Quick Tip
Quick Tip: Hold a Hand
My mother went nonverbal pretty early in her Alzheimer’s journey, which meant much of the time I was with her, I either held a conversation with myself or said nothing. Sometimes we’d walk down the hallway, hand in hand, and I would point out the window at the end. We’d look at the trees, the…
Read MoreQuick Tip: Change the Subject
Over the last five years, I’ve spent a lot of time with people with dementia. I’ve also spent a lot of time with family and friends of those living with dementia. Countless conversations have filtered to my ears, and the greatest lesson I’ve learned there is not to argue with someone who has dementia. Now,…
Read MoreQuick Tip: Tailor Your Responses
Today’s quick tip was inspired by something Tallulah Willis said about her father, Bruce. As those who’ve spent any time with people living with dementia know, each day is never the same. Sometimes, our loved ones will be chatty; other times, they refuse to speak. Some days involve plenty of smiles and the next day…
Read MoreQuick Tip: Walk Away
One question I get asked fairly often about The Weight We Carry is whether or not I have personal experience with dementia. Why yes, yes I do. My maternal grandmother had Alzheimer’s, my mother had Alzheimer’s, and my father has vascular dementia. I’m choosing to ignore what might be in my future at the moment…
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