AlzAuthors: Paula Spencer Scott, "Surviving Alzheimer's: Practical Tips and Soul-Saving Wisdom for Caregivers"

By Paula Spencer Scott

I knew little about dementia back when my grandmother began using a kitchen pot for a commode. Or when my dad began wailing, "Oh why didn't anyone tell me?" on the day after my mother's funeral, because he'd already forgotten she died.

So how did I wind up writing a guide to Alzheimer's care? I followed the motto I've used for my entire career covering health and family for national media: “Write what you DON’T know.”

That's how you find out.

Back when firstborn balked at toilet training, I was lucky to interview Dr. Benjamin Spock himself. As a contributing editor of Parenting and Baby Talk while I raised four kids, I quizzed gurus-of-the-moment like T. Berry Brazelton, Richard Ferber, Sheila Kitzinger, and Penelope Leach. I