Treading Dark Waters
— Ray Burow

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…

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…

The sandwich generation is one of the many terms that define caregiving. As you can guess, the term has nothing to do with two pieces of bread spread with peanut butter and jelly. Rather, the sandwich generation refers to those who currently are raising children or supporting an adult…

The most recent statistics surrounding family caregiving in the United States are staggering. A 2005 National Alliance for Caregiving report estimates that 65.7 million Americans are familial caregivers. Of that number, more than 16 million care for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Shockingly, some of those caregivers are…

Dignity diminished Alzheimer’s disease has a way of robbing a person’s dignity. Given enough time, it strips away what is basic to our loved one’s personality, including the very characteristics associated with dignity. It replaces their normal reserve, appearance, language, and seriousness of manner with odd behavior that is…

I recently discovered this article celebrating Mother’s Day and found it to be an enjoyable read because it rings true for me. Honest Abe earned his nickname All of us tend to be sentimental about our moms. Inspired by wonderful mothers, many of us could write 100 quotes of…

Caregivers are often isolated. This may be particularly true of those who provide care for loved ones in the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease. As it progresses, patients are less likely to get out and about. Every day they lose a little bit of their freedom, and that seclusion…

A recent study conducted by Johns Hopkins University indicates that caregivers aren’t nearly as susceptible to poor health as once believed, as providing care has no more significance on a caregiver’s immune system than any other job. For years, caregivers have seen studies that reached the opposite conclusion, that…

The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that nearly 5.8 million people in the United States have the condition. Most people who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease are 65 or older, but the disease is found across all age groups, including 200,000 with an early-onset diagnosis. The adage that “there’s safety…