Newsletters

SAYING GOODBYE TO 2020

PA Department of Aging Forum

I was honored to be a panelist for the PA Department of Aging Forum focused on Racial Disparities and Inequities in Early Detection, Diagnosis and Treatment. Renee Chenault Fattah was our fantastic panel moderator. I joined three other caregivers to discuss the challenges my brothers and I faced. Our challenges were being remote caregivers, obtaining an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and understanding the full impact of the disease on our mother. Throughout the presentation I shared how the H.O.P.E acronym helped my family. We reached out for “H” – help from family, friends, and professionals to form our Circle of Support. We “O” – organized our caregiving and visits. We “P” – prepared for doctor appointments and the next phase of caregiving by evaluating care options in advance. And we sought out “E” – education about the disease. The H.O.P.E. acronym can help caregivers have a less stressful, more rewarding journey.

How to Save Money on Assisted Living Costs

I was a contributor to an excellent US News and World Report article on saving on assisted living costs. On average, the base cost of assisted living is $48,000/year. It is important to minimize the initial costs because these costs will increase ~2-5% every year. My brothers and I were interested in a single room for our mother when we moved her to memory care. We settled for a shared suite since a single room was not available. The difference in cost was ~$20/day but over the 8+ years she lived in memory care, the single would have cost an extra ~$70,000. This article discusses many ways to save money on assisted living. Do not skimp on services that your loved one really needs to thrive. Here is the link to the article.

Reader’s Favorite Award 

Great news! I am so excited that H.O.P.E. for the Alzheimer’s Journey won a 2020 Readers Favorite International Honorable Mention Book Award in the Non-Fiction – Health – Medical category! Thank you to all my readers, supporters, and caregivers who have been helped by H.O.P.E. Here is what Reader’s Favorite said about H.O.P.E.: “H.O.P.E. for the Alzheimer’s Journey is a great tool, a handbook that everyone with a parent or a family member having memory problems should read. It’s packed with information, insights, and actionable steps to transform the caregiving experience into one that enriches both the lives of the caregiver and the patient.”

H.O.P.E.: A Great Stocking Stuffer

H.O.P.E. for the Alzheimer's Journey: Help, Organization, Preparation, and Education for the Road Ahead is on sale this month for $10 with free gift wrapping and shipping in the U.S. Caregivers can benefit from the encouragement, advice, tips, and tools. H.O.P.E. also introduces The Caregiving Principle^®, a novel approach to caregiving that provides a deeper understanding of a person living with Alzheimer’s. It also provides a framework for the caregivers’ role. H.O.P.E has helped many caregivers have a less stressful, more rewarding journey.Visit the book page of my website, bookstores, or Amazon to purchase H.O.P.E. Please consider purchasing a copy for a caregiver, co-worker, friend, or family member. H.O.P.E. for the Alzheimer’s Journey is a great stocking stuffer and the perfect way to say, “I care.” 

2021 H.O.P.E. Schedule 

I am scheduling virtual speaking engagements for expos, churches, workplaces, community events, and senior living facilities for 2021. Please let me know of opportunities in your area. Topics include:

• Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness (everyone)
• H.O.P.E. for the Caregiver (all current and future caregivers)
• Balancing Caregiving and Career (all current and future caregivers)
• Seven Steps to Prepare for the Caregiving Journey (all current and future caregivers)
• The Caregiving Principle^® (those caring for a person with dementia or a chronic illness)

Alzheimer’s Association Helpline (800.272.3900) 
 
Holidays can be difficult for those caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease. Although caregivers long for holidays of the past, caregivers can shift their thinking and create new traditions. These new traditions may be less stressful, with simpler meals, fewer people, and less emphasis on gifts. 
 
The Alzheimer’s Association helpline never takes a holiday. Someone is there 24/7 to help you with education, local programs and services, and crisis assistance. This free service is available in multiple languages.
 

Saying Goodbye to 2020

This has been a ___________ year. You fill in the blank because I cannot describe it in one word. It was a year different to all of us in different ways. The year began with the unknowns of the coronavirus and included social unrest and a contentious election. Caregivers were unable to visit loved ones in senior facilities and adult day care centers and many activities were closed. Caregivers had to protect their loved one from the virus and the resulting social isolation was and is difficult for everyone. And my heart goes out to all of us who lost friends and family to the virus or from other causes. 

Yes, 2020 has been a _________ year. We had to adjust, pivot, and regroup throughout the year. Let us forge ahead to 2021 with H.O.P.E. Identify friends, family, or professionals who can Help with your caregiving responsibilities. Select one aspect of your caregiving to Organize such as medical and financial paperwork, doctor visits, schedules, etc. Begin to Prepare for when more or a different type of care is needed. And finally, continue to Educate yourself on Alzheimer’s disease by joining a support group or taking a virtual class. The Alzheimer’s Association Helpline can assist with this at 800.272.3900.

I am looking forward to a 2021 filled with hope, faith, and love.

May God be with you during the holidays and throughout the New Year.