Shows
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaShining a Light on Alzheimer's and Dementia: The AlzAuthors Film FestivalJoin AlzAuthors Film Fest 2025 – Celebrating 10 Years of Dementia & Alzheimer’s Awareness
Experience powerful films on dementia, Alzheimer’s, and caregiving—stories of hope, love, and resilience.
Register now at AlzAuthors.com to receive streaming links and watch from the comfort of your home, anytime. Each month, meet a featured filmmaker in a live Q&A event at 2 PM ET, and explore their journey as storytellers and dementia care advocates.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect, learn, and be inspired in the fight against Alzheimer’s.
Sept 8: Mary Crescenzo, “Planet A”
Find o...
2025-08-1821 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaExposing the Truth About Nursing Homes: Susie Singer Carter on Chemical Restraints, Alzheimer’s Care, and the Docuseries ‘No Country for Old People’"In this eye-opening episode, Christy and Marianne welcome back the formidable advocate, filmmaker, and podcast host Susie Singer Carter. Known for her poignant short film My Mom and the Girl —inspired by her experiences with her mother’s Alzheimer’s and starring the late beloved television actress Valerie Harper - and her award-winning podcast, “Love Conquers ALZ,” Susie shared details of her latest project, No Country for Old People, a stirring docuseries set to premiere on Amazon Prime August 1st.
The conversation delves into the often-unseen challenges families face when loved ones require long-term or memory care. Despite findi...
2025-08-0159 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaThe Caregiver’s Spin Cycle: Lessons, Laughter, and Life with Alfredo BotelloIn this engaging episode, hosts Marianne Sciucco and Christy Byrne Yates are joined by fiction writer and caregiver,Alfredo Botello, and AlzAuthors’ acquisitions editor Ruth Stevens.
Dive into a heartfelt and surprisingly humorous conversation as Alfredo discusses his novel, Spin Cycle, which explores the journey of a son caring for his mother with dementia. Alfredo, who transitioned from architect to screenwriter to novelist, and also runs a California dive bar, shares the inspiration behind his original story and opens up about balancing humor and heartbreak on the Alzheimer’s caregiving path.
Key Highlights:
A...
2025-06-031h 07
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaSupporting Children Through a Grandparent’s Alzheimer’s Journey with Carol SteinbergIn this episode we're sharing the highlights from our recent interview with Carol Steinberg, whose children’s book, Come Grandpa Meow, Let’s Fly, adds a much-needed resource for families navigating the challenges of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
A Personal Story Sparked by Loss
Carol’s journey began more than 25 years ago, during her own father’s struggle with Alzheimer’s. She originally wrote the book as part of her grieving process, but it wasn’t until she’d spent years working at both local and national Alzheimer’s organizations that the story truly found its sha...
2025-05-0658 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaCaring for a Wife with Alzheimer's or DementiaCaring for a spouse with dementia is a deeply challenging and emotional journey. In this episode, hosts Marianne Sciucco and Christy Byrne Yates bring together three extraordinary guests: Richard Creighton (aka Frank Brown), Scott Rose, and Tio Stib (aka Stephen Miller), who share their personal experiences and hard-earned insights.
Richard Creighton shares his journey caring for his wife Kate, who is in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's. He discusses the daily routines that bring them joy and emphasizes the profound impact of kindness and community support. Richard blogs about their Alzheimer’s journey at Living with Alzheimer’s.com...
2024-10-111h 15
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaChristy Byrne Yates on Raising Kids While Caring for Parents with DementiaOne 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 needed to not only provide care to her parents and children but also to herself.
In this replay of the AlzAuthors Aging & Amazing Books & Chit Chat discussion, she shares her insights, offering practical tips on navigating family dynamics, building a legacy of love in caregiving, and providing em...
2024-09-1749 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaA Pot of Sauce, A Pinch of Love: Cooking Through the Challenges of Dementia with Jeanette Fazzari JonesIn this heartfelt episode of AlzAuthors, we dive into the emotional and practical aspects of caring for loved ones with dementia, with a special focus on family memories and intergenerational bonds. Jeannette Fazzari Jones shares a particularly touching story about her experiences with her grandparents’ dementia, detailing both the struggles and joys she encountered along the way. She is the author of the beautifully illustrated children's book, Meatballs for Grandpa.
We talk about how the many senses like touch and smell impact memory, and how to use sensory activities to connect not just with our person with de...
2024-09-0347 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaNot About Us Without Us: Empowering Voices in the Dementia Conversation with Gina AwadWelcome 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 the U.K, who has channeled her passion for dementia care into valuable insights for caregivers. Her journey began at a young age, witnessing the impact of dementia on individuals in care homes, which fueled her dedication to the cause. Her background in health and social care, combined with her personal experiences, has led her to author the illustrated book "United: Caring for Our Loved Ones with Dementia," providing caregivers with practical...
2024-08-0645 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaLaunching "Poetry for the Dementia Journey": An AlzAuthors AnthologyIn 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, understanding, and a break from the isolating silence often surrounding...
2024-07-2359 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaEmpowering LGBTQ+ Caregivers: Stories of Love, Loss, and TriumphThis podcast is a replay of our recent panel discussion on LGBTQ+ caregiver concerns, hosted by Sue Evans of Kensington Senior Living and AlzAuthors. Authors Laura Davis, Christopher MacLellan, Vincent Zappacosta, and Douglass Christensen joined Sue, Christy and I as we delved into the complexities of caregiving within the LGBTQ+ community. They shared personal stories, insightful advice, and meaningful discussions about their caregiving journeys, offering knowledge and support to others currently caring for a loved one.
Empathy emerged as a recurring theme during the discussion. The group explored how understanding and compassion are foundational to a positive...
2024-06-191h 02
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaPatience, Kindness, and Humor: Lessons from Caregiving with Vicki Tapia (Book Club Replay)Vicki Tapia is a founder of AlzAuthors and the author of Somebody Stole My Iron: A Family Memoir of Dementia. In this replay of a recent Aging and Amazing book club discussion, Vicki shares profound insights from her personal experiences. She discusses how caring for two parents with dementia placed a considerable strain on her personal support system. A long-distance caregiver, she found the challenges of managing her parent's concerning behaviors and medical needs from 200 miles away daunting. Their rural community and limited medical resources confounded the situation as well. Her only sibling's chosen absence from the situation was...
2024-06-051h 06
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaLaughter, Tears and Connection: Discussing a Novel Born from Alzheimer's ExperienceDelight in the surprising journey of Ruth Stevens, from crafting a stage play to penning a heartfelt novel about Alzheimer's. Delve into the unexpected twists and turns as Ruth shares her personal experiences and the emotional impact of her work. Stay tuned for eye-opening insights on turning personal stories into fiction and a sneak peek into her upcoming duology. Get ready to be captivated by Ruth's incredible journey, as she shares the highs and lows of her creative process.
For our March installment of Books & Chit Chat, our monthly Book Club collaboration with Aging & Amazing, we talk...
2024-04-1759 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaWhen Duty Becomes Privilege: Reframing Caregiving as an Act of LoveThis is a replay of our book club discussion with our friends at Aging & Amazing. "Books & Chit Chat" is a monthly book club featuring a title from the AlzAuthors collection. Throughout the month, readers participate in a discussion in the book club's Circle community at Aging & Amazing, then meet with the author for an in-depth discussion of the book and the caregiving journey. The online discussions are typically moderated by Andrea Couture, but she was unavailable for this episode so AlzAuthor founder, manager and author Marianne Sciucco is in her place for this episode.
