6 Things I Wish I Would Have Known When My Mom Was Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s

I don’t know about you, but I knew next to nothing about Alzheimer’s when my mom was diagnosed with the disease. I never knew anyone else who had it and like so many, I thought it was just about memory loss. I learned so much over the ten years that my mom lived with the … Continue reading 6 Things I Wish I Would Have Known When My Mom Was Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s

4 Things That Helped Me Cope with My Mom’s Alzheimer’s the Most

I often get asked what I did to cope with my mom’s Alzheimer’s while she was living with the disease for ten years. While I’ve written about each of these things before, I’ve never compiled a list of all of them together. So, here’s a list of the four things that helped me cope with … Continue reading 4 Things That Helped Me Cope with My Mom’s Alzheimer’s the Most

8 Things All Alzheimer’s Caregivers Should STOP Doing This Year

All of the hype surrounding a new year and making resolutions or goals can be enough to make an Alzheimer’s caregiver feel like you are failing in more ways than one. When I was helping to care for my mom with Alzheimer’s, the last thing I needed was a resolution to do more of anything. … Continue reading 8 Things All Alzheimer’s Caregivers Should STOP Doing This Year

Changing Your Perspective Won’t Change Your Circumstances, But It Will Change You

When I was in the thick of my mom’s Alzheimer’s, I often felt down, depressed, and hopeless. I mostly focused on all that I had lost and would continue to lose as my mom declined. I would read things about being positive, finding joy, and hunting the good stuff and I would scoff. How could … Continue reading Changing Your Perspective Won’t Change Your Circumstances, But It Will Change You

Don’t Further Isolate Yourself—Alone Is Not the Way

When I was helping to care for my mom with Alzheimer’s, I often distanced myself from my friends because I felt like they couldn’t possibly understand what I was going through. They probably couldn’t because they had never been through it themselves, but I also never bothered trying to explain it to them. Instead, I … Continue reading Don’t Further Isolate Yourself—Alone Is Not the Way

Once You’ve Seen Alzheimer’s Firsthand, You Will Never Unsee It

The other day, I was at the grocery store when I saw this couple shopping together. They looked to be somewhere in their sixties. Something about them caught my eye. I stopped what I was doing and started watching them, watching her. And I just knew. My eyes filled to the brim with tears, as … Continue reading Once You’ve Seen Alzheimer’s Firsthand, You Will Never Unsee It