I honestly can’t believe it’s Friday again, and even more incredible is the fact that August 1st is just a few days away! Sometimes, I wish life would slow down just a bit.

Promotion for our Columbus screening of Angel’s Perch continues, and with 10 days left before our deadline, we’ve got 21 tickets left to go. I’m really hoping they’ll be reserved by the middle of next week… fingers are crossed. If you’re in the area and would like to join us for what promises to be a very special evening, you can reserve tickets here.

What’s Happening on ALZ.net?

Alzheimers.net is currently undergoing some exciting changes, so there was no post this week. However, stay tuned for an interesting piece on Alzheimer’s and turmeric coming soon. I learned a lot doing the research for this one and joke that now I’ll be drinking turmeric tea daily and following it with a coconut oil chaser…  (((smile)))

This Week on Caregivers

Did you know there are various conditions that can cause excessive confusion in the elderly? Not only can they exacerbate symptoms in dementia patients, but they can also wreak havoc on the mental status of individuals with no previous diagnosis. Learn about several of these issues and find out what signs to be on the lookout for in 3 Causes of Sudden Confusion in the Elderly.

On Thursday, I discussed the challenges of parenting your parent, providing tips on navigating the often rough and uncertain waters that come along with life’s ultimate role reversal. It’s not easy, but the sooner you begin to face the issues head on, the better. Preparation is so important. Read more in Parenting Your Parent: 6 Things I’ve Lived and Learned.

VoiceQuilt

Earlier this week, VoiceQuilt posted Memorial Ideas: Breaking Away From Tradition, a piece I recently wrote about creating a memorial befitting the person being honored. It’s a very personal decision, and different for every family, but the underlying point is, there is no “right” or “wrong.” ♥

Other Tidbits of Interest

I see so many articles each week, but today I want to share a few of the best from the past 7 days. There’s just such a wealth of wonderful information out there.

Martha Stettinius (Inside Dementia) featured a guest post by Ram Meyyappan, an expert on Social Security benefits. This piece does a great job of demystifying some of the benefits and eligibility requirements for dementia patients. Take a look at Dementia and Social Security Disability Benefits.

This week, NPR featured an enlightening and very relevant segment on The Green House Project, and it’s well worth listening to the clip. If you aren’t familiar with the concept, I guarantee after this 5-minute introduction, you’ll be sold on the unique alternative to traditional assisted living and skilled nursing.

Last but not least, Jeff Anderson from A Place for Mom did an informative article on how to check for assisted living violations. In 10 States that Make it Easy to Check Assisted Living Violations, he tells us what states do the best job of making sure this data is appropriately detailed, easily accessible, and updated frequently. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s the importance of thorough due diligence; never choose a facility based simply on a tour of the building. Appearances are not necessarily what they seem and it’s critically important to research audit histories, make surprise visits, and speak to family members of current and, if possible, past, residents.

That’s about it for now – I hope you and yours have a lovely weekend and beautiful last few days of July. Until next time, carpe diem…