Florrie Munat, the...
2024-03-241h 03
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaBooks & Chit Chat: Andrea Couture Discusses Memoir "Embracing What Remains"This is the replay of our inaugural book club discussion with our friends at Aging & Amazing. "Books & Chit Chat" is a monthly book club featuring a title from the AlzAuthors collection. Throughout the month, readers participate in a discussion in the book club's Circle Community at Aging & Amazing, then meet with the author for an in-depth discussion of the book and the caregiving journey. The online discussions are moderated by Andrea Couture, whom we meet during this first of the discussions on January 30, 2024.
Andrea, also known as Drea, is the author of "Embracing What Remains," a moving...
2024-02-1159 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaWriting Through the Fog: Three Authors Share Dementia Coping StrategiesAnyone living with Alzheimer's or dementia, and those who care for them, knows the importance of lifestyle adjustments to successfully navigate this journey. From simple strategies like making lists, reducing social commitments, and focusing on tasks that bring joy, to complex maneuvers like family involvement in advanced directive planning, the lifestyle changes are indeed varied.
In this podcast hosted by Kensington Senior Living, three authors discuss the role of personalized coping mechanisms, underscoring the unique experience each individual and family uses to embrace and adapt to the uncertainties of Alzheimer's. You'll meet Daniel Gibbs, MD, a retired...
2024-01-241h 00
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaAlzAuthors Book Club Chit Chat Promo with Aging and AmazingAlzAuthors is excited and honored to partner with the online community Aging & Amazing for a monthly book club, a “Meet the Author” type of event: AlzAuthors Books and Chit Chat. The book club will feature a new book and author every month. The first few months have been scheduled and include:
January 30th 7pm EST: Andrea Couture – Embracing What Remains: A Memoir February 27th 7pm EST: Florrie Munat – Be Brave, a Wife’s Journey Through CaregivingMarch 26th 7pm EST: Ruth Stevens– Stage Seven, a novelApril 30th 7pm EST: A gathering of poets for National Poetry Month: featuring Sherri Levine, Stealing Flowers...
2024-01-1618 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaRewriting the Dementia Narrative: How "Keys Bags Names Words" Is Shattering Stereotypes with Cynthia Stone, Caroline PrioleauIn this episode of Untangling Alzheimer's & Dementia, hosts Marianne Sciucco and Christy Byrne Yates are joined by guests Cynthia Stone and Caroline Prioleau to discuss their documentary film "Keys Bags Names Words." The film explores the experiences of individuals and families affected by dementia and highlights the importance of community support and education. Cynthia and Caroline share their personal journeys and explain how their own encounters with dementia impacted their work on this powerful film. They discuss the process of creating the film, including obtaining footage and incorporating personal stories. The episode also delves into the impact of the...
2023-11-0756 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaEverything You've Always Wanted to Know About Living WIth Dementia, part 2In this episode, you'll hear from a diverse group of guests who share their personal experiences and insights on living with dementia. Peter Berry, Michael Ellenbogen, Gerda Saunders, and Jennifer Bute each bring their unique perspectives, providing a wealth of knowledge and understanding about the challenges and triumphs of navigating life with dementia. From discussing the impact of technology on social connections to the importance of finding supportive living arrangements, this episode covers a wide range of topics that caregivers and family members of individuals living with dementia will find valuable. Tune in to gain new insights and discover...
2023-11-031h 09
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaRevolutionizing Caregiving: The Whole Care Network's Streaming Radio Channel, with Chris MacLellanJoin hosts Marianne Sciucco and Christy Byrne Yates as they discuss the launch of the Whole Care Network's new streaming radio channel with guest Christopher MacLellan, the passionate founder, who aims to connect and empower caregivers through this groundbreaking platform. The app provides trusted information and support to caregivers.
Listen to The Whole Care Network Streaming Radio! Download the app from Apple or Google Play.
Discover WCN's October Surge event with AlzAuthors
In this episode, you will be able to:
Explore the resources provided by the Whole Care Network and AlzAuthors, empowering...
2023-10-2749 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaThe Importance of Open Communication in Dementia Care with Kate HanleyKate Hanley’s discovery of her parent’s unique love language set her on a path she never anticipated—writing a book. Yet these beautiful “paper napkin sonnets,” and the story that surrounds them, were too precious and inspiring not to share, as they offer hope for anyone in the throes of caring for someone with dementia.
The overwhelming peace she had when she witnessed her mother's love for her seven children overpower dementia encouraged her to write her story. It is her hope that others will believe that their compassion and resilience in caring for someone with...
2023-09-2755 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaTony Copeland-Parker's Inspiring Approach to Alzheimer's CareAfter a dementia diagnosis and heart surgery, Tony Copeland-Parker and his partner, Catherine, aka "Cat," traveled for years worldwide to run marathons and half-marathons. Now, due to the progression of Cat's early onset Alzheimer's, they've recently settled down in an assisted living facility. Tony and his memoir, Running All Over the World: Our Race Against Early Onset Alzheimer's, first came to AlzAuthors in January, 2022. He has appeared on our podcast and in a virtual panel discussion, Love Stories: Keeping Romance Alive in Dementia Care. Tony is an expert on traveling with a loved one with dementia, and now speaks a...
2023-08-1639 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaSandra Strauss Untangles the Toxic BrainWhen Sandra Strauss' husband, Rick, was diagnosed with dementia overnight, she was determined to uncover the truth behind the cause--but what she discovered was far more shocking than anyone could have imagined. Unbeknownst to them, Rick had a rare genetic predisposition that made him highly susceptible to environmental toxins--a factor that could be making countless people sick. Sandra's journey to uncover the truth has now become a mission to help others navigate this complex terrain as she embarks on writing a book to share her experience and raise awareness.
In this episode, you will be...
2023-05-2458 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaSusan Farese MSN, RN Untangles Poetic Expressions in Dementia CarePoetry, whether reading or writing it, can be a powerful tool to ease our dementia caregiving journey, allowing us to express our deepest emotions, unravel our confusion and angst, and learn from and understand others.
Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN is the author of Poetic Expressions in Nursing: Sharing the Caring, poems written when she became a nurse poet in the 1990's. Heartbreaking memories of losing her grandmother, Ann, to early onset Alzheimer's when she was a young teen inspired her first poem, Ann's Zest Ends.
In this episode, we discuss how witnessing her grandmother's d...
2023-02-2853 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaAngela Gentile Untangles Dementia Caregiver SolutionsAngela G. Gentile, MSW, RSW, is the author of two books in the AlzAuthors collection. She came to us in 2016 with her book, Caring for a Husband with Dementia: The Ultimate Survival Guide, inspired by her experience counseling eight amazing caregiving women. Her second book, Alzheimer’s, Dementia, & Memory Loss: A Helpful Guide for Caregivers, was recently published and was featured on our blog on February 10th. Her books have been referred to as "a first aid kit," for caregivers.
A social worker specializing in geriatrics with more than 25 years' experience, Angela currently works as a consultant to...
