Before I met my life partner/care partner, Brian LeBlanc, he lived alone. He had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and the sleep disturbances were already growing more frequent and severe. He was scared. It wasn’t just difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. At times, vivid dreams and hallucinations before going to bed or upon […]
Brian and I were talking the other day about his final wishes. It’s likely that Brian, my life partner/care partner who lives with Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, will not be coherent or communicative as the end draws near. We’ve made peace with that. But, no matter what, he’d like to be surrounded by his […]
Do you have strong opinions about extraordinary life-sustaining measures? Have you ever said to yourself, “If she needs a machine to keep her alive, what’s the point?” Has a sibling ever joked to you, “If they ever try to put a tube in my throat to feed me, it’s time to pull the plug?” Here’s […]
The hymns are unfamiliar. The scripture is being read from an unfamiliar translation. The pastor’s sermon is long and hard to follow. This can be a jarring experience for many people. For those with dementia it can add to a sense of isolation they may already feel. A place of worship — no matter the […]
It’s 11:30 at night. You wake to get a glass of water. As you walk down the hallway, you sneak a peek into your sister’s bedroom. Quick, little checks when you get the chance have set your mind at ease since her Alzheimer’s diagnosis a few years back. She’s gone. She’s become prone to […]
They were there for you when you needed them most. Now the roles are reversed. You’re a care partner. You’re the one attending to their needs. Your loved one — perhaps your mother, father, spouse, dear uncle, or even someone your age or younger like a sibling, niece or nephew — may be aging […]
Your next door neighbor, a very dear friend of many years, stops by your front porch for a visit. She notices you sitting in the shade with a glass of sweet tea and makes her way over. Terrific, you could use the company! You and your husbands have been retired a few years now, and […]
It’s just after dinner. The sun is going down, and your father rests in his favorite recliner as you pick up the dinner table. He calls out from the living room, “When are we having dinner?” You glance up at the clock. “But we already had dinner, Pop,” you call back calmly. “You finished most […]
There are tons of books, blogs, podcasts and vlogs out there about the stages of dementia. But even some of the most reputable sources sometimes paint a fuzzy picture about what to expect when you or a loved one are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Most content lacks perspective. And that’s no […]
We know aging at home is the most comfortable and desirable option. “Mom is just so comfortable at home. She has all of her pictures and memories of raising our beautiful family there.” Or “Dad built that home. That type of craftsmanship just doesn’t exist anymore. He could never leave that behind.” Aging at […]
