As a caregiver to someone with dementia…
I looked for patterns all the time in her dementia. I thought of them as guides to help me deal with the manifestations of the illness. I believed this strategy was the way to help both my mother and myself. Only when I reached out to others for support did I realize how isolating my strategy had become.
Dementia &
Alzheimers
Caregiving
Journey &
Transitions
Most recent blog posts
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Embodiment
Alzheimer and dementia caregivers experience firsthand the ravages of this disease. They stand witness to the decline of a loved one over the long arc of the illness. Subtle and not so subtle changes mark the passage of time and deterioration. Over our years together I know Vera Cappelletti’s distinctive style. My […]
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Tradition
Rob Backlund – The Longest Day Written by – Cheryl Herrick Featured in the Burlington Free Press June 2017 Special Insert Every Sunday, Rob Backlund of Burlington gathers envelopes and stamps and prints out seven copies of a letter. Each begins, “Dear Mr. President, I do not remember if I sent you this letter. […]
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Contemplation
A tremendous toll is exacted on family in the early phase of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease as we move from denial to acceptance. We live in fear of what will happen next, but in greater fear of hearing the diagnosis of this dreaded disease. A disease that will steal memories, relationships and ultimately life. […]
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Validation
The Power of Validation: Alzheimer’s Association Support Groups Written by – Lisa B Capp Featured in June 2017 Burlington Free Press Special Insert This story unfolds in 2013 when Nan Rogers and her family began to suspect Alzheimer’s disease. Nan’s mom was living alone in Massachusetts, showing signs of confusion and memory […]
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Evolution
Excerpt from The Day the Wheels Fell Off I know it’s the disease; it’s not my mother. The knowledge doesn’t make me feel better; instead it blurs the shades of green in her eyes between angry and rational moments. All are woven together in a life consumed by dementia and Alzheimer’s. The knowledge rides […]
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Intrusion
Growing up Catholic we learned about death rituals as children. Growing up Irish-Italian-American we learned about the deep emotional experience of surviving the death of a loved one. Strong memories move through my consciousness: the prescribed hours of a wake (the viewing of the deceased), the ornate casket selected by those who […]
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Endearment
Zyprexa fails my mother after months of experiencing “normal” on the antipsychotic. Prescribed for her dementia produced delusions and hallucinations she moved through a drug regimen recommended by the best medical minds available to us. Aricept and Namenda were introduced for her cognitive decline, Zyprexa, Risperdal, Abilify and Clozaril for her delusions and […]
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Transitions
Everyone wants to understand the progression of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Geriatric reception areas, Memory Center waiting rooms and social media message boards are full of questions about “the stages.” What stage is this? How long will this stage last? Have we progressed to another stage? What is the last stage of this […]
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Contrition
Long ago I lost my religion… Evolving through 13 years of Catholic school, I attended mass regularly and married in St. Joseph’s Church. Yet, I was never comfortable believing in the infallibility of the church given the fallibility of the human condition. After the defrocking of the priest who administered my […]
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Introspection
My mother, Vera would have celebrated her 90th birthday on November 15, 2016. It’s proved to be a time of reflection about her life, and her death for me. Random thoughts through a lifetime of her illness: Since her move to the memory care facility, I’ve been taking mom to her long-time hair […]
