Who is caring for the estimated 5.8 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease? Over 16 million family and friends are providing over 18.5 billion hours of unpaid care to their loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. While no caregiver’s experience is the same as any one else’s, one thing is certain: there is an emotional, physical, and financial cost to everyone involved.
Here we offer helpful strategies and resources, and share inspiring stories by and about caregivers.
Anne Basting Reveals Her Revolutionary Approach to Dementia and Elder Care
In this excerpt from Anne Basting’s “Creative Care: A Revolutionary Approach to Dementia and Elder Care," Basting reveals what she has learned from over 20 years of work in creative care and how she hopes her stories will inspire and guide us all in how to connect and...
“Braver Than You Think”: Abalene
By Maggie Downs In this excerpt from Braver Than You Think, Maggie is in the small village of Nqileni, South Africa, where she finds a sense of home — and reminders of her mom — on the other side of the world. THERE ARE MANY ACTIVITIES TO DO IN THE VILLAGE, AND I...
Using Creative Arts to Bring Light and Joy to the Lives of Those With Dementia
MacArthur Genius Grant recipient Anne Basting has pioneered a radical change in how we interact with older loved ones, especially those experiencing dementia. In her new book "Creative Care: A Revolutionary Approach to Dementia and Elder Care," Basting lays the...
When a Disease is Calling the Shots
by Patti Davis Of all the wise and reliable things that Dr. Anthony Fauci has said, I was particularly struck when he said, “You don’t make the timeline, the virus makes the timeline.” Anyone who has dealt with an incurable disease has, at some point, had to accept...
WAM Keeps You Calm, Connected and Creative During COVID-19 Pandemic
We at the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement are hoping that you and your families are safe and healthy. During these challenging times, we are committed to bringing you the best content from our WAM experts to keep you calm, connected and creative. In fact, that's what...
COVID-19 Pandemic Inspires Poem From WAM Community Member
By Tara Middleton Ever since I could write, poetry has been a cathartic channel for healing, raw self-expression and true connection. Along my own mental health journey, the art has allowed me to heal through a creative and vulnerable lens. This poem was inspired by...
How to Creatively Connect With Your Memory Challenged Loved One
During this challenging time, it's critical to find creative ways to stay busy and active for optimal brain health. Recent studies have shown that structured activities can make a significant and positive difference by stimulating mental engagement while improving...
To Comfort and Care: One Doctor’s Journey to Become a Dementia Specialist
By Loren I. Alving, MD, Director, UCSF Fresno Alzheimer & Memory Center and Health Sciences Clinical Professor, Department of Neurology, UCSF School of Medicine When I introduce myself as a cognitive and behavioral neurologist I have come to expect people,...
Living & Loving with Alzheimer’s: Minnie & Roselia
In celebration of Valentine's Day, we wanted to recognize real love in all of it's forms. Minnie Fields, whose beloved mother, Roselia, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at the age of 77. Though Minnie has become her mother's full-time caregiver, she has not forgotten...
Living & Loving With Alzheimer’s: Tracy and Pauli Reading
In celebration of Valentine's Day, we wanted to recognize real love in all of it's forms. Meet Tracy Reading and his wife, Pauli. Pauli was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's at the age of 54, but Tracy's unwavering love for her has never dimmed. When have you...
Living & Loving With Alzheimer’s
In celebration of Valentine's Day, we wanted to recognize real love in all of it's forms. First, we'll meet Tracy Reading and his wife, Pauli. Pauli was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's at the age of 54, but Tracy's unwavering love for her has never dimmed. When...
Why Connection is So Important During the Holidays
The holiday season often connotes a time of joy and happiness, but for those who live far from loved ones, the holidays can be extra stressful. Fortunately, there are things you can do to create a sense of community, according to Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a psychology...
Mim’s Purple Secret
Mary Anne Pastino (Mim) was a noted watercolorist for over 20 years, with a primary focus on flowers. Her work has been shown at a number of public and private galleries. In 2011, Mim was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s but managed to continue to paint through 2016. Mim's...
