tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75140470691423916582024-09-15T19:31:32.374-04:00Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15452215988058463300noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514047069142391658.post-6571921856565667572012-12-30T12:15:00.000-05:002012-12-30T12:27:17.935-05:00

Alzheimer's is the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S. It can't be cured, can't be treated effectively, and can't be slowed. One in eight older Americans has Alzheimer's disease -- that's 5.4 million Americans and 800,000 of them live alone! 12.5% of the current population is living with this dreadful disease and untold numbers of family members live with it too. According to the Alzheimer's

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15452215988058463300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514047069142391658.post-42187328947540702082012-07-13T00:42:00.000-04:002012-07-13T00:42:15.703-04:00

There may be some bright news on the horizon.  According to an article on Huffington Post, the clinical trial results for two potential Alzheimer's drugs should be released within the next few weeks and a third drug trial is ongoing.  If the news is positive, the next hurdle will most likely be affordability -- will insurance carriers cover the costs for these new drugs? 

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15452215988058463300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514047069142391658.post-69295523787085802182012-05-06T23:25:00.000-04:002012-05-06T23:37:57.172-04:00

If you or a loved one is suffering from dementia, there are lots of online resources available to help. Recently, I stumbled across this group of interactive, online courses offered by Home Instead Senior Care.  The courses are free (yay!) and look like they don't take a lot of time.  I haven't explored them yet, but they are on my to-do list.  Topics include Safety,

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15452215988058463300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514047069142391658.post-45150455354157023502011-09-27T18:22:00.000-04:002012-05-06T23:38:13.826-04:00

If you get a chance, you really need to check out this young singer songwriter. Liz Longley's voice and music are simply wonderful. Her song "Unraveling" won first prize in the BMI John Lennon Scholarship competition, and deservedly so! She paints an especially poignant picture of the way Alzheimers affects entire families. You can view the song below, but please also visit her website at

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15452215988058463300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514047069142391658.post-79734613725779804682011-09-13T13:50:00.000-04:002012-05-06T23:38:27.954-04:00

September is World Alzheimer's Month... It starts with me, it starts with you... it starts with all of us.

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15452215988058463300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514047069142391658.post-72216960288932085182011-09-13T11:30:00.001-04:002012-05-06T23:40:29.847-04:00

Seems like there's a "month" for every cause and disease these days.  September has been designated World Alzheimer's Month. The Caring.com site has some useful information about this terrible disease and is a useful site for caregivers overall. More information is provided by the National Library of Medicine and the Alzheimer's Association. The numbers are staggering.  Over five

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15452215988058463300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514047069142391658.post-29541998114952343552011-09-12T23:51:00.000-04:002011-09-12T23:56:11.175-04:00

A few weeks ago, I was out and about with my parents, enjoying the summer weather. A young woman walked by and my Mom glanced over and made an interesting comment.  She said, "You know, I'm not really getting the credit that I'm due."  I was rather puzzled and asked her what she meant.  She proceeded to explain. "Well, I named those shoes she was wearing."  Even more puzzled,

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15452215988058463300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514047069142391658.post-82460071440922711872011-09-08T00:36:00.001-04:002011-09-08T00:37:44.738-04:00

I wanted to post something humorous, but my heart's just not in it today. You see, in a few hours we will be making settlement on my parents' house.  Not a big deal to some, but it's been especially hard for me.  We moved there when I was 4 and no matter where I've lived since, deep in my heart, that big old house has always been home. I went there yesterday for the very last time --

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15452215988058463300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514047069142391658.post-18614247686182024862011-07-11T22:41:00.000-04:002011-07-11T22:41:03.896-04:00

So, I've decided that taking my Dad to the doctor is a little like giving a dog a bath or taking it to the vet. You know how dogs can just sense that you've got something in mind that they're not gonna like?  And then they pull a Houdini?  Well, evidently my Dad has that same ability. Now, you need to understand that Dad has never liked going to the doctor.  For most of his life,

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15452215988058463300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514047069142391658.post-43890622331158156792011-07-11T00:34:00.000-04:002011-07-11T00:34:35.207-04:00

Welcome to The Disoriented Express. I'll be your conductor on this trip! I am a card-carrying member of the aptly named "sandwich generation." My kids are actually young adults now. Although they are no longer babies, they do still come to me for help and advice from time to time. At the other end of the spectrum, I am involved in much of the day-to-day care of my parents, both of whom have

Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15452215988058463300noreply@blogger.com0