2023-02-1552 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaAnnette Wick and Pauletta Hansel Untangle Creative Writing for CaregiversThis podcast is a duet with authors Annette Jannuzzi Wick and Pauletta Hansel, both of Cincinnati, Ohio, who are not only good friends but collaborators on writing workshops. Both have cared for mothers with dementia.
Annette is a writer, speaker, and author of I’ll Have Some of Yours: What my mother taught me about dementia, cookies, music, the outside, and her life inside a care home, essays inspired by her dementia journey.
Pauletta is a poet, essayist, and teacher who was Cincinnati’s first Poet Laureate (2016-2018). She is the author of Palind...
2023-02-0156 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaTom and Karen Brenner Untangle Reaching the UnreachableTom and Karen Brenner have a passion for helping those with dementia and their families connect on a meaningful level. Both bring their professional experience to their work. Tom is a gerontologist who specializes in creating dementia care programs that are strength-based and positive leaning. Karen is a Montessori educator who co-founded a Montessori school for children who are deaf. They have worked together for the past twenty years researching and implementing the application of the Montessori Method to dementia care.
After years of working directly with people living with dementia and their caregivers, they have published...
2023-01-111h 13
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaBONUS EPISODE: Untangling Caregiver Reads From Every GenreThis episode is a replay of a recent panel discussion the management team did with Sue Evans of Kensington Senior Living. You'll hear us share our personal caregiving stories, and we'll explain why we chose to share them in our books. We'll also talk about the value of storytelling in caregiving and the many resources in our collection to support your journey. As this was a video event, you'll hear references to visuals you cannot see in a podcast. I recommend you queue up our website – AlzAuthors.com - and follow along during the virtual tour of the bookstore....
2022-12-121h 01
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Dementia with Difficult PeopleIn this AlzAuthors Live! Virtual Q&A Dementia with Difficult People (November 8, 2022) you'll meet four of our authors who either cared for a parent who had hurt them in the past, or dealt with siblings who made caregiving difficult, or both. A professional mediator is also on hand to offer advice on how to navigate a dementia journey with a difficult person.
Discussion topics:
Heeding the call to careReckoning with the pastSetting aside differencesProblems/issues encounteredForgivenessBuilding a support network without family
Our Panelists
Kimberly Best, RN, MA is...
2022-12-061h 07
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaBuilding a Legacy of Love with Christy Byrne YatesWelcome to the third and last episode in our 2022 Summer Book Series with HFC featuring Christy Byrne Yates, MS. Christy is an expert in navigating the challenges and opportunities in life, including living in the “Sandwich Generation” (those raising children who are also caring for an aging parent), special needs education, and parenting. A former school psychologist, she applied many of the skills used in her work in her approach to caring for both of her parents, who each had dementia, while raising her own two children. She is the author of Building a Legacy of Love: Thriv...
2022-11-1459 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaSurfing the Waves of Alzheimer's with Renee Harmon, MDWelcome to the second in our 2022 Summer Book Series with HFC. In this episode, Renée Harmon, MD, author of Surfing the Waves of Alzheimer's shares her story of caring for her husband, Harvey, who had younger-onset Alzheimer's. This interview was recorded on July 12th. Christy Byrne Yates, MA moderated. We discuss the importance of acknowledging your vulnerability while caregiving, asking for and accepting help, why a good support group can make all the difference, and how to rewrite your script when dementia enters your story.
About Renée Harmon, MD
René...
2022-10-191h 03
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaDementia Care Around the World, Part OneIn this AlzAuthors Live! Virtual Q&A we explore the similarities and differences caregivers and those living with dementia encounter as they seek care and search for solutions to the many questions and problems a dementia diagnosis brings. The authors featured in this event represent the United States, Canada, and Argentina. We hope their stories will inspire and empower you on your own dementia journey.
Topics included:
• obtaining a diagnosis
• accessing care
• community resources
• financial concerns
• insurance considerations
• home care, assisted living, long-term care
• stigma s...
2022-10-0545 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaAlzAuthors Untangles A Collection of Stories to Support Your Caregiving JourneyThe podcast you are about to listen to is a recording of an event we did with Kensington Senior Living in June, 2022. "On the Same Page this Summer: A Collection of Stories to Support You on Your Caregiving Journey" features four authors discussing their personal dementia experiences. You'll hear from a young woman whose mother was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's when she was just 25; a professional in dementia care with strategies to help you manage your own situation; a mom in the "sandwich generation" who shares how she balanced care between her school-age children and her parents with...
2022-09-071h 05
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaPatti Callahan Henry Untangles What it Means to RememberWhat are memories? Do our memories make us who we are? What happens to “us” when our memory fails, and cognitive decline ensues? I discussed these profound questions with one of my favorite authors, Patti Callahan Henry. She is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sixteen novels, a podcast host, and a co-creator and host of the popular show, Friends & Fiction. Prior to becoming an author, she was a Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist with a fascination for memory and focused on neurology and brain trauma. Her novel, The Favorite Daughter, joined our collection of carefully vett...
2022-08-1044 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaHFC Summer Series with AlzAuthors and Ruth Stevens, Author of Stage Seven, a NovelWelcome to the first in our 2022 Summer Series with HFC. We kicked off this season on June 14th with Ruth Stevens’ novel, Stage Seven. Christy Byrne Yates moderated.
About Ruth Stevens
Ruth Stevens believes in stories that make you laugh and cry. She says, “I like to write about the topics that worry me the most. Since I worry about a great many things, there is never a shortage of material. A resident of Torrance, California, Ruth is a former public relations professional (in New York and Los Angeles) and proud member of the...
2022-07-131h 00
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaFour Authors Untangle When Dad Has DementiaCaring for a father with a dementia diagnosis brings to caregiving its own special set of circumstances and considerations. In this AlzAuthors Live! Virtual Q&A we explore these changes and challenges with four of our authors. Their stories will inspire and empower you on your own dementia journey with your dad.
This free virtual event was held on Tuesday, June 7th, 2022. The video replay is available on our YouTube Channel.
Meet the Panelists
Andrea Couture: author of Embracing What Remains, a memoir
Andrea recently lost her beloved father, a...
2022-06-301h 06
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaAlzAuthors Untangles Custom Caregiver CollectionsJoin the AlzAuthors team as we discuss the launch of our latest initiative, Custom Caregiver Collections. Managers Jean Lee, a co-founder, Ann Campanella, and Susan Landeis, and author Paulette Sharkey join host Marianne Sciucco to discuss the beautifully crafted table top wooden bookshelves holding a collection of approximately 15 to 18 books about Alzheimer’s and dementia, to support our goal of providing real books to real people in real places.
With more than 300 quality, carefully vetted books written from personal dementia experience in the AlzAuthors Bookstore, we are perfectly positioned to offer customized collections of memoirs, novels, caregiving gu...
2022-06-2049 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaFrank Silverstein Untangles His Parents' Dementia Story in a Short FIlmWhen his parents began to show early signs of dementia, independent documentary filmmaker Frank Silverstein captured their story with the camera on his iPhone. This resulted in a short film he titled Lousy: Love in the Time of Dementia. The film has gone on to receive positive reviews, was screened at London’s Global Health Film Festival and the New Haven Film Festival, as well as in support groups and classrooms for nursing, social work, and medical students.
Frank was a career network and cable TV producer at ABC-News 20/20, CNN, CBS News, and MSNBC. His stories have foc...
