For a person with Alzheimer's or other form of dementia, wandering can be dangerous. If that person isn't found within 24 hours, the chances that he or she will suffer serious injury, even death, increase dramatically. The family dementia careg

The Dilemma of Dementia and Driving: Taking away the keys?

Nov 19th, 2023 18m 23s

Your spouse has Alzheimer's. You know he - or she - shouldn't be driving. When you bring up the subject, you hear some version of, "That's ridiculous! I know how to drive a car." He might be right. He might still know how to drive a car. The p

"I Didn't See It Coming" - Interview with LBD caregiver Mary Lou Falcone

Nov 5th, 2023 30m 21s

Mary Lou Falcone became a caregiver when her father had a massive stroke. She was 10 years old. The experience prepared her for the day, many years later, when her husband, illustrator and 1950s rocker Nicky Zann, was diagnosed with Lewy Body D

Illusive Dreams and Frustrating Dementia Care Ads

Oct 3rd, 2023 27m 38s

Sometimes, the dreams we carry inspire us. Then life changes, especially if your spouse has dementia. Now, those same dreams weigh us down… and we have to let go. Advertisements for some memory care facilities and some dementia service agencies

My Caregiver Friend Died First

Aug 14th, 2023 21m 35s

This is a cautionary tale about a dear friend, a family caregiver who died first. She was in her mid-70s, a few weeks younger than I am. In mid-April, she had a stroke. She died mid-July, just as I faced the one-year milestone of my husband's d

Why Join a Support Group? To Survive!

Jun 15th, 2023 30m 30s

My First Holiday Season Alone

Mar 6th, 2023 26m 17s

My husband died last summer. He had Alzheimer's. I’ve experienced a lot of “firsts” without him: his birthday, my birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and most recently, Valentine’s Day. Some of those days passed without inc

Not Feeling Festive? Light a Solstice Candle

Dec 21st, 2022 10m 37s

Not feeling festive? No surprise. For those of us caring for a spouse with Alzheimer's or other form of dementia, December can be a cruel month. While much of the world is joyful. We're sad. It's part of the journey we're on. Today is the Winte

Alzheimer's and Hope - A Gift or A Curse?

Dec 4th, 2022 21m 37s

Are you caring for a spouse with Alzheimer's? You need to know that hope, like optimism, can strengthen your resilience or distort your reality. Hope can also be the key to your surivival. My husband died four months ago. In caring for him, I

The Power of Grief, Community, and a Tree

Oct 22nd, 2022 17m 53s

When tragedy reshapes your life, having a supportive community is key to your survival. Since my husband died of Alzheimer's three months ago, I've been in a cave of sorts, rarely leaving the house. My neighbors drew me back into the world of t

Death and the Funeral

Aug 27th, 2022 39m 2s

From the time my husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, my goal was to care for him at home. He died last month, at home, in my arms. This episode shares deeply personal details about the changes in our relationship, the loss of physic

Hospice - Help When the End is Near

Aug 1st, 2022 37m 3s

My husband died at home on July 19. From steady decline to dramatic drop to sudden nosedive, to death -- that was the pattern. I was prepared for some steps. Others blindsided me. Hospice helped both my husband and me in ways I didn't expect.

Sudden Falls and Rapid Changes

Jun 29th, 2022 43m 53s

Alzheimer's degrades a person slowly over a period of years. When a downturn comes, symptoms can escalate suddenly. As a dementia family caregiver, you need to know what that downturn could look like. Knowing can help you survive.

Mistakes and Dementia Self-Care Rituals

Jun 19th, 2022 29m 48s

Studies show that how the dementia family caregiver interprets her stress is key to her survival. I'm sharing 3 rituals I created that have helped me. I also share 3 mistakes I made in the early years of caring for my husband. He has Alzheime

Our Loved Ones - The Power of the Dementia Stories We Tell

May 9th, 2022 18m 30s

Zita Christian shares three personal stories about her husband who has late-stage Alzheimer's. She talks about the importance of telling the stories of our loved ones before they are seized with dementia. She talks about why it's important for

Alzheimer's and Vision Changes

Apr 10th, 2022 13m 31s

Even if a patient with Alzheimer's has healthy eyes, the brain can distort what the patient sees. Depth perception changes, too, as does the ability to recognize common items. For an 81-year-old man whose mind tells him he's now in his teens or

Why You Need a Medical ID Bracelet

Mar 18th, 2022 16m 33s

If your loved one wouldn't understand or know what to do if the police called your home because you'd been in an accident, you need to wear a medical ID bracelet. With the right info, it alerts first responders that your spouse has dementia. C

Lost in the Front Yard

Mar 3rd, 2022 15m 36s

More than 20 years ago, my husband successfully thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail. More recently, he took a walk in our small condo complex. When he was finished, he got frustrated because his key wouldn't unlock the front door. It wasn't our fr

Using the Word "Alzheimer's"

Feb 19th, 2022 14m 21s

The power of a name is not restricted to fairy tales. For the longest time, I couldn't bring myself to talk about my husband's diagnosis: Alzheimer's. When I finally faced the power loaded in that word, everything changed.

Getting the Diagnosis

Feb 3rd, 2022 17m 31s

There was a difference between the news I expected and the news we received. Hearing "Alzheimer's," our future suddenly crumbled. The disease affects everyone differently. Maybe my husband wouldn't forget who I was. Maybe he wouldn't forget whe