Here at Alzheimer’s Speaks we take our commitment to “Dementia Friendly Travel” very seriously. We are finding the need to clarify our relationship going forward with Kathy Shoaf, Elite Cruises and Vacations, LLC, and Cruise Planners/American Express who we used as our travel agent on our first cruise to the Caribbean last month. The need for clarification is due to two major factors.
1) There is much confusion and misconceptions in dementia communities around the world, about Alzheimer’s Speaks involvement with future Dementia Friendly Cruises being marketed by Kathy Shoaf, Elite Cruises and Vacations, LLC, and Cruise Planners/American Express. To clarify, Alzheimer’s Speaks has never been involved, nor will we be involved in their future events.
2) Due to an overwhelming response for Alzheimer’s Speaks to provide additional Dementia Friendly Travel, we have decided to do so under the titles of “Dementia Friendly Travel with Lori La Bey”and/or “Dementia Friendly Travel with Alzheimer’s Speaks,” so there will be no confusion going forward. This decision was not made lightly as it was after serious review of feedback from our dementia friendly program team and many attendees. We are honored and vow to hold to a high standard of providing Dementia Friendly Travel in the future.
Although the symposium and programs were highly rated, and many told us they can’t wait to do it again, we can’t apologize enough to those of you who had difficulties in any fashion regarding the cruise. Please know we have meticulous notes to improve the travel process, communication chains and our programming; to make our next venture even more fun and resourceful than the last.
Thank you again, for your understanding and your continued support of Alzheimer’s Speaks.
We are truly humbled and honored in your faith is us and promise to always continue to raise the bar when it comes to dementia.
We Still Owe You a Beautiful Article on Our Dementia Friendly Cruise.
We’ve all wrestled with a guilt trip – aging parents or a sick spouse who fear that we will not respect their wishes to stay at home. Statistics reaffirm that seventy-five percent of families try to do just that, despite the physical and emotional challenges of 24/7 dementia care. Often families turn to outside professional home care support.
24/7 care is often central to the Alzheimer’s experience. Every one of us facing this challenge – patients and care partners alike – strives to honor and help our loved ones live well with dementia. Home care providers and policy makers want to know what matters most to the A-LIST.
Tuesday we will have Wayne Mesker with us to talk about Rock Against Dementia. Wayne has been the CEO Worldstock Entertainment since Sept. 2008. He Founded Rock Against Dementia in March of 2014 at Cleveland Film Festival screening of Alive Inside. In 2016, with help of Purple Angel “Friends” Rock Against Dementia became World Rocks Against Dementia. Rock Against Dementia.
Thursday we are lucky to have Joey Chandler, the founder of “You Are Videos” where he turns smart phone selfies into video tributes for birthdays, weddings and anniversaries. He is now working with hospice and Alzheimer’s organizations to show their patients the impact they have had on the world through the words of family and friends.
Memory Minders are specially created for caregivers
caring for people experiencing memory loss
The materials in these kits are specifically selected to spark memories, create conversation and provide positive and engaging interactions between people with Alzheimer’s and Dementia and their care partners. The kits are divided into high, middle and low activity levels.
Each Memory Minder kit is uniqueand features an interactive activity for use with those with memory loss (such as a puzzle, bingo, games or conversation cards), a book with colorful illustrations created for individuals with memory loss, a cd with music to soothe and spark memory, and A Caregiver’s Guide to Dementia by Laura Gitlin, which explores the use of activities and other techniques to prevent, reduce and otherwise manage the behavioral symptoms of dementia.
The Memory Minder Kits are available at the Ramsey County Library in Roseville and Shoreview, and be checked out for three weeks. The kits are renewable and requestable via the library’s catalog at www.rclreads.org.
These kits were created out of a unique partnership between:
Ramsey County Library, Roseville Alzheimer’s & Demential Community Action Team, and sponsorships by Cherrywood Pointe, Lyngblomsten, Sunrise Senior Living, New Perspectives Senior Living, and the Friends of Ramsey County Library.
Today we are lucky to have Jenn Chan, the founder of the Senior Shower Project which is a project which shows appreciation for care partners.
Viki Kind has been on our a show few times and we are thrilled to have her back with us. Viki is a Clinical Bioethicist and a highly sought after speaker and author will share her thoughts about the project with us.
at 2pm EST, 1pm CST, 12pm MST, 11am PST, 7pmm London
Thursday, Jed A. Levine the Executive Vice President and Director of Programs and Services at CaringKind will join us, along with my Co-Host Harry Urban, who is living with dementia. CaringKind was formerly known as the Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter. CaringKind has been New York City’s leading expert in Alzheimer’s and dementia care for more than three decades.
Jed has been at the organization for 27 years. He holds a Masters degree in Applied Human Development with a specialization in Gerontology and Community Recreation Services from Columbia University’s Teachers College, and he is trained as a Creative Arts Therapist.
Tuesday we will have Dr. Macie P. Smith, a Licensed Social Worker, Certified Social Work Case Manager, and a Social Worker in Gerontology. Dr Macie has over 17 years of experience working with aging and vulnerable populations in South Carolina. She serves as an Adjunct Faculty and a Subject Matter Expert on the collegiate level in the areas of social work, social sciences, and public health. She has also appeared in several editions of Faculty Matters Magazine.
Most people think of love, happiness and joy on Valentines Day. The day is wrapped around those currently in our life as we celebrate our relationships. Tokens of love like flowers, chocolate and jewelry allowing those feeling to linger, but for many others Valentines Day can be extremely painful.
The loss of a loved one in our life can trigger thoughts of longing for what once was. Grief can take hold as tears roll down ones face and and the heart longs for the precious connection it once had. The longing of physical touch; a kiss, a hug or just holding hands is no longer possible.
For some, the pain of loss lingers way past the day marked on the calendar as Valentines Day. For some, each and every holiday triggers the loss of the physical presence of the one they loved.
Earlier this week, I was in Indiana and Illinois at three Clarendale properties doing screenings of “His Neighbor Phil.” At the last screening, a woman in the audience can up and gave me a beautiful poem about love and loss. I wanted to share it with all of you.
The Poem is Titled
“Grief is the Price of Love”
The Author is Unknown
May this poem give those grieving some peace of mind and heart knowing the greatest gift one can receive in a life time, comes with two price tags…. grief and gratitude.
May we all be lucky enough to love so deeply and completely to feel both “grief for a great love” knowing it’s “sister gratitude” will help fill the holes in our heart and help us find peace in our life once again.
Alzheimer's Speaks believes working together and sharing knowledge is the best way to win the battle against this disease. Please explore the site and share your thoughts.
Again I would like to Acknowledge 
Push Research Forward – Join the A-List
We’ve all wrestled with a guilt trip – aging parents or a sick spouse who fear that we will not respect their wishes to stay at home. Statistics reaffirm that seventy-five percent of families try to do just that, despite the physical and emotional challenges of 24/7 dementia care. Often families turn to outside professional home care support.