The Surprising Benefits of Being a Caregiver
By Dave Singleton If you could use some reminders about the positive sides of this often-challenging role, consider these 10 rewarding (and sometimes surprising) aspects of caregiving. 1. Caregiving Gives You a Sense of Purpose When the veils are ripped back, we often...
Paying for Senior Care’s Guide on Financial Assistance and Funding for Assisted Living
Apply for a Caregiver Recharge Grant and Receive Two Free Days of In-Home Care
Living Your Life to the Fullest After an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
There are currently 5.8 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease, and no one understands that better than this week's experts Sherry & Kevan Watson and actor Sean Hayes. When Move for Minds speaker Sherry Watson of Kentucky found out she had Alzheimer's,...
Dr. Arthur Kleinman Reveals the Rewards & Heartbreak of Caring for His Wife With Alzheimer’s
In this excerpt from Dr. Arthur Kleinman's "The Soul of Care," Dr. Kleinman reveals the challenges of taking care of his wife as she succumbs to her disease. And so we had now arrived at a key point in the downward spiral of Joan’s disability when it was clear she...
4 Sisters on a Mission to Raise Alzheimer’s Awareness
by Susan Pascal Veronica, Claudia, Noemy, and Michelle are four sisters on a mission to bring Alzheimer's awareness and resources to the Latino community. Their mother, Ermila, was diagnosed with the disease in 2018 at the age of 64. It was a heart-breaking...
3 of Our Favorite WAM Celebrities Share Inspiring Life Lessons Learned From the Women They Lost to Alzheimer’s
BY SUSAN PASCAL Learning that your mother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s is devastating news. But according to three of our favorite members of the WAM community, it turns out, acting as caregiver to your mother can also lead to a deepening relationship filled...
Why Self-Care Must Be a Prerequisite When a Family Member Is Diagnosed With Alzheimer’s
BY E. AYN WELLEFORD, MSG, PHD A loved one receiving a diagnosis of dementia prompts a multitude of responses. One surprising but consistent message I hear from families I’ve encountered over the years has been, “above all the challenges, I wouldn’t trade this...
Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Personal Caregiving
BY IRENE OLSON It cannot be said often enough how being a family caregiver is a learn-as-you-go endeavor. I spent years working in assisted living and memory care but still struggled greatly as my father’s caregiver. Dad died on October 13, 2007, after a relatively...
WAM Ambassador Maria Deneau Has Made Alzheimer’s Policy Advocacy Her Life’s Mission
BY MARIA DENEAU The color purple has become more than just my favorite color. It is the color of purpose and obsession for me that stirs raw emotion and almost a fight or flight mentality. Purple is the color most associated with Alzheimer’s Disease advocacy....
Looking Forward to a World Without Alzheimer’s
Is there hope?” they ask me. For themselves. For their moms, dads, husbands, and wives.My answer: absolutely yes.And I don’t mean that in the you-should-never-give-up-hope sense. I’m saying that there’s now legitimate reason to be optimistic. Not about...
Dr. Daniel Potts Reflects on ‘Personhood’ and Alzheimer’s
BY DANIEL C. POTTS, MD, FAAN Have you thought about what may be the root cause of the pervasive and toxic stigma associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of dementia? I think about it a lot. I believe stigma is the greatest barrier to be faced in all...
WAM Mover and Shaker Organizes ‘Boost Your Brain’ Event in Ohio
BY CINDY PERSKY What do you do when you are a retired R.N for basically 22 years, a stay at home mom for 25 years, an empty nester, and want to get back into the workforce? I got lucky and became an independent consultant for Beautycounter, a company whose mission is...
Activist Pam Montana Offers Positive New Year’s Advice For Those Living With Younger Onset Alzheimer’s
BY PAM MONTANA Happy New Year! The beginning of the year allows me to reflect and to consider potential changes or modifications that I should make going forward, to reflect on 2018 and to try to appreciate all that I was able to achieve in my second year of living...
