Shelfari: Book reviews on your book blog

To Not Fade Away – A Review

By Carol January 26th, 2012

I’m so glad the producers of To Not Fade Away asked me to review their film. Otherwise I would never have seen it, since it is not offered on my DTV plan. In Denver this wonderful RLTV video can only be seen on Comcast Channel 205.

Both my mother and my father suffered from dementia. While neither of them had Alzheimer’s disease, a fear of this particular form of dementia looms large for me as for many in my generation.  The older I get the more unsettling small moments of forgetfulness become. I believe that having solid factual information about Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia is vitally important for all of us at this stage of life. And it is equally important for children and loved ones of the elderly to know much …

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January 26th, 2012 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Category: Alzheimer's, Caregiver Support, Consider This | Leave a comment

Sisterhood and Brain Health for Recovering Caregivers

By Carol December 20th, 2011

Once we got our new iPad email working and used the Photo Booth app to take some funny pictures of ourselves, we wondered what to do next with our intriguing Little Buddy.  The problem is not a scarcity of possibilities.  According to official Apple sources, there are over 140,000 iPad apps available—many of them free.  Too many to sort through on our own.

No problem.  Sister Judi–an iPhone owner and aficionado—to the rescue.  She undertook to coach me in advanced techniques of using the “Home” button and also suggested a few challenging and enlightening apps.  High on our list are Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja.  I also learned that she is the creator of her own app—Smart Tot Rattle!

Her next move was to challenge me to a game of Words with Friends.

I’m …

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December 20th, 2011 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Category: Caregiver Support, Carol's Story, Judi's Story | Leave a comment

November Holidays and Alzheimer’s

By Bill November 17th, 2011

 

B-24 Liberator

Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving are the November holidays.  Many people see Veteran’s day as an extra day off or just another workday. Thanksgiving is about overeating and football, and the real holiday event is shopping on Black Friday.

This year, the November holidays are blending into memories.    This was triggered by an email we got from a regular reader.  She wants us to record memories and voices of Alzheimer’s people.    Audrey and Frank, Carol and Judi’s parents, both had dementia, but not Alzheimer’s.  Bernie, Audrey’s second husband, did have Alzheimer’s.  We weren’t direct caregivers but we saw the terrible progression of his disease.

Bernie was a WWII Veteran of the Eighth Air Force which had the highest casualty rate of any U. S. Army unit in the war.  He was …

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November 17th, 2011 | Tags: , , , , | Category: Alzheimer's, Bill's Story | Leave a comment

Ebooks for Caregivers of Alzheimer’s Patients

By Carol September 27th, 2011

Reviewing Hope for Helpers and More Help for Helpers by Michael Byrd

Bill recently posted his response to Pat Robertson’s remarks on Alzheimer’s disease and caregiving.  Bill and many others have expressed another side of the caregiving experience in the wake of Robertson’s suggestion that a man should divorce his wife in advanced stages of the disease.  No one denies that caring for someone with dementia is a tough road, but caregivers know that the journey can bring us more than just pain and sacrifice.

Chaplain Michael Byrd has written two timely ebooks for caregivers who want to keep on caregiving and save their sanity.  Michael draws on his more than fifteen years experience working with elders and their caregivers to create these helpful companion electronic resources.

While he brings his generous spirituality to …

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September 27th, 2011 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Category: Alzheimer's, Caregiver Support, Consider This | One comment-please leave yours

Pat Robertson’s Error

By Bill September 22nd, 2011

Pat Robertson

Pat Robertson made an astounding comment on his TV show last week.   His comment came in response to a caller who said that a friend had begun dating other women while his wife lies seriously ill with Alzheimer’s, and justifies it by saying that “his wife, as he knows her, is gone.”

Robertson said he agrees with the man: “What he says basically is correct. I know it sounds cruel, but if he’s going to do something, he should divorce her and start all over again, but make sure she has custodial care and somebody looking after her.”

His co-host pressed Robertson about whether that violates the marriage vows. Robertson responded that Alzheimer’s “is a kind of death” and added, “I certainly wouldn’t put a guilt trip on you” for …

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September 22nd, 2011 | Tags: , , , , , | Category: Caregiver Support, End of Life Issues | Leave a comment
 
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