2022-06-061h 02
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaAlzAuthors Untangles Seven Years of Sharing Dementia StoriesAlzAuthors Untangles 7 Years of Sharing Dementia Stories
As we celebrate seven years of sharing dementia stories written from personal experience to support others, members of our management team reflect on where we've been, where we're going, and what AlzAuthors means to each of us on a deeply personal level.
We are extremely proud of our accomplishments, in awe that we've managed to keep what was initially a one-month project chugging along for seven years, and inspired by the ideas, partnerships, and opportunities that motivate and inspire us to continue this mission.
...
2022-05-3138 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaPatti Davis Untangles Lessons Learned While Floating in Dementia's Deep EndPatti Davis is an actress, author, activist, advocate, and daughter of a United States president. She has written extensively about her father, Ronald Reagan, and his Alzheimer’s disease in both The Long Goodbye and now Floating in the Deep End. In 2011, she created a support group program for caregivers of people with dementia, called Beyond Alzheimer's. Floating in the Deep End is an extension of that support group — a handbook for those on the perilous and sorrowful journey of losing a loved one to this mysterious disease. It is also part memoir, as many of the memories of her o...
2022-05-0256 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaChristy Byrne Yates, MS Untangles Dementia Care and the Sandwich GenerationAbout Christy Byrne Yates, MS
Christy Byrne Yates is the author of Building a Legacy of Love: Thriving in the Sandwich Generation, part-memoir, part caregiver guide, written from her experience caring for two parents with dementia.
In addition to being an author, she is a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP), a credentialed school psychologist, a speaker, and life coach. As the mother of two – now grown – children, she became an expert in navigating life’s challenges and opportunities, including living in the “Sandwich Generation,” those raising children while caring for aging parents.
In this ep...
2022-04-2557 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaAnthony Copeland-Parker Untangles Life as a Nomad and Early Onset Alzheimer'sAbout Tony Copeland-Parker
When Anthony Copeland-Parker and his partner Catherine were in their 50’s, they found out that she had early-onset Alzheimer’s and he needed open heart-valve replacement surgery. They both had a history as endurance athletes, so, motivated by a love for running and travel, they sold their home, retired from their jobs, and became nomads, running marathons and half-marathons all over the world. Since then, he and Catherine have traveled to 82 different countries. They have run at least a half-marathon in 35 countries and on all seven continents.
Tony shares his story...
2022-04-041h 01
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaLori La Bey Untangles How She Built a Media Platform for CaregiversAbout Lori La Bey
Lori La Bey is known as an international visionary when it comes to dementia care. Just ask Oprah, Maria Shriver, or Dr. Oz who have all recognized her for her work. Prior to becoming the founder of an international advocacy group and media outlet for dementia, she cared for her own mother who lived with the condition for 30 years. Confounded by the lack of resources available to caregivers, she decided there had to be a better way, and launched Alzheimer’s Speaks, providing a variety of platforms to connect people to se...
2022-03-281h 02
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaREPLAY: Gincy Heins Untangles Living with a Spouse's Mild Cognitive ImpairmentAbout Gincy Heins
Gincy Heins became caregiver to her husband at the age of 49 when he was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment, also known as MCI, a neurological condition that causes a slight but noticeable and measurable decline in cognitive abilities. Memory and thinking skills are primarily affected, and there is a very real possibility of future Alzheimer’s or another dementia. At the time, he was just 55.
At first disbelieving that such a diagnosis could befall them so early in life, Gincy set out to learn all she could about the condition an...
2022-03-2159 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaGincy Heins Untangles Life with a Spouse's Mild Cognitive ImpairmentSupport AlzAuthors at https://alzauthors.com/donate
Please leave a review, and share this podcast with a caregiver or loved one on a dementia journey.
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About Gincy Heins
Gincy Heins became caregiver to her husband at the age of 49 when he was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment, also known as MCI, a neurological condition that causes a slight but noticeable and measurable decline in cognitive abilities. Memory and thinking skills are primarily affected, and there is a very real possibility of future Alzheimer’s or another dementia. At...
2022-03-219h 19
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaREPLAY: Peter Berry and Deb Bunt Untangle How to Live Well With DementiaThis podcast is a replay of one that appeared last year with our friends Peter Berry and Deb Bunt. They’ve written a new book, a volume of poetry, musings, that Peter sent to Deb via text messages at the end of long days living with dementia. She transcribed his words and lovingly put them in a book called Walk With Me: Musings Through The Dementia Fog. Its pages are exquisitely illustrated with the work of Daniel Ruffles, a talented friend and photographer who captures the beauty of the Suffolk landscape and coastal areas where Peter and Deb...
2022-03-1455 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaLive Q&A - Love Stories: Keeping Romance Alive in Dementia CareAbout Love Stories: Keeping Romance Alive in Dementia Care
Caring for a spouse with Alzheimer’s or other dementia carries with it a lot of changes and uncharted territory. At the heart of these changes may be the very foundation of what makes you a couple: romance. New roles, a new lifestyle, and sometimes new living arrangements can take their toll on even the closest of couples.
On Wednesday, February 9th, 2022, AlzAuthors Live! presented Love Stories: Keeping Romance Alive in Dementia Care., a virtual Q&A. This one-hour program featured four of...
2022-03-071h 06
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaRosanne Corcoran Untangles Dementia Care and the Sandwich GenerationAbout Rosanne Corcoran
Rosanne Corcoran cared for her mother over a 12-year span, starting as a stealth caregiver, to full time caregiver, to in-home, sandwich caregiver for her mother’s final 6 years. Finding herself part of a growing caregiving community in need of both support and critical information, she has conducted exhaustive research into caregiving strategies for aging parents. To assist this community, share information and provide support, she started a regional Daughterhood Circle in the Philadelphia suburbs in 2019. In November of that year, she created Daughterhood The Podcast: For Caregivers to engage a dynamic gr...
2022-02-281h 13
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaSusan Landeis Untangles Searching for Rainbows in DementiaAbout Susan Landeis
Susan Landeis and her mother shared a difficult childhood, leading to abandonment issues, estrangement, and then a need for care on a dementia journey. Despite decades of abuse, Susan put aside her feelings and came to her mother’s aid, taking on not only the role of mom’s caregiver, but eventually the role of caring for her father.
This experience inspired her first book, Optimal Caregiving: A guide for managing senior health and well-being. And then a second, more personal memoir, called In Search of Rainbows: A daughter’s story...
2022-02-2151 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaHelene Berger Untangles Choosing Joy in the Dementia JourneyAbout Helene Berger
Prior to assuming the role of dementia caregiver to Ady, her husband of fifty years, Helene Berger held major positions of leadership throughout her life, in her home community of Miami, Florida, and across the United States. She is recognized as a powerful and inspirational speaker, and has used her voice and influence to marshal help for large and diverse groups of people with a wide variety of needs.
Choosing Joy, Alzheimer’s: A Book of Hope is her first book. It was inspired by the unanticipated, positive results that he...
2022-02-141h 04
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaDebra Tann, Ed. D. Untangles The Race of Dementia: Care, Cure, and DisparityAbout Debra Tann, Ed. D.