Valuable Advice for Men Navigating Their Role as an Alzheimer’s Caregiver
The following essay is an excerpt from the book "My Two Elaines: Learning, Coping and Surviving as an Alzheimer's Caregiver" written by former Wisconsin Gov. Martin J. Schreiber. BY MARTIN J. SCHREIBER With Alzheimer’s caregiving, there’s no point in bucking and...
Broken Beauty: Piecing Together Lives Shattered by Early-Onset Alzheimer’s
The following essay is an excerpt from the book Broken Beauty: Piecing Together Lives Shattered by Early-Onset Alzheimer's. It is available for pre-order now on Amazon and in stores January 15, 2019. BY SARAH B. SMITH I’ll never forget the day my mom almost ate...
Alzheimer’s Caregiver Burnout: How to Cope with ‘PTSD’ And Get the Help You Need
BY MARIA DENEAU Panic attacks. Anxiety. Fight or flight. Feeling stuck. Depression. Lack of self care. Denial. These are all fallout behaviors experienced by long-term caregivers or family members who have dealt with Alzheimer’s disease. They also feel a lot like...
A Daughter of Alzheimer’s and the Story of Her Parents’ Dual Decline
By Jean Lee Both of my parents were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s on the same day. They were in their mid-eighties. I was the hometown daughter, working full time as a third grade teacher. My only sibling lived 1,000 miles away. That sounds like a recipe for disaster,...
Caring for Your Mother When You’re Trying to Become One
By Ann Campanella When I was 33, I learned that life can change direction when you least expect it. My husband Joel and I had moved from Houston to North Carolina to be closer to my parents, who were in their 70s and lived on the coast. We were excited about starting...
Journalist Greg O’Brien Writes Moving Tribute About His Mother and Life with Alzheimer’s
BY GREG O'BRIEN In the spring on Brookdale Place, in Rye, New York, the Forget-Me-Nots bloomed like a botanical garden, a sea of soothing pastels that kindled the memory. The Greeks called the flower Myosotis, translated “mouse’s ear,” an allusion to the shape of its...
Alzheimer’s Can Take Her Mind, But It Won’t Take Our Memories
BY BETSY BILLARD She was at the top of her game not so very long ago. Countless accomplishments. Two successful runs in the New York City Marathon. Strong enough to ride a bike more than 200 miles from Boston to New York City. She was so professionally successful...
Caregiver & Move for Minds Supporter Learns to ‘Take Time for Me’
BY BETH CHILCOTT I was a full-time caregiver for my husband, Jeff, for several years as he navigated the passageways of Alzheimer’s. The last year was especially hard as his dementia worsened by the month. Jeff stayed at home and went with me everywhere until it...
Don’t Give Up After an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis: Tips for Living Well With Dementia
This article first appeared on the website of our content partner Being Patient, an editorially independent news site covering the latest research on Alzheimer’s disease and brain health. If you’d like to sign up to their weekly newsletter, click here. BY JUDITH...
‘Memory’s Last Breath’: Gerda Saunders Confronts Dementia
BY GERDA SAUNDERS A few days before my sixty-first birthday, I was diagnosed with cerebral microvascular disease, which is the leading cause of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. My mother also had dementia. My diagnosis was not a total surprise—for about five years...
‘Fess Up, or Cover Up?’: Removing the Stigma Associated with Memory Loss
BY VICKI TAPIA It starts small. Misplaced keys that turn up in odd places, making you wonder if gremlins have taken up residence in your home. Forgotten appointments you’re sure you didn’t make, until someone points them out on your calendar. Other odd happenings...
‘Somebody I Used to Know’: Outwitting Alzheimer’s
Excerpted with permission from the new book Somebody I Used to Know by Wendy Mitchell. Published by Ballantine Books, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.Copyright © 2018 by Wendy Mitchell. All rights reserved. BY WENDY...
5 Things to Know When a Loved One is Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
Seeing the personality and whole being erased in loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease can be a heart-wrenching experience. Mental health expert Maria Aranda, executive director of the USC Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging, doesn’t want you to go through it alone. The...
