who had Alzheimer’s disease, Florida-based Ray counts it a privilege to write columns discussing the day-to-day challenges associated with the onslaught of memory loss. Fighting a relentless foe, caregivers find themselves in the deep trenches, right alongside their loved ones. Her goal is to assist the caregiver on their journey by encouraging them to keep trudging through the mire of uncertainty. “I will be your harbinger of better days to come, so that you’ll know it’s possible to make it through the dark hours, and that even a difficult journey through Alzheimer’s disease can be punctuated with optimism. May you find joy on your journey.”

Finding That Conquering Spirit

In each of us is an innate desire to survive, even to thrive. A healthy mind drives us through internal and external conquests. Driven by innateness, some humans feel called to accomplish impossible feats. Think of the everyday people who got up one morning and decided that one day, they’d…

Don’t Let Alzheimer’s Disease Steal Thanksgiving

As exampled by the Pilgrims and the Indigenous people who graced the first Thanksgiving table, families in the United States gather each year to give thanks. The gateway to Christmas and Hanukkah, Thanksgiving sets the season’s tone. How appropriate to begin with thankfulness before gifting one another with Hanukkah or…

National Family Caregivers Month Is a Chance to Spread Happiness

The act of giving thanks is good for the soul. In fact, gratefulness has been linked to happiness, according to Harvard Health Publishing. “Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity and build strong relationships,” the article noted. If being…

Caregivers Should Connect to Breast Cancer Awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and of course, its purpose is to create buzz and mindfulness about the disease. In the United States, breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer among women. Skin cancer is No. 1, according to the American Cancer Society.