Tag Archives: caregivers

November 8, 2026 · 11:56 am

Stay safe: Don’t fall into this fall season

I love the fall season and one of my favorite parts of this season is watching the leaves change colors. What starts out as beautiful can turn into a hazard when those bright colored leaves fall to the ground.

People tend to think that mostly older people suffer falls but really anyone can get injured in a fall at any time. Even prime-conditioned athletes in peak physical form sometimes suffer season-ending non-contact injuries from an unlucky step, slip, and fall. As a family caregiver, I experienced the impact that a fall my mother suffered, in which she broke her shoulder. It never healed properly and her mobility was permanently limited in that arm. Falls can lead to other complications: surgeries, anesthesia risks, lengthy rehabilitation, all which can impact cognitive health.

I suffered a fall myself a few years ago during the autumn season. I got the wind knocked out of me and a sore back, but fortunately avoided a more serious injury. Atlanta is known as a city of trees, but it’s not just the leaves that are the culprit. Acorns and other tree debris fall to the ground and get covered up by a blanket of leaves. Imagine trying to walk on marbles covered up by leaves: that’s what it feels like sometimes walking the dog in my neighborhood. You can see how it looks in the photo above with my dog Murphy.

Caregivers should take extra precautions to keep their elder loved ones safe while still getting to enjoy the outdoors.

  • Clear the walkways around your property: I keep the broom handy and do a quick daily brush.
  • Proper footwear: Sneakers or boots with firm soles and low heels can help with stability and to crush leaf debris before it becomes a slipping hazard. Don’t just assume all sneakers are fine; check those soles.
  • Walk during the daytime. Sight is your friend when walking over a leaf-strewn sidewalk. I’ve adjusted my schedule to take the dog out for a walk a bit earlier just as the sun begins to set so I can take advantage of the remaining light.
  • Offer a helping hand. My father suffered falls in the memory care center because he was allowed to wander around unsteadily without an aide assisting him. Assistive devices like canes, walking sticks, and walkers can also help.
  • If a loved one with dementia suffers a fall, extra care is needed to monitor for symptoms. They may not be able to clearly communicate pain or other issues. Beyond physical signs of injury, look for changes in mood, appetite, and sleep patterns.

With common sense planning, you and your loved ones can safely enjoy the fall season.

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October 31, 2026 · 2:30 pm

Happy Halloween

I’ve written about my love of Halloween over the years and now I get to share that with my pets. I’m not sure what they think about all of the wild decorations and costumes, but they are good sports about indulging their humans.

Holidays can be tough as a caregiver but it’s also a time to reflect on past memories and enjoy the temporary distraction from the daily grind.

Hope you get more treats than tricks today!

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October 25, 2026 · 12:11 pm

A great day for cat caregivers

Yesterday I attended a fundraiser for a cat rescue organization in my area. Good Mews is where I adopted Rosalie, the star of my story that appears in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Best Cat Ever. It officially goes on sale Tuesday but I had the opportunity to sell advance copies at the Harvest Market, with all proceeds going to Good Mews to help cats in need.

The weather was amazing and people were kind and generous: I sold nearly my entire case of books and raised over $200 for the shelter. I enjoyed hearing the stories about cats fostered and adopted from Good Mews. The organization is powered by a dedicated crew of volunteers who perform daily “feed and clean” duties and community groups donate time and effort to maintain the outdoor area. There’s a fantastic wildlife refuge area in the back and the cats love to sit by the windows and watch the birds, chipmunks, and squirrels enjoy the feeders.

Caregiving comes in many forms and I’ve cared for both pets and my parents, but the majority of my caregiving duties have been tending to my pets. It’s a lot of work and can be very expensive to care for pets with special needs or develop conditions as they age. Yet we make the sacrifice because of the joy and love pets brings to our lives.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Best Cat Ever goes on sale Tuesday, Oct. 27 at all major book retailers. I had a few people at the market ask me about a digital version and yes, it will be available in print and digital formats. I tend to read books on my Kindle so I totally get the preference.