10 Simple Ideas Working Dementia Caregivers Wish They Embraced Sooner
Caregivers on double-duty are perpetually exhausted and frequently report feeling like they are not doing anything quite “right.” Managing both career and the needs of someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia can feel impossible, especially on days when there’s an unexpected late meeting at work or dad has eloped from his assisted living community.
Forgiveness: A Relationship Transformed
BY ANNE VON OEHSEN/SUZY LAFORGE “Please let me do it, so I can call it my own,” my mother spoke emphatically after I made the mistake of taking hold of her paintbrush. Sitting at my kitchen table, she was putting the finishing touches on a painting of a cerulean blue...
Art and Alzheimer’s: Making Memories Matter
By Nicole Columbo Art was the tool that created lasting memories of spending time with my Grandma Audrey, who had Alzheimer's disease. I treasure those memories and shared experiences today. I have been involved with promoting Alzheimer's awareness for a few years and...
The Value of Relationships in Those Living with Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias
BY DANIEL C. POTTS, MD, FAAN (The following story appears in the book, Finding Joy in Alzheimer’s: New Hope for Caregivers, by Architects of Change Marie Marley, PhD and Daniel C. Potts, MD, FAAN, with foreward by Maria Shriver) The need for relationship is our...
Connecting Creatively with Alzheimer’s
By Erica Hornthal, LCPC, BC-DMT Connection can be challenging when Alzheimer’s is in the picture. Traditional methods of communication are affected and it is often on the care partner, family, or healthcare staff to adapt and create meaningful moments of engagement....
College Students Launch Effort to Ease Caregiver Burden
BY LINDSAY WILKES-EDRINGTON In a nation in need of more caregivers, what could be possible if we got more college students involved? That’s the question Nihal Satyadev, the CEO and Co-Founder of the Youth Movement Against Alzheimer’s, asks himself every day. It’s also...
5 Reasons You Don’t Want To Be A Hero In Dementia Caregiving
BY JENNIFER L. FITZPATRICK, MSW, LCSW-C, CSP “She heroically cared for her mother who had Alzheimer’s disease.” “He’s a real hero in the way he’s caring for his wife who was diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia.” I’ve heard many versions of this sentiment referencing...
Kind Ways to Respond When a Person With Dementia Forgets Someone Has Died
The following is an excerpt from Surviving Alzheimer's; Practical Tips and Soul-Saving Wisdom for Caregivers, now in an expanded 2nd edition. The book features the "Why-This, Try-This" approach to common challenges. Among the most wrenching situations: When someone...
This 14-Year-Old Is Developing a Mobile App to Help Alzheimer’s Patients Live Better Lives
BY LINDSAY WILKES-EDRINGTON Emma Yang is a 14-year-old student on a mission to improve the lives of individuals with Alzheimer's. After learning how to code at a young age, Emma has now put her skills to work to create a mobile app called Timeless. As Emma describes...
Dancing through Dementia: The Benefits of Dance Therapy for People Living with Alzheimer’s
BY ERICA HORNTHAL, LCPC, BC-DMT Ever wonder how we can effectively communicate with individuals who are living with Alzheimer’s disease? It is possible through the use of alternative approaches and therapies. One such therapy called dance/movement therapy can engage,...
A Caregiver’s Guide to Socializing with Your Loved One
BY JENNIFER L. FITZPATRICK, MSW, LCSW-C, CSP “How was your day, Mom?” When a loved one with a dementia diagnosis resides in a nursing home or an assisted living community, caregivers often struggle during their visits. Well-meaning caregivers typically attempt to have...
A Caregiver’s Advice on Maintaining Patience and Understanding
BY VICKI KAUFMANN “Compassion requires us to be weak with the weak, vulnerable with the vulnerable, and powerless with the powerless. Compassion means full immersion in the condition of being human.” (Henri J.M. Nouwen) I like to think that my training as a...
WATCH: Alzheimer’s: We’re All in This Together
WAM’s video featuring touching stories of caregivers and their loved ones on the frontlines of Alzheimer’s.