As a young child, Debra Tann encountered what she later learned to be dementia in her beloved great grandmother. At the time, the condition was known as “senility.” This encounter had a significant impact on her young heart and mind. Many years later, after a 14-year career as a professor in Political Science, and another 14 years operating an independent Christian school, she has taken her professional skillset and transitioned her platform to that of dementia education. She is a certified Dementia Educator, certified Dementia Friends Champion, and a certified Virtual Demen...
2022-02-0757 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaKimberly Best Untangles the Art of Mediation in Dementia CareAbout Kimberly Best RN, MA
When a family member is diagnosed with dementia, a number of complicated issues may arise: family conflict, the re-emergence of old slights and misunderstandings, disagreements on how to provide care or navigate the journey, and more. Mediator and conflict coach Kimberly Best is passionate about helping others resolve such conflicts in a productive, non-litigious way, and in finding optimal solutions to problems for all parties involved.
She spent most of her career as a Registered Nurse in intensive care, trauma, and emergency medicine, where she cared for people i...
2022-01-3153 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaSue Ryan Untangles the 5 Steps of the Caregiver JourneySupport AlzAuthors at https://alzauthors.com/donate
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About Sue Ryan
The caregiver journey can either make us or break us. Sue Ryan experienced dementia for more than 30 years with several loved ones, including her father, and now her husband. These journeys have opened her heart and mind to greater possibilities, to understand herself better, and to create opportunities to share her hard-earned knowledge with other caregivers, who may be...
2022-01-241h 18
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaDr. Barbara Ella Milton Jr. Untangles Caregiving While Battling CancerCaring for a mother with Alzheimer’s can be difficult. Compound that with your own cancer diagnosis and treatment, as well as 90 miles between you, and the experience borders on impossible. But Dr. Barbara Ella Milton Jr. heeded her mother’s call to step in and offer her support throughout her journey. She asked herself three important questions when she got the call: Could I? Should I? Would I? The answers were yes, yes, and yes.
So began their dementia journey, after lifelong relationship struggles and difficulties encountered due to poverty, racism, and homophobia. She tells her stor...
2022-01-171h 13
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaJennifer Fink Untangles Podcasts, an Essential Tool for Dementia CaregiversJennifer Fink is the daughter, granddaughter, and great granddaughter of three women who have succumbed to Alzheimer’s or other cognitive impairments. Her quest to discover how not to become the fourth generation in her family with this condition, while also seeking ways to better connect with her mother, led her to her new passion, podcasting. She is the producer and host of Fading Memories, a podcast that listens, hears, and offers wisdom and hope from caregivers who have lived the experience.
Jennifer discovered long ago that podcasts are an easily accessible way to learn new things. Sh...
2021-12-131h 04
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaEdie Weinstein Untangles How Children’s Books Can Diminish Barriers Caused by DementiaEdie Weinstein is the youngest of the AlzAuthors. She published her illustrated children’s book, Grandpa and Lucy: A Story About Love and Dementia, at the tender age of 16! But today, at 18 and a college student, she may be one of our wisest contributors.
Unlike most of our authors, Edie did not write her book because of a personal experience with dementia. She wrote it as a Girl Scouts Silver Award Project because her grandpa did not have dementia.
After learning about the condition at a Dementia Friends meeting, she realized that for many kids, de...
2021-12-0652 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaCynthia Huling Hummel Untangles the Memories Behind the MasksThe Rev. Dr. Cynthia Huling Hummel is an Alzheimer's artist, author, and advocate. She is the author of "UnMasking Alzheimer's: The Memories Behind the Mask,” a collection of photos of the 36 masks she created as a participant in an arts program called "Art Reflects" for those living with memory loss and their care partners. Cynthia says she started with one mask and couldn't stop! Each one reveals a story that speaks to her experience of living with early onset Alzheimer’s. She hopes that her mask collection will travel around the country and provide a better understanding of the chal...
2021-11-2948 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaJames Russell Untangles Caring for a Daughter with DementiaJames Russell is a man caring for his daughter with early onset Alzheimer’s in assisted living. (Lynne Russell passed away on January 19, 2024.) Lynn was diagnosed in 2017 at the age of 51. She represents the fourth generation of the Russell family affected by dementia. In the early days of her diagnosis, Jim, her dad, and her mother, Karen, relocated from their home to be closer to Lynn, and to assist with the care of her three growing sons. Eventually, Karen succumbed to cancer and Jim carried on, moving to an apartment two blocks from Lynn so he can be involved da...
2021-11-1556 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaBobbi Carducci Untangles The Inadequate vs. The Imperfect CaregiverBobbi Carducci is a national speaker on Alzheimer’s and dementia, how it affects entire families, and how to prepare to care – what adults need to know about these diagnoses before and after they strike home. Taking on the role of caregiver for her father-in-law, Rodger, for seven years ultimately inspired her to embark on a new path in life, where she is a caregiver advocate, support group leader, Certified Caregiving Consultant (CCC), Certified Caregiving Educator (CCE), author, blogger, and podcaster. Her personal experience on the dementia journey allows her to connect with and educate caregivers as she speaks with hones...
2021-11-081h 05
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaBobbi Carducci Untangles The Inadequate vs. The Imperfect CaregiverBobbi Carducci is a national speaker on Alzheimer’s and dementia, how it affects entire families, and how to prepare to care – what adults need to know about these diagnoses before and after they strike home. Taking on the role of caregiver for her father-in-law, Rodger, for seven years ultimately inspired her to embark on a new path in life, where she is a caregiver advocate, support group leader, Certified Caregiving Consultant (CCC), Certified Caregiving Educator (CCE), author, blogger, and podcaster. Her personal experience on the dementia journey allows her to connect with and educate caregivers as she speaks with hones...
2021-11-0819 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaAlex Winstanley Untangles Dementia Books for ChildrenAlex Winstanley is a best-selling author and award-winning social entrepreneur from Wigan, England. Through his books, he raises awareness of a range of long-term health conditions, in a positive and supportive way, for children and young people. He is extremely passionate about promoting a diverse and inclusive society, where every person is valued and celebrated. Each of his books are inspired by real people, as Alex believes nothing is more important than giving a voice to those with lived experience. His first book, My Grandma Has Dementia, inspired by his own grandmother, won a Dementia Hero Award in 2021.
In this episode, we discuss his w...
2021-10-1842 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaDonna Thomson and Zachary White, Ph.D Untangle The Unexpected Journey of CaringDonna Thomson and Dr. Zachary White are co-authors of The Unexpected Journey of Caring: The Transformation of Loved One to Caregiver (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019).
Donna Thomson is a caregiver, author, and activist. The mother of two grown children, one who has severe cerebral palsy and medical complexity, she also helped care for her mother who lived with dementia until she passed away in the summer of 2018 at the age of 96. She is also the author of The Four Walls of My Freedom: Lessons I've Learned from a Life of Caregiving (McArthur and Co., 2010 and The House o...
2021-10-111h 09
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaSusan Cushman Untangles a Mother and Daughter Facing Alzheimer'sSusan Cushman cared for her mother during her dementia journey and considered it a blessing. One of the upsides to Alzheimer’s, she says, is that she got a new mother. After a lifetime of abuse, her mother “forgot” to be cruel to her, and their relationship improved. About her book, Tangles and Plaques: A Mother and Daughter Face Alzheimer’s,” she says, “The tangles and plaques that destroyed Mother’s brain weren’t only in her brain, but also in our relationship.”
She is also the author of John and Mary Margaret, a novel that explores interracial relati...
2021-10-0448 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaLeah Stanley Untangles Double Dementia Duty for Two GrandparentsLeah Stanley is the author of Goodnight, Sweet: A Caregiver’s Long Goodbye, the memoir she wrote years after caring for her beloved grandparents, both diagnosed with dementia. At the time she was a 29-year-old newlywed with no clue about elder issues, dementia, or caregiving. She had to learn fast! When her dementia journey ended, she realized she wanted to take her hard-earned lessons and share them with others so they would not be as unprepared as she was when duty called. Her degree in journalism gave her the confidence to start writing and she began a memoir, and th...
2021-09-2753 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaJoy Johnston Untangles Becoming the Reluctant CaregiverJoy Johnston is a digital journalist, author, and caregiver advocate based in Atlanta, Georgia. Her collection of personal essays on caregiving, titled The Reluctant Caregiver, received a gold medal at the 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards. She also writes about dementia and caregiving on her blog, The Memories Project, which was honored as one of the “Best Alzheimer’s Disease Blogs of 2020” by eMediHealth, and she is a featured author on The Caregiver Space.
An only child, she assisted her mother as a long-distance caregiver to her father with dementia for ten years. A few years after his passing...
2021-09-2056 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaTracey Shorthouse Untangles Early Onset Alzheimer's and Posterior Cortical AtrophyTracey Shorthouse was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s and Posterior Cortical Atrophy in 2015 at age 45. A staff nurse in the United Kingdom’s National Health Service, she had to retire due to her diagnosis.
Not being one to give up, she started to write short stories but found writing poetry was easier for her brain to contend with. Although at first her poems were about how she coped with her dementia, she then started writing about life, nature, and other things. In 2017 she published a book of poetry named I Am Still Me.
Sh...
2021-09-1356 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaHFC and AlzAuthors Present Loretta Woodward Veney, author of Being My Mom's MomThis is the third and last in our Summer Book Series with HFC, aka Hilarity for Charity, for 2021. In this session Loretta Woodward Veney joined us for a discussion of her book Being My Mom’s Mom: A Journey Through Dementia from a Daughter’s Perspective. We talked about her work as a LEGO Ambassador and how that fits into her dementia care for her mom, and discussed other activities to help caregivers connect and engage with their loved ones.
About Loretta Woodward Veney
Loretta Woodward Veney is a special friend to A...
2021-08-301h 04
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaHFC and AlzAuthors Present Daniel Potts, MD, FAAN, and Ellen Potts, Authors of A Pocket Guide for the Alzheimer's CaregiverThis is the second in our Summer Book Series with HFC, aka Hilarity for Charity. In this session Daniel Potts, MD, FAAN, and his wife Ellen Potts joined us for a discussion of their helpful book A Pocket Guide for the Alzheimer’s Caregiver.
Daniel C. Potts, MD, FAAN is a neurologist, author, educator, and champion of those living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and their care partners. Selected by the American Academy of Neurology as the 2008 Donald M. Palatucci Advocate of the Year, he also has been designated an Architect of Change by M...
2021-08-161h 01
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaHFC and AlzAuthors Present an Author Talk with Peter Berry and Deb Bunt, authors of Slow Puncture: Living Well With DementiaAlzAuthors has partnered with HFC, (Hilarity for Charity) to present a Summer Book Series for Alzheimer’s and dementia families and caregivers. Each month, one of our authors meets with readers and caregivers online to discuss their book. The authors talk about their own dementia journeys and why they chose to write about them. They also answer questions from the attendees. It’s a wonderful way to learn more about dementia and caregiving.
Peter Berry kicked off the first in our series on June 8th. Peter’s book, “Slow Puncture: Living Well with Dementia,” was written by his friend...
2021-07-261h 03
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling What the Hell Happened to My Brain with Kate SwafferAustralian Kate Swaffer is a humanitarian and activist for disability rights in dementia and aged care. She's the Chair, CEO and co-founder of Dementia Alliance International, a global advocacy and support group for people living with dementia. Kate is also living with younger onset dementia, diagnosed in 2008 at age 49.
She has won many awards for her work, including the 2018 Australian 100 Women of Influence Global Leader, and the 2017 South Australia Australian of The Year. Kate is an elected board member of Alzheimer’s Disease International, and a current PhD candidate at the University of South Australia. Her first de...
2021-07-121h 14
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling The DAWN Method with Judy CornishJudy Cornish is the founder of the Dementia & Alzheimer’s Wellbeing Network (DAWN®) in Moscow, Idaho. Through her hands-on work with dementia, she developed a proprietary method for working with people who have dementia—one that helps them develop and retain a sense of security and wellbeing. She is the author of Dementia with Dignity and The Dementia Handbook.
The DAWN Method® is simple enough to be used by caregivers in the home and works in care facilities as well. It targets the emotional distress that accompanies cognitive decline so that behaviors are avoided, and caregiver stress is min...
2021-07-0559 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling The Happy Healthy Caregiver with Elizabeth MillerElizabeth Miller is the creative genius behind Happy Healthy Caregiver, a community built for caregivers who may be overwhelmed with their responsibilities and long to find others to connect with as well as resources to make life easier. Her mission is to help caregivers become happier and healthier while caring for others. “We can do hard things,” she says, “but we don’t need to do them alone.” Her years as a former caregiver for both parents and a certified caregiver consultant have given her a wealth of experience which she shares on the Happy Healthy Caregiver website and podcast, a...
2021-06-281h 02
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Dementia Through Writing and Podcasting with Pippa KellyWhat happens when two dementia advocates from opposite sides of the Atlantic who have each written books and blogs and host podcasts on the condition get together for a chat? The conversation flows and grows into a wealth of storytelling and sharing. This is what happened when Pippa Kelly joined me for a Zoom call.
Pippa is the author of Invisible Ink, a novel that explores a man’s relationship with his mother who has dementia. She also blogs on all things dementia, and hosts the popular podcast, “Well I Know Now,” featuring a variety of guests sharin...
2021-06-211h 32
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Caring for a Wife with Alzheimer's at Home with Richard CreightonRichard Creighton began his blog, “Living with Alzheimer’s: A Real-Time Account of Dementia Caregiving,” the day his wife Kate was diagnosed in 2011. His goal was to keep a record of their experience for their children. He and Kate cared for family members together for 24 years, which included both his parents and his in-laws throughout various illnesses. Now he cares for her, deep into her dementia, at home with the assistance of paid caregivers.
Richard and Kate recently made a major life change, leaving their home of many years to start anew at a Continuing Care Retirement Commun...
2021-06-141h 00
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling A Doctor's Dementia with Dr. Jennifer ButeDr. Jennifer Bute lives in a dementia inclusive retirement village in Somerset, west of London. Previously she worked in Africa as a doctor before working as a GP for 25 years in England and was involved in medical education. Her career was cut short when she was diagnosed with young onset dementia ten years ago. She speaks at conferences and on radio and has been involved in television programs raising awareness and understanding of dementia. She passionately believes more can be done to improve both the present and the future for those living with the condition. Her book Dementia from...
2021-06-0745 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Six Years of AlzAuthorsWe’re doing something a little different on the podcast today. It’s AlzAuthors 6th anniversary, and we’re celebrating by bringing the entire team together to talk about what goes on behind the scenes of this global organization of authors. We’ll talk about upcoming events and projects and plans for the coming year. You’ll learn about our acquisitions process, which is how we find the great books and blogs in our collection, how to become an AlzAuthor, our new book club with Amazon, and how you can help to support our mission to bring quality resources to caregiv...
2021-06-0149 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Art in Dementia Care with Katya De LuisaKatya De Luisa is an artist, expressive arts program designer, freelance writer, and author with 20 years’ experience working with those living with dementia and their families. She firmly believes that when we change the way we look at something what we look at changes.
Katya’s experience working in long-term care facilities as both a caregiver and as an art director has given her a wealth of insight into the dementia diseases, family dynamics, communication, miscommunication, and more.
Her passion is communicating with people in late-stage disease using the visual arts, collage in particular. She belie...
2021-05-2457 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Caring for a Husband with Early Onset Alzheimer’s with Renée Harmon, MDToday’s guest is Renée Brown Harmon, MD, author of the teaching memoir “Surfing the Waves of Alzheimer's: Principles of Caregiving That Kept Me Upright.” She and her husband Harvey created, developed, and shared a thriving family medicine private practice in Birmingham, Alabama, for more than twenty years. In 2010, Harvey, at age 50, was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s and forced to retire. Renée became “The Queen of Everything” at work and at home. She was a solo physician at their practice as well as Harvey’s primary caregiver, and primary parent to their two teenaged daughters. With reluctance...
2021-05-1749 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Motherhood and Dementia with Ann CampanellaAnn Campanella is a former magazine and newspaper journalist, the author of two memoirs and four collections of poetry, and an AlzAuthors manager and director. Her award-winning writing has appeared in literary journals, newspapers and magazines across the country and around the world, and she has discussed her work on numerous podcasts.
Ann’s first memoir, Motherhood: Lost and Found, was twice named “One of the best Alzheimer’s books of all time” by Book Authority. In 2018, she was recognized by her hometown newspaper as one of the Most Influential Women in her community. She has a degree in...
2021-05-1058 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Dementia Mama Drama with Vincent ZappacostaVincent Zappacosta has been a writer and photographer ever since he was a little boy back in Catholic school. His professional background has been in theatre, yoga, and graphic design. All of these skills came to be a blessing when his mother, Mama, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and he and his husband Douglass became her caregivers.
“Mama was a ham,” he says, and loved being the focus of attention. She was thrilled when he began sharing their dementia journey with the world through his blog, Dementia Mama Drama. The blog became a play, and then a book...
2021-05-0343 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling How to Care for Our Elders with Carol Bradley BursackCarol Bradley Bursack, an author, columnist, consultant, and speaker, provided care to a neighbor and six elderly family members over the span of two decades, which led her to write Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories, a portable support group for caregivers that is also used as a college text for gerontology and nursing home administration classes. Her websites Minding Our Elders and Minding Our Elders blog, include links to helpful agencies, articles rich with information and comfort, links to support groups, and resources for caregiver, boomer and elder needs.
Carol also works as a...
2021-04-261h 13
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Love and Loss with Marianne SciuccoIn this podcast, we’re turning the tables on podcast host and producer Marianne Sciucco. She is the guest and Jean Lee of AlzAuthors is the interviewer. Marianne is a co-founder and manager of AlzAuthors and is the author of Blue Hydrangeas, an Alzheimer’s love story. She’s also a registered nurse who has cared for hundreds of dementia patients and their families over her 20+ years career.
In 2015 she became a dementia daughter when her stepfather was diagnosed with mixed dementia: frontotemporal, Alzheimer’s, and vascular, and she became his long-distance caregiver. She soon took on the care...
2021-04-191h 03
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Life as a Millennial Caregiver with Lauren DykovitzLauren Dykovitz knew nothing about Alzheimer’s when her mother was diagnosed at the age of 62. Just 25, with a new career and recently engaged, Lauren took a crash course in caregiving which changed her life, and eventually led her to candidly share her story on Facebook. This soon grew into the blog, Life, Love, and Alzheimer’s, which grew into the book, Learning to Weather the Storm: A Story of Life, Love, and Alzheimer’s. Her goal was not only to share her story and the lessons she’s learned but to let others know they are not alone.
I...
2021-04-0544 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Early Onset Alzheimer's Atop a Penny Farthing with Peter Berry and Deb BuntWhen Peter Berry was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at age 50, he took an early retirement from his job working in the family’s timber business. After the devastating diagnosis, he became depressed but, being a "glass half full" personality, battled through his depression and focused on his lifelong passion for cycling. He has used this passion to raise awareness of the condition, particularly in younger people.
Peter’s whole philosophy is to live well with dementia and to inspire others to do the same. He maintains an active lifestyle due to his love of cycling, which...
2021-03-2956 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Personal and Professional Dementia Care with Paula Spencer ScottPaula Spencer Scott is a long-time journalist and health and family-life specialist focusing on self-care, eldercare, and baby care. She's the author of the bestseller “Surviving Alzheimer's: Practical Tips and Soul-Saving Wisdom for Caregivers” and the recently released “When Your Aging Parent Needs Help: A Geriatrician's Step-by-Step Guide to Memory Loss, Resistance, Safety Worries, & More” with Dr. Leslie Kernisan
Paula experienced dementia in five of her immediate family members, including her live-in father-in-law, and took on a variety of caring roles. This gave her the precious insight and advice that flows throughout her caregiver guides.
Paula’s work m...
2021-03-2259 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Alzheimer's on a 10,000 Mile Trike Trip with Susan StraleyToday’s guest is Susan Straley, author of the dual memoirs "Alzheimer's Trippin' with George" which memorialize her 10,000-mile cross-country trike trips after her husband’s dementia diagnosis.
When Susan and George semi-retired from their machine design and manufacturing business in Waukesha, Wisconsin in 2008, they moved all their belongings into storage except for what they needed for a long bicycle trip on their recumbent tricycles, and pedaled around Wisconsin for 40 days. Throughout their travels, Susan uploaded pictures and stories to an online journal to keep family and friends informed of their whereabouts. This journal began her writing caree...
2021-03-1542 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Caregiver Stress by Keeping a Journal with Vicki TapiaWhen both of her parents were diagnosed with dementia, Vicki Tapia, a lactation consultant who had coached around 10,000 mother-baby pairs, found her energies redirected to the other end of life. A lifelong writer, she soon began journaling as an outlet for the stress and strain she encountered as their long-distance caregiver. Over time, this journal became a book-length work, a memoir detailing her family’s rocky road through this devastating disease.
She was inspired to seek publication after many friends told her that reading her words helped them on their own dementia journeys. Her story was then publ...
2021-03-0842 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling End of Life Issues with Gerda SaundersToday’s guest is Gerda Saunders, author of the mesmerizing memoir Memory’s Last Breath: Field Notes on My Dementia, in which she describes in great detail her descent into cerebral microvascular disease, a precursor to dementia. A gifted writer, she is also a woman of many talents and has had a remarkable career in higher education.
She grew up in South Africa during apartheid, the child of a farmer in a family of six children. In spite of her family’s lack of resources, she succeeded in earning a B.S. in Math and Chemistry from the Un...
2021-03-011h 11
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling the Expressive Arts for Dementia Care with Daniel C. Potts, MDDaniel C. Potts, MD, FAAN is a neurologist, author, poet, educator, and champion of those living with Alzheimer's and other dementias and their care partners. His professional life collided with his personal in 2002, when his father, Lester, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He soon found himself on his own dementia journey, and like many other care partners, became adrift in despair, confusion, grief, and helplessness as he watched his father decline.
Soon after Lester started attending a day care program for people with cognitive impairment, he began to show a previously unknown talent for painting watercolors. This no...
2021-02-0835 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Lewy Body Disease with Florrie MunatToday’s guest is Florrie Munat, author of the memoir “Be Brave: A Wife’s Journey Through Caregiving,” in which she shares the story of caring for her husband, Chuck, during their 6-year ordeal with Lewy Body disease due to an ischemic stroke. "Be Brave" was selected as one of the Top 100 Indie Books of 2017 by Kirkus Reviews, who described it as, "A beautiful, richly panoramic book that should reassure caregivers and delight memoir readers."
Already a published author when their journey started, Florrie began chronicling their new story right away with honesty, humor, compassion, and a desire f...
2021-02-0144 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Dementia Themes in Teen Fiction with Krysten Lindsay HagerToday’s guest is Krysten Lindsay Hager, who writes funny, charming, irresistible dramas for tweens and teens. Her stories are about friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, frenemies, crushes, fame, first loves, and values. She also writes about dementia, especially Lewy Body, in the teen novels “Competing with the Star,” a Readers' Favorite Book Award Finalist, and “Dating the It Guy.”
Krysten’s experience with dementia started in her sophomore year in high school when her grandfather was diagnosed with “hardening of the arteries.” She helped her parents provide care for him, which affected her college years and led her to write “Co...
2021-01-251h 07
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Caring for Two Parents Diagnosed at the Same Time with Jean LeeJean Lee is a co-founder and director of AlzAuthors. and author of the brave, inspirational memoir "Alzheimer’s Daughter," written from a journal she kept during her years of caring for both parents diagnosed with Alzheimer's on the same day. At the time, she was working full-time as an elementary school teacher and took over their care. Throughout her caregiving years she experienced the heartbreak, confusion, and exhaustion common to all dementia caregivers. Readers of her deeply personal and painfully written memoir travel a journey beginning with a sweet WWII romance through family life, aging, and a daughter’s firs...
2021-01-1841 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Working and Writing While Caring for Mom with Robin PeriniRobin Perini is an award-winning author of heart-stopping suspense and poignant romance novels. When not writing she works for an advanced technology corporation. When not writing or working she helps care for her mother who has Alzheimer’s and lives just across the street with Robin’s father. An advocate for Alzheimer’s education, Robin has woven the topic into two of her novels, “Forgotten Secrets” and “Forgotten Legacy,” books one and two in her Singing River Series. Her goal was to both entertain and educate her readers about the disease, and to raise needed funds for the Alzheimer’s Association. S...
2021-01-1157 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Life From the Corner Office to Alzheimer's with Michael EllenbogenMichael Ellenbogen was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 49. Prior to his diagnosis, Michael was a network operations manager for a Fortune 500 financial institution until difficulty with work-related tasks led to an unwanted early retirement. He is a passionate, outspoken dementia advocate who pulls no punches. In this episode we discuss the trials of seeking a medical diagnosis, living with early onset Alzheimer's, and his advocacy work that brought him to the halls of Congress and the World Health Organization.
As a world-renowned International Dementia Advocate and Connecter, Michael has been featured in na...
2021-01-0437 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Dementia Behaviors with Lisa SkinnerLisa Skinner is the author of "Not All Who Wander Need Be Lost,," a caregiver guide full of real-life stories and practical advice.
Her dementia journey started when she was a teen and her grandmother displayed bizarre behaviors, diagnosed as senile dementia. At the time, resources for families were practically nonexistent and she dedicated her life to becoming an advocate and ally for those on the dementia path. She has witnessed 8 family members succumb to Alzheimer’s and other dementias, and with her husband served as a “relief caregiver” for his mother. She also provided dementia care for he...
2020-12-0756 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Long-Distance Caring for a Father with Irene Frances OlsonIrene Frances Olson writes both fiction and non-fiction, the latter of which can be found on her personal blog "Baby Boomers and More," also known as "Living: the ultimate team sport." Ms. Olson is also a feature writer for "Grandparents Day Magazine," where she has her own byline: IN YOUR CORNER
Much of Irene's early non-fiction pieces found on her personal blog focus on a family caregiver's journey, especially as that journey relates to taking care of a family member with a terminal illness such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and other dementias.
She started her...
2020-11-3047 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Raising Young Children While Caring for Mom with Kathryn HarrisonToday’s guest is Kathryn Harrison, who is not only an AlzAuthor but our Creative Director and a member of our management team.
Kathryn was compelled to create her award-winning children’s book "Weeds in Nana’s Garden" following her mother’s passing from frontotemporal dementia in 2010.
During her family’s journey with the disease, Kathryn noticed how much involving her two young children in caregiving added value to the experience, so she decided to create an engaging picture book that could reach many children, enhance their understanding of dementia, and perhaps encourage them to connect mo...
2020-11-2345 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Caring for a Mom in a Care Home with Loretta Woodward VeneyWhen her beloved mother, Doris, was diagnosed with dementia in 2006, Loretta Woodward Veney began learning everything she could about the disease and hoped to share that information so others could be more prepared than she was for this devastating diagnosis. In 2013, that hope turned into Loretta's first book, "Being My Mom’s Mom: A Journey Through Dementia from a Daughter’s Perspective," which highlights the first six years of the family's dementia journey. This book was recently updated to include the second half of her family’s dementia journey.
Loretta is a trainer, author, and motivational speaker. She’s...
2020-11-1636 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Life with a Husband's Mild Cognitive Impairment with Gincy HeinsGincy Heins became caregiver to her husband at the age of 49 when he was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment, also known as MCI, a neurological condition that causes a slight but noticeable and measurable decline in cognitive abilities. Memory and thinking skills are primarily affected, and there is a very real possibility of future Alzheimer’s or other dementia. At the time, he was just 55.
At first disbelieving that such a diagnosis could befall them so early in life, Gincy set out to learn all she could about the condition and sought support through her local Alzheimer’s As...
2020-11-0958 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaUntangling Young-Onset Alzheimer's with Wendy MitchellWendy Mitchell was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia in 2014 at the age of 58. At the time she worked for Britain’s National Health Service as a non-clinical team leader. Her diagnosis led to an early retirement. Post diagnosis, she was shocked by the lack of awareness surrounding young-onset dementia in both the community and the clinical world, and started a blog, Which Me Am I Today? to document and share her dementia journey. This led to her travelling around the country as a respected speaker, raising awareness and encouraging others to embrace her passion for research. She...
2020-11-0237 min
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & DementiaIntroducing Untangling Alzheimer's & Dementia, An AlzAuthors PodcastIn our inaugural episode of Untangling Alzheimer's & Dementia, an AlzAuthors Podcast, Christopher MacLellan welcomes podcast host Marianne Sciucco for a preview. The podcast is featured on the Whole Care Network and will showcase a new author each week who shares their personal story to help those living with the disease, or who are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
About the Podcast
AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our au...
2020-10-2112 min