By Marianne Sciucco, New York, US One parent with dementia is challenging enough, but when you have TWO parents with dementia while raising young children it’s easy to fall into despair and chaos. When Christy Byrne Yates, a licensed educational psychologist, writer, and speaker, found herself in this situation, she learned the necessary skills she […] The post Christy Byrne Yates on Raising Kids While Caring for Parents with Dementia first appeared on AlzAuthors: Your Compassionate Guide through Alzheimer's and Dementia ..read more

By Marianne Sciucco, New York, US Christy Byrne Yates moderates an Aging & Amazing book club discussion with co-host Marianne Sciucco on the value of fiction in dementia caregiving. Marianne, a founder and manager of AlzAuthors, and also board president, podcast producer and host, draws from her experiences as a nurse and personal caregiver to […] The post Exploring Alzheimer’s Through Fiction: Marianne Sciucco’s Journey first appeared on AlzAuthors: Your Compassionate Guide through Alzheimer's and Dementia ..read more

By Marianne Sciucco, New York, US Welcome to the AlzAuthors podcast, where we explore the power of collaboration and unity within the dementia community. In this episode, we’re joined by Gina Awad from Exeter, United Kingdom, who has channeled her passion for dementia care into valuable insights for caregivers. Her journey began at a young […] The post Not About Us Without Us: Empowering Voices in the Dementia Conversation with Gina Awad first appeared on AlzAuthors: Your Compassionate Guide through Alzheimer's and Dementia ..read more

In this podcast, host Marianne Sciucco is joined by an ensemble of talented poets to officially launch our anthology, Poetry for the Dementia Journey. This collection brings together caregivers who have personally navigated the complexities of caregiving, diagnosis, and emotional upheavals tied to Alzheimer’s and dementia. They write about many of the situations common to caregivers: the impact of the initial diagnosis, moving into assisted living or memory care, saying goodbye. From touching moments with loved ones to the nuanced challenges of caregiving, these poems offer solace, understandi ..read more

By Christy Byrne Yates, California, US How would you navigate the complication of having your spouse display Dissociative Identity Disorder – previously called Multiple Personality Disorder – alongside symptoms of Alzheimer’s? Today, we delve into the memoir “Don’t Forget to Dance” with Marc Alderdice for our June Books & Chit Chat with Aging and Amazing. Marc takes us on a poignant journey through his wife Mary’s battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s, starting at age 59, and the extraordinary challenges they faced together, including her struggles with dissociative identity disorder. We exp ..read more

By Marianne Sciucco, New York, US Welcome back to the podcast where we share the powerful stories of those who have been impacted by Alzheimer’s and dementia. In this episode, Christy and I sit down with Sue Fagalde Lick, a remarkable poet, author, musician, and dog lover from the Oregon coast. Sue shares her deeply moving story of caring for her husband, Fred, throughout their Alzheimer’s journey until his passing. We dive into Sue’s earlier work, Childless by Marriage, and explore her latest writings on widowhood and life after dementia, including her poetry anthologies and newly published m ..read more

By Mindy Crouch, Nebraska, USA Having had three out of my four grandparents live with my family at different times due to aging and disease, I witnessed firsthand the challenges and complexities of caregiving. Two of my grandparents battled various forms of dementia, which deeply impacted our family dynamics. I observed how they navigated aging, how their spouses provided care, and the strain it placed on my parents as they balanced caring for their parents and raising their own children. These experiences shaped my perspective profoundly. This experience inspired me to pursue my career helpin ..read more

By Darlene Fuchs from Illinois, U. S. As I sit down to share a piece of my heart with you, I’m overcome with a rush of emotions. Get In The Boat: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Dance With Dementia isn’t just a narrative—it’s a tapestry woven from moments of raw honesty, profound loss, and unwavering love. Or as Dad said, “In the case of dementia, the game of marriage is over. Now the vows become real, it’s time to get in the boat” At the heart of this memoir is my father, Richard, whose courage and vulnerability defined our family’s battle against Dementia. I can still feel the weight of his ..read more

By Marianne Sciucco, New York, US Welcome to another insightful episode of Untangling Alzheimer’s and Dementia, and a replay of our recent book club discussion with Aging and Amazing. In this episode, we bring together a panel of poets who share a common thread—each has navigated the challenges of caring for a loved one with dementia. Your hosts, Marianne Sciucco and Ann Campanella, along with guest authors Daniel Potts, MD, Sue Fagalde Lick, Sherri Levine, and Margaret Stawowy delve into the world of poetry as a powerful outlet for expressing the complex emotions tied to Alzheimer’s and demen ..read more

By George Ackerman, PhD, JD, MBA, MS, Florida, US My mother, Sharon Riff Ackerman, suffered with Parkinson’s and dementia for fifteen years. The last four were the worst and contradicted the doctors’ self-confident pronouncement, “No one dies from Parkinson’s.” She passed on January 1, 2020, and my wife and I started togetherforsharon® as a family to keep her memory alive and especially to share the message of Parkinson’s Awareness and hope for a cure. Despite it being too late for us, I did not want to disappear and give up. In my despair, I discovered a new, unwavering strength. After my job ..read more