Documentary to Showcase the Power of Music to Mend Minds
BY LINDSAY WILKES-EDRINGTON Music has been proven to have a powerful effect on those with Alzheimer’s and dementia, helping boost brain activity and bring back old memories. Now, a new documentary is set to profile one group of individuals who have joined a band to...
Activities People Can Still Enjoy During Every Stage of Alzheimer’s
BY MARIE MARLEY Note: The following essay appears in the book by Marie Marley, PhD, and Daniel C. Potts, MD, FAAN, entitled “Finding Joy in Alzheimer’s: New Hope for Caregivers.” Among the general public, Alzheimer’s is typically considered a cruel and devastating...
How to Deal With the 3 Most Painful Situations Alzheimer’s Caregivers May Face
BY MARIE MARLEY Note: The following article appears in the book by Marie Marley, PhD, and Daniel C. Potts, MD, FAAN, entitled “Finding Joy in Alzheimer’s: New Hope for Caregivers.” There are so many difficult situations you will face as a caregiver for a person living...
Mindful Listening: Learn to Communicate Without Words With Your Loved Ones
BY DANIEL C. POTTS MD, FAAN Note: This story appears in the book by Marie Marley, PhD, and Daniel C. Potts, MD, FAAN, entitled “Finding Joy in Alzheimer’s: New Hope for Caregivers.” “The deepest level of communication is not communication, but communion. It is...
Moments of Clarity When Caring for a Loved One with Alzheimer’s
BY DANIEL C. POTTS MD, FAAN Toward the end of my father’s life I watched The Notebook, a movie based on the book by Nicholas Sparks. That’s when I finally understood something. I had seen my mother and many other care partners striving to tease out moments of clarity,...
The Best Steps to Take When Mom Doesn’t Remember
BY TRACY LAYDEN Seeing mom struggle with Alzheimer’s and memory loss is not an easy thing. Being a caregiver requires an incredible amount of patience and strength, but there are things you can do to make it a little easier. Practice Responding in Helpful Ways You may...
How Loss Strengthened My Faith in Love
BY SALLY QUINN Architect of Change Sally Quinn is a veteran Washington Post reporter and the wife of the late Ben Bradlee, the paper’s legendary former executive editor. In her new book Finding Magic, Sally bravely opens her heart and shares what it was like to...
How Music Can Boost Your Loved One’s Brain Activity
BY TRACY LAYDEN Music is fun to listen to – and our brains love it. For your loved one, music can be key to unlocking hard-to-reach parts of their brain to reveal hidden memories and emotional connections. Bring back old memories with familiar music. Our brains...
Why We Should Refrain From Asking ‘Don’t You Remember?’
BY DANIEL C. POTTS, MD, FAAN “The battle of being mortal is the battle to maintain the integrity of one’s life—to avoid becoming so diminished or dissipated or subjugated that who you are becomes disconnected from who you were or who you want to be.” ― Atul...
Four Ways to Celebrate Father’s Day When Dad Has Dementia
BY DEBORAH SHOUSE When my father-in-law Frank was living with dementia, my husband Ron and I often struggled with how to approach Father’s Day. Even though Frank didn’t know what day it was, it was important to us to celebrate and honor Frank as a father. Here are...
‘Alzhumor’ Part 2: More Stories of the Lighter Side of Caregiving
BY MARIA DENEAU It’s so easy to get caught up in trying to be perfect and doing everything perfectly as a caregiver. LOUD BUZZER NOISE. That’s impossible. So just “be light”…You ARE their light! Last week, I shared three examples of what I like to call "Alzhumor" -...
A Memory Program to Consider For Your Loved Ones With Cognitive Decline
BY LYNN SERPER In 1972, I was a teacher and developed strategies to help learning-disabled children learn. Fascinated with the brain, I entered a doctoral program in education. While completing the last chapter of my doctoral dissertation, I was struck by a...
