A blessing of having a few days of bed rest due to back pain is that I got caught up on Grey’s Anatomy and This is Us. Both of these shows have used Alzheimer’s as major story lines. Today I am focusing on This is Us, which has portrayed Alzheimer’s in a more realistic way than Grey’s Anatomy (and the movie The Notebook…don’t get my … Continue reading This is Us

Q: What is the biggest risk factor for dementia? A: Age. The chance of a person having dementia increases as they age. But it is NOT just old people who have dementia. It’s people in their 50’s and early 60’s. I even know a few who were diagnosed in their 40’s, and one who was diagnosed at age 38. Are there specific challenges to having … Continue reading This isn’t just about old people

I was going to write a blog post tonight, but it’s past 9:00pm and I’m still at the Dementia Simulation House…. I talk a lot about mental energy, and I just don’t have any left tonight. Instead, I am leaving you with this video about our house. Credit goes to Paul Pease, a senior at the University of Northern Iowa, who produced this video for … Continue reading An Inside Look at the Dementia Simulation House

I don’t read much fiction. Correction: I don’t read fiction at all. I like non-fiction. I like to read about real stuff because what happens in real life is, to me, often stranger and more fascinating than fiction. I am not picking on fiction. I know many people read fiction as an escape from the real world, and I completely respect that. It’s just never … Continue reading Dementia is weirder than fiction

We opened up a few more spots at the house in May. They will book quickly, so make a move if you’re interested: Continue reading Openings at the Dementia Simulation House!

Good morning! It’s been quite a spring semester (although it is certainly not yet spring in Iowa). In the first 10 weeks our dementia simulation house has been open, we’ve had over 230 people participate in the simulation. It’s fun, exciting, rewarding, and lots of other positive things…in addition to being overwhelming. Although my schedule is packed and some days are a bit chaotic, I … Continue reading Dementia Simulation House Update

Because I am who I am and I do what I do, I sometimes pause for a moment at holiday celebrations and observe how most family holidays aren’t exactly dementia-friendly. Lots for prep work and clean up. Lots of people moving around. Lots of simultaneous conversations. Lots of competing noise. Lots of choices. Lots of lots of things. At the risk of being redundant, I … Continue reading Letting Go of Rituals (aka It’s Okay to Not Have an Easter Egg Hunt)

I have gotten to spend time with quite a few family dementia caregivers recently. And I had a revelation today. When they describe caregiving, they use words like anger, sadness, confusion, anxiety, and stress. Sometimes they also use words like joy, love, and connection. However, the word that I hear most frequently is alone. It’s ironic that my revelation is that a lot of people … Continue reading Alone

Two ladies came through the dementia simulation a few weeks ago. They were in their late 60’s or maybe early 70’s, and they arrived together. I thought they might be sisters, but as it turns out they were friends. They were wonderful guests. They asked great questions relating to why people with dementia do what they do. They inquired about how one might deal with … Continue reading But Friendship

I’m about to make a long story short… My dad ended up on a ventilator two weeks ago today. Quick Q and A: Q: Did he have COVID? A: Nope. Q: How long was he ventilated? A: Just a couple days (fortunately). Q: Is he okay now? A: I’m not sure I’d say okay, but he’s back home. I am still pretty concerned about what … Continue reading Life and Ventilators and Caregiving and Work and Storage Closets (aka My Last Two Weeks)