Treading Dark Waters - a Column by Ray Burow

I made a promise a few years ago, more to myself than anyone. I promised that if I were ever given an opportunity, I’d be upfront and honest about what it’s like in the trenches of Alzheimer’s disease. I shared caregiving responsibilities for my dear mother, and when given…

On any given day in our family, back when all four grandparents were alive, they were thick as thieves with their five grandkids, and I’m so glad of it. Every day with a grandparent in it should be celebratory. Think about it: Grandchildren have a relatively short amount of time…

My mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease ended more than 10 years ago. I miss her, but don’t get me wrong: Given the choice, I wouldn’t bring her back. She’s in a better place where her mind is crystal clear. Now, if I could wave a magic wand and return…

“In sickness and in health, till death do us part.” If you’ve attended many weddings, you recognize this phrase as the last sentence most brides and grooms say in their marriage vows. Immediately before my spouse, John, and I were pronounced husband and wife 35 years ago, we made that…

Take a minute to think about food intake and how it varies with age. Some young people can eat anything and anytime they want without the ill effect of weight gain. For many, an obsession with weight loss and gain arrives later in life. We become more intentional about…

Few caregivers have time to take naps, but I recently read study results in a June Sleep Health article that suggest short naps can benefit cognitive health. That could mean something as simple as a brief snooze could aid your fight against Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of…

Shouldering the weight of Alzheimer’s disease is difficult enough without the added burden of guilt. That burden is oppressive, and it’s too often present when navigating Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Caregivers may feel guilt, but so can patients just after diagnosis or in the early stages of…

Max had a reputation, and it wasn’t a good one, at least not wholly. But no one is perfect, especially not a beagle mix with a bent toward naughtiness and a penchant for leftovers. Over time, Max’s good outweighed his wrong, and my family became fiercely attached to the little…

I hope you’re enjoying all that the summer months have to offer. In my case and possibly in yours, caregiving days for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias continued even when the kids were out of school. But even though you’re still busy with laundry, meals, and all that accompanies…

Winter is lovely; without winter, there’d be no Christmas. But by February’s end, chilly folks start dreaming of long summer days, exchanging shivering for sweat, and trading snow shovels for mowers to cut the greener grass on the other side of winter. Then, suddenly, we awake in June. Caregivers…