Like the waves hitting the beach, life is constantly changing and we are constantly changing with it. Change is an inevitable part of life. We develop, we age. We laugh, we cry. We dislike, we love. And as our lives transform, we either try to deny or resist the change, take action to modify the change, and/or we embrace the transformation and work with (or through) it. Although there are many things in our lives we can take control of, […]
IN MEMORY OF A DEAR FRIEND, MENTOR, DAA BOARD AND ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER Paulan Gordon 9/2/1954 ~ 10/2/2021 Every so often someone special comes along in life who has wide and lasting impact on many. Such was Paulan Gordon, who died much too young of breakthrough Covid on October 2, 2021. She leaves an enormous hole in our hearts. She also leaves a lasting legacy of how to live with dementia with vigor, positivity, and grace. Paulan was deeply involved […]
It is estimated that 1 in 2 people in the U.S. have a chronic medical condition and 96% of these people live with an Invisible Disease (JP Thierry 2013). An Invisible Disease is an umbrella term for a disease or condition that is not visibly noticeable – a hidden condition, which can cause severe pain, cognitive impairments, extreme fatigue, constant illnesses, depression, or a variety of other impairments. Living with an invisible disorder often creates the added challenge of dealing […]
Mike Belleville. He is living with Lewy body dementia. What does a day in the life look like for a person living with dementia? It obviously varies depending on the progression of the person’s dementia. Although I was diagnosed 8 years ago at the age of 52, I am still thankfully experiencing early symptoms of Lewy body dementia. I am challenged on a daily basis with a rollercoaster ride of feelings – feeling great in the morning to being completely […]
by Margaret Anderson “I am so blessed to have known your dad…. I watched his joy and gratitude for each day and everything it offered… He taught me how to live, and I shall miss him terribly but I will remember.” A friend wrote this to me when my Dad, Earl, died. Dad, who had dementia, lived with me for his last nine years – from age 91 to 100. Her words reflect so much of those years – years […]
It recently occurred to me that A.A. Milne had an understanding of dementia when he created Winnie-The Pooh. Throughout the exciting stories of The Hundred Acre Woods this “chubby little cubby all stuffed with fluffy” often mentions his forgetfulness, cognitive impairments and not being able to say what he wants to get across. Although some phrases used in 1929 to describe dementia (such as “a bear of very little brain”) may seem unacceptable today, the stories often describe […]
By Deborah Shouse, writer, speaker, editor, and dementia advocate. One by one, we say hello via video conferencing, writers, artists, and arts advocates from all over the country. One sculptor enriches the visual aspects of our meeting by strolling through a museum, giving us occasional glimpses of vibrant art. We meet another artist’s dog. Via video, we see each other’s offices and learn each other’s names and goals. Some of the participants are living with dementia; some are not. All […]