Today would have been my mom’s 75th birthday. Instead, it’s the third one without her here. Sometimes I forget that my mom died so young. I hesitate to even call 72 young because I know so many people have died so much younger than that, but I also know so many people who have lived … Continue reading We Never Know How Many Birthdays We’ll Get to Have
Tag: loving someone with Alzheimer’s
Are You Finding Joy in Your Alzheimer’s or Dementia Journey?
Are you finding joy in your day-to-day life? Are you actively seeking it out? When my mom was living with Alzheimer’s, I rolled my eyes at the mere mention of finding joy in the journey. I didn’t think it was possible and honestly, it was just easier for me to be sad and miserable all … Continue reading Are You Finding Joy in Your Alzheimer’s or Dementia Journey?
What If This Is the Last Time?
What if this is the last time? What if this is the last time your loved one tells you the same story for the hundredth time? What if this is the last time your loved one calls you on the phone at an inconvenient time or any time at all? What if this is the … Continue reading What If This Is the Last Time?
The Alzheimer’s Daughters Club Is Now Open to Join!
When my mom was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s, I was only 25 years old. I was newly engaged and working my first full-time job out of college.I didn’t know anything about Alzheimer’s and I didn’t know anyone with a parent who had it.While all of my friends were reliving their college days, I was … Continue reading The Alzheimer’s Daughters Club Is Now Open to Join!
7 Tips for Coping with Ambiguous Loss/Grief
Ambiguous loss occurs when there is psychological absence with physical presence. This occurs when a loved one is emotionally or cognitively gone or missing, but still physically present. This can be caused by Alzheimer’s/dementia, traumatic brain injury, mental illness, addiction, depression, etc. With this type of loss, there is a loss without certainty, closure, or … Continue reading 7 Tips for Coping with Ambiguous Loss/Grief
What Is Something You Are Overthinking?
Back in December, I started thinking about the new year and whether I had any goals I wanted to reach. I decided that I wanted to start living my life more. I wanted to do more things just for fun. I wanted to try new things. I was searching around on the internet and found … Continue reading What Is Something You Are Overthinking?
Dear Alzheimer’s Caregiver, You Will Feel Free Again Someday
Yesterday I was taking the pups for their morning walk when I had an epiphany. It was a beautiful spring morning here in South Jersey. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and I said hello to a few neighbors along the way. I began to feel a strange, unfamiliar feeling that I couldn’t … Continue reading Dear Alzheimer’s Caregiver, You Will Feel Free Again Someday
Life Is Meant For Living
During my mom’s ten-year battle with Alzheimer’s, I put my life on hold in so many ways that I basically stopped living it altogether. I did the absolute bare minimum that I needed to do to get by. I didn’t have the energy to do anything more than that. At the time, it was what … Continue reading Life Is Meant For Living
Tips for Starting Home Care for Your Loved One with Alzheimer’s
As you may know, my family cared for my mom at home for the entirety of her Alzheimer’s journey. There were many factors that allowed us to do so successfully—one of them being hiring in-home care. It wasn’t exactly a smooth transition, but there were several things we did that made it successful in the … Continue reading Tips for Starting Home Care for Your Loved One with Alzheimer’s
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