‘Alzhumor’: Using Laughter to Lighten the Mood of Caregiving
BY MARIA DENEAU I’ve started noticing that the conversation around Alzheimer’s disease is always so heavy. Like, dead weight heavy. It’s about time we started changing that tone — especially for the folks and families doing the caregiving. There’s some funny...
How Tech Could Transform Memory Loss Care for Seniors
BY TRACY LAYDEN Between misplacing keys and forgetting names, we’ve all had our share of memory loss. But when Mom starts experiencing the onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s, the usual memory techniques may no longer be enough. There is no magical cure-all for memory...
Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day When Your Mom Has Dementia
Maria Shriver recently spoke with preeminent neurologist Dr. Frank Longo about the promising Alzheimer’s research taking place today.
The Conversation Starter Kit For Discussing ‘End of Life’ With Your Loved One
When you’re lost in the woods, the best thing to find is a friend who knows where the path is, knows where the clearings are, knows how to build a fire to keep you warm, how to forage for food, can take your hand and say, “Let me show you the way.”
Building a Network When You Feel Lost in the Woods
When you’re lost in the woods, the best thing to find is a friend who knows where the path is, knows where the clearings are, knows how to build a fire to keep you warm, how to forage for food, can take your hand and say, “Let me show you the way.”
Why Caretakers Know Their Loved Ones Better Than Anyone
If we care, then perhaps we can find ways to remove the obstructions so that the clear waters of the self can begin to flow again. And even a small sip of the shared inner essence of others and ourselves can be soul–filling for all.
Why You Should Visit Loved Ones With Alzheimer’s
I had a personal experience that I believe demonstrates this. I volunteer to visit three ladies with dementia at a local memory care facility. One of the ladies I was assigned to visit was named Doris.
What Caregivers Really Want Their Friends to Know
The truth is, caring for aging parents is an experience that’s hard to relate to unless you’re going through it. None of us can easily imagine just what life is like with a parent who needs help doing the simplest things like eating, getting in and out of bed or god forbid, going to the bathroom.
The 8 Most Important Things to Do When Planning for Elder Care
Eldercare includes everything from caring for a parent’s personal needs to also tending to all the other “stuff,” such as doctor visits, finances, emergencies, mail, groceries, nutrition, pets and much more.
16 Essential Websites for Every Caregiver
There are so many websites with advice and information for caregivers that it can be hard sometimes to find what you need or to even know where to start. Here are some great sites, organized by topic.
5 Steps to Help Counter a Common Caregiving Side Effect: Guilt
No one gets convicted in a court of law for unexpressed thoughts alone. But many caregivers show no mercy to themselves for their human limitations.
5 Lessons I’ve Learned as a Primary Caregiver
Over the past 9+ years spent as a primary caregiver for my mother in her advanced Alzheimer’s state, I’ve stepped back and thought about the five most important things I have learned so far on the journey.
Ronald Reagan’s Daughter Patti on Getting Beyond Alzheimer’s
“His eyes twinkled…and then he was gone. His soul showed up to say goodbye, to prove that Alzheimer’s can steal much from a person, but it can’t touch the soul.”
What Alzheimer’s Disease Feels Like
“I believe that with any chronic progressive illness, we are presented with moments of insight. What we do with them defines us in ways we might never have imagined.”
5 Things You Should Never Say to a Person With Alzheimer’s
When relating to a person with Alzheimer’s there are many guidelines to follow. Here are five basic guidelines.
Interacting With People With Dementia – What You Should Know
Even with training, it can be very difficult caring for and relating to with someone with dementia. However, there are some practical facets of interacting with someone who is functioning with one form or another of dementia.
Taking Care of the Caretaker
“I think it’s time to realize that there are problems for which there are no good solutions. I want to honor the caretakers who give it all they’ve got and decide they have to take action to save themselves, even if it disappoints them in their own eyes.”
Help for Caregivers at the End of Their Rope
“I think it’s time to realize that there are problems for which there are no good solutions. I want to honor the caretakers who give it all they’ve got and decide they have to take action to save themselves, even if it disappoints them in their own eyes.”