An Alzheimer’s Anthem: Remember Me

24 Saturday Jan 2015

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Advocacy and Awareness, Cure Alzheimer's Fund, Events, Face of Alzheimer's, Fundraising, Inspiration, Mom, Music and Art, Research, Ruminations

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#rememberme, alzheimers, alzheimers song, chris mann, cure alzheimers fund, dementia, remember me, rudy tanzi

While there are plenty of things that stir my emotions, music can really send me into a tailspin. I still haven’t listened to the Glen Campbell song, I’ll Be Me. One day I will, but I’m not ready yet.

Over the past day or so, I’ve seen a couple of Facebook posts regarding a new song and video by Chris Mann, a 2012 finalist on The Voice.

Remember Me is the result of a collaboration between Mann and a rather unlikely suspect, world-renowned Alzheimer’s researcher, neuroscientist Rudy Tanzi.

A recent Rolling Stone article describes how the two met and what inspired the partnership. (Call me crazy, but I feel as though this could be a game changer with regard to bringing Alzheimer’s out of the shadows! Who could have imagined uttering the words “Rolling Stone” and “Alzheimer’s” in the same sentence?)

Tonight as I was driving home, I shook off my apprehension and clicked the play button to listen to this remarkably powerful song for the first time. Within seconds, I found myself sobbing – it’s difficult to describe the raw emotion I felt as the beautiful lyrics cut into my heart. A rush of piercing grief, intense regret, and tremendous loss washed over me – body and soul. It took my breath away in every sense of the word. I couldn’t help but imagine my mom…

I know there’ll come a day, when I have gone away / And the memory of me will fade / But darling think of me, and who I use to be / And I’ll be right there with you again / I hope I’m one thing worth not forgetting / Tell me that you’ll never let me go

You can watch the poignant Remember Me video below, but please click over to iTunes and buy the single, then encourage your friends to do the same. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.*

Join the #RememberMe movement. Learn more -> here

*Since its inception in 2004, the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization) has contributed $27.4 million to research. The founders cover all overhead expenses, and 100% of donations go directly to research. Dr. Rudy Tanzi is a key member of the organization’s research consortium.

What if…

21 Wednesday Jan 2015

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Caregivers, Grieving, Life After Caregiving, Mom, Ruminations

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alzheimers, dementia

I try very hard not to let myself go there… to the land of “what ifs.”

Just like the proverbial “coulda, woulda, shoulda,” that line of thinking is terribly counterproductive. Life is what it is; it unfolds the way it’s meant to unfold even if it doesn’t align with our expectations.

I try not to go there, because nothing positive can come of it.

However, sometimes when I’m not watching, “what if” reaches out from the dark of the night and grabs me with its razor-sharp claws. This selfish, cruel character has no regard for my well-being. Try as I might, I can’t escape the monster’s clutches.

I melt into it…

What if after having “one of those days,” I could stop at Mom’s house? What if we could sit and talk for a bit? She would share some pearls of wisdom, a plate of leftovers, and a healthy dose of humor. She’d top it off with a giant mom-hug and all would be right with the world again.

Oh the things we take for granted.

What if?

What if Alzheimer’s hadn’t taken her so early?

What if life was fair?

What if bad things didn’t happen to good people?

And then just as abruptly as it appeared, “what if” fades back into the shadows leaving me with an aching heart and a tear-stained face.

For now, I’m me again, keeping the “what ifs” at bay… until next time.

Banner Alzheimer’s Institute: 2015 Dementia Dialogues Webinar Series

18 Sunday Jan 2015

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Caregivers, Coursework & Learning Opportunities, Events, Helpful Resources, Tips

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alzheimers, alzheimers education, banner alzheimers institute, caregiving, dementia, dementia webinar

Here are some amazing 2015 online education opportunities, straight from The Banner Institute.

Scheduled each third Wednesday, Dementia Dialogues offers a different, pertinent webinar topic each month. For those who are not comfortable with the Internet or who don’t have access, an exclusively audio version is offered as well.

The January webinar will take place this coming Wednesday, Jan 21. Click here to learn more and register!

January 21 – Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Dementia but were Afraid to Ask: There is a lot of conflicting information, misinformation and unanswered questions surrounding Alzheimer’s and dementia. Join us to gain some clarity with dementia as our experts discuss some questions commonly posed to them. Come prepared to ask your unanswered questions.

February 18 – Lack of Insight into Dementia: “My person is in denial about their illness” is a phrase heard all too often in the dementia world. However, some people with this disease are simply unable to see changes within themselves – they have lack of insight. During this Dialogue, you will learn the difference between denial and lack of insight, and will receive strategies to avoid confrontation with a person who cannot accept cognitive losses.

March 18 – Planning for Care across the Stages of Dementia: Dementia is a disease that requires planning – constantly. Each stage brings unique challenges and needs and by being pro-active rather than reactive, caregivers can help lighten their load and have the confidence they are making decisions as their person would wish. Learn about specific plans that should be made during the various stages of dementia.

April 15 – Alzheimer’s Medications: Observing benefit of the approved medications for the treatment Alzheimer’s disease can be difficult to see as they don’t modify the course of the disease but can assist in managing symptoms. Join this Dialogue to learn about medications, reasonable expectations for use, potential side effects and tips for common issues.

May 20 – Planning Successful Travel: Travel is a joy that many people share throughout their lives. When someone develops dementia, many strategies for daily life can be disrupted by leaving home. While it may require extra thought, travel can still be enjoyable for someone with dementia. Just in time for summer travel, learn tactics to make your trips as successful as possible.

June 17 – Men as Caregivers: Many men are finding themselves caring for their wife or mother with dementia. It turns out that some stereotypical male qualities can come in quite handy for caregivers of someone with dementia. Join this frank discussion to learn strategies from some successful male caregivers.

And coming during the second half of 2015:

July 15 – Understanding Psychosis

August 19 – Maintaining Realistic Expectations as Dementia Progresses

September 16 – Best Lessons from Powerful Tools for Caregiving

October 21 – How and When to Execute Powers of Attorney

November 18 – Preparing for the Holidays

December 16 – The Gift of Presence