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.”

How to Reduce Your Risk of Developing Alzheimer’s Disease

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…

Don’t Fall for Fake Alzheimer’s Remedies

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…

Raising Dementia Awareness Among NFL Alumni

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…

Addressing Alzheimer’s Disparities During Black History Month

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…

Faced With Alzheimer’s Disease, We’re Buoyed by Grace

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…

Caregivers: Keep Fit With a Physical Exercise Program

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…

A Can-do Attitude Is a Good 1st Step for New Caregivers

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…

Embracing the Holidays When Joy Is Anticipated, but Dementia Is Not

Christmas is designed around anticipation — and not just from a marketing standpoint. Sure, the holiday has become significantly commercialized. Still, many years ago, on a hillside near Bethlehem, following an appearance of angels, shepherds were led to Bethlehem in anticipation of a babe in a manger. With great expectation,…

The Relationship Between Hearing Loss and Dementia

Both dementia, specifically Alzheimer’s disease, and hearing impairment are most prevalent among seniors. In the United States, one in three people ages 65 to 74 is affected by hearing loss, while 3% of that demographic has Alzheimer’s. Hearing loss has also been associated with cognitive impairment and an…