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October 17, 2026 · 4:08 pm

Caregiving requires taking risks

I had to chuckle when I saw this latest result from my AncestryDNA panel: “Your DNA suggests you avoid taking risks.”

It’s quite an accurate assessment, at least in my personal life. When I do take risks on a personal level, I tend to go big. For example, I attended college halfway across the country from my home. After college, I moved to Atlanta without knowing anyone. And for my 50th birthday, I took a literal leap that I still can’t believe I did. I’ve carried a bit of that adventurous spirit with me by engaging in activities like riding in autonomous vehicles.

But most of the time, I make prudent, thoughtful choices after much consideration of benefits and risks.

In my professional life I’m much more open to risk-taking: throughout my career, I’ve been open to experimenting with new technologies and methods, often leading the charge.

Nothing prepares one adequately for becoming a caregiver. You’ll be taking risks and pushed outside of your comfort zone on a daily basis. Often decisions have to be made quickly and you’ll be forced to muddle through and face uncertain outcomes. My story that appears in the new Chicken Soup for the Soul: Best Cat Ever collection is about taking a risk in the most improbable circumstances. Without indulging my heart in that moment, I would have missed out on the love of a precious cat.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Best Cat Ever goes on sale Oct. 27. If you happen to be in the metro Atlanta area, you can stop by the Good Mews Harvest Market on Oct. 24 to purchase an early signed copy. All proceeds will go to the shelter where I adopted the star of the story, Rosalie.

Here’s the social post that won my heart. Look at that sweet, bewildered face! It’s not lost on me that according to this profile, Rosalie also didn’t like change. Another sign that we were meant to find one another.

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October 11, 2026 · 11:30 am

My story featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Best Cat Ever

I’m pleased to announce that my story “Against All Odds” is included in the latest Chicken Soup for the Soul book, Best Cat Ever.

The book goes on sale October 27, 2026. Find it at your favorite book retailer. Pre-order now on Amazon and Bookshop.org. You can also save it to your Goodreads shelf.

If you are in the metro Atlanta area, stop by the Good Mews Harvest Market on Oct. 24 to buy an early, signed copy. All proceeds from the Harvest Market go to help cats in need.

My story is about adopting my beloved Rosalie. I wrote about her passing in 2021 and what she meant to me. “Against All Odds” is very much about the challenges of being a caregiver and needing to embrace rare opportunities of joy even in the darkest days.

The book will make a great holiday gift for all of the cat lovers on your list!

My unboxing video for Chicken Soup for the Soul: Best Cat Ever

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October 4, 2026 · 1:30 pm

Alzheimer’s Association partners with Special Olympics to increase brain health awareness

Neurologist explaining a labeled brain model to a patient

The Alzheimer’s Association and Special Olympics announced a partnership to increase access to brain health resources.

Not everyone may be aware that people with Down syndrome are at significantly increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Estimates suggest that the number of people with Down syndrome who will develop dementia as they age could be more than 50 percent, a staggering figure. What I found interesting is that by “age 40, most people with Down syndrome have the brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease, including the buildup of amyloid plaques and tau tangles, although not everyone develops dementia symptoms.”

Here are the goals of the partnership:

  • Increase awareness of dementia risk among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  • Connect individuals and their support networks to accessible and inclusive access to brain health education tools and support resources.
  • Greater collaboration among local Alzheimer’s Association chapters and Special Olympics programs.
  • Explore areas to collaborate on research and evaluation focusing on dementia in the population of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

On a personal note, I have some exciting book news to share soon! Hint: It features my darling cat Rosalie. I wrote about her passing and what she meant to me when she passed a few years ago.

Image of brain model in doctor’s office generated by WordPress.

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September 27, 2026 · 12:52 pm

Navigating the spectrum of caregiver emotions

AARP had a column recently that tackled the issue of maintaining a healthy perspective as a caregiver. Can one dare to hope and maintain some optimism while still keeping solid footing in reality?

Like with all aspects of caregiving, it’s not easy. Family therapist and clinical psychologist Barry Jacobs offers some helpful tips. Jacobs notes that while optimism has been found to have positive health benefits, finding a middle ground between hope and realistic expectations may help protect emotional well-being.

If you’ve read my book The Reluctant Caregiver, you know I’m on the pessimistic end of the spectrum. Always prepared for the worst but grateful for good news helped me maintain my resilience throughout my caregiving journey.

Jacobs suggests caregivers adopt “cautious optimism.” Jacobs says this “requires the ability to simultaneously hold on to both hope and the prospect of further decline.” Sounds like a challenge but caregivers are up to the task. Here are tips from Jacobs on finding a good balance:

Aim for support and comfort, not a cure: Sometimes caregivers convince themselves that if they just provide enough loving care, they can overcome a poor prognosis. Sometimes people do beat a grim diagnosis or live years longer than expected. But conditions like dementia are terminal, even if there are ups and downs along the way. That’s why Jacobs encourages caregivers to set a more realistic and meaningful goal, which is to provide compassionate care for your loved one.

I’ve written a lot about caregiver guilt. The best we can do as caregivers for someone who is terminal is provide comfort care and a reassuring presence.

Plan for good and bad outcomes: Education is key as a caregiver. When my father developed dementia symptoms and my mother was diagnosed with colon cancer, I immersed myself in the relevant caregiver communities in addition to diving into the scientific research. Knowledge is powerful and will help you plan for the good, the bad, and the unexpected. Caregiving always throws some curve balls but being aware that those outcomes exist can help manage expectations as a caregiver.

Accept the unexpected: This is the most valuable piece of advice that helped me as a caregiver. No matter how much you prepare, you can’t predict all of the twists and turns that is the roller coaster ride of caregiving. Jacobs makes a good point that waves of grief may hit even before a care recipient’s death, as we watch a loved one decline despite our best efforts.

For more caregiving tips, visit AARP.

Image by AbsolutVision from Pixabay.

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September 20, 2026 · 11:38 am

World Alzheimer’s Day: Optimism and concern for researchers

World Alzheimer’s Day September 21; Forget Me Not – Raising Awareness, Finding Hope. “Uniting for Memory, Embracing Tomorrow.” Never Alone.

September 21 is World Alzheimer’s Day. Since beginning The Memories Project in 2012 in memory of my father, I’ve followed the developments in Alzheimer’s research and support for caregivers.

There have been some notable achievements when it comes to developing blood tests that can accurately detect Alzheimer’s. More convenient, accurate, and affordable testing means more people can get diagnosed earlier, when the current treatments have the best opportunity to be effective.

As far as medications, it’s been more of a mixed result. Some potentially promising drugs have failed, while other medications have had a bumpy rollout. Limited effectiveness, side effects, and costs are factors to consider, but I do understand those with Alzheimer’s and their families wanting the right to try such treatments.

I’m not so optimistic that I think we’ll have a cure for Alzheimer’s in my lifetime. For my sake, as someone with a copy of the APOE4 gene and Alzheimer’s common on both sides of my family tree, I do hope we’ll find more effective and accessible treatments. Something that preserves more of a person’s cognitive function, so they can continue to live independent lives would be a gamechanger.

And we must think beyond just pharmaceutical solutions. Research has shown that lifestyle changes can make a difference in preventing or delaying dementia. Unfortunately the government has cut funding for some Alzheimer’s studies that are needed to understand the differences in how the disease develops across gender, race, and economic levels to inform effective interventions and prevention recommendations. Those who care about developing effective treatments for Alzheimer’s and other dementias need to vote for officials who believe in science and funding research. For trustworthy information on dementia research, check out Being Patient.

If you want to get involved, sign up with the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement for government advocacy and the Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry to participate in research studies. I’ve been a member of the registry since 2012. I also am a member of the Brain Health Registry and participated in an Olfaction Study and an ongoing study where I complete surveys and brain games every six months. These are simple yet meaningful ways to support research efforts.

Caregivers continue the fight for better support. There are several organizations who advocate for caregivers. Beyond AARP and the Alzheimer’s Association, I’m a fan of Caring Across Generations. I also have a few resources that I’ve created, including Respite Care Share and Caregiver Vent.

The seemingly slow progress can be frustrating for those who are currently living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Instead of feeling helpless and hopeless, I try to support the community through sharing my family’s story.

Read The Reluctant Caregiver, my award-winning caregiving personal essay collection.

Illustration generated with AI via WordPress.

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August 23, 2026 · 2:02 pm

Memory Generation: Theatre show captures real-life experiences of dementia caregiving

Being Patient recently profiled a unique theatre show that highlights the complex dynamics of the dementia caregiving experience.

“Memory Generation” is the creation of Sara Zatz and Sherrine Azab. The interactive theater production is set in a memory cafe.

The concept for the show was sparked by one of the creator’s family members. Her father had dementia and his partner, who was dealing with her own physical condition, expressed how people don’t understand how relationship dynamics change after a dementia diagnosis. She suggested creating a show around that theme. The actors involved in the show also have a personal connection with caregiving. To capture the diversity of the dementia caregiving experience, interviews with those in the dementia care community were conducted across the country.

It had a premiere this year in 2026 and there are plans to bring the show to Detroit. The hope is that “Memory Generation” inspires more community-based art projects about dementia caregiving. The takeaways for audiences is to think more about what does it mean to live in a dementia-friendly society and the show’s creators hope to spark a conversation on how artists can help facilitate the growth of care-centered communities.

I’m a big believer in raising awareness for dementia through art. Through real-life story collections like Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living with Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias, which I’m fortunate to be a part of, to the best-selling novel Still Alice (and subsequent film adaption) and independent projects like Wine, Women, and Dementia, the experience of living with dementia is no longer invisible. We still have a long ways to go in supporting dementia caregivers as a government and society, but the first step is to be seen and heard. Every artistic project that keeps dementia care in the spotlight is valuable.

That spirit also powers The Memories Project blog and my personal essay collection, The Reluctant Caregiver.

To learn more about “Memory Generation” and watch the interview with the show’s creators, visit Being Patient.

Older adults chatting over coffee inside Memory Grove Café
I love the concept of memory cafes, and wish more communities supported them.

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July 6, 2026 · 8:00 am

Marking Mom’s birthday

Today would have been Mom’s 89th birthday. As much as we were polar opposites in personality, I do find as I age that I’ve picked up some of her habits.

I’ve also been thinking of Mom recently because of a new project that I’ve been working on, Caregiver Vent. I’ve created a quiz-based resource for caregivers looking to earn a bit of extra money by taking surveys and sharing their opinion on caregiving and a variety of other topics. I’ve been doing surveys for the past several months and I was surprised at how often caregiver topics come up. No one knows better than caregivers that there’s a lot of room for improvement and caregivers have the personal experience needed to make a difference.

Mom loved giving her opinions about products and services. She didn’t wait for a survey; she was proactive and called. And when there was not a consumer feedback phone number readily available on the package, she’d call me to track it down on the internet. Over the years she gave feedback on everything from coffee canister lids to juice products. Companies would send her coupons and even branded items for her valuable feedback. It helped the companies but helped my mother as well; it made her feel useful and talking to customer service representatives eased her loneliness.

Finally, Mom loved a good deal. She had coupons for everything! So I have to share that I’m participating in the Smashwords July Summer/Winter sale. Get my books, including the award-winning The Reluctant Caregiver, for half-off the normal price. The sale runs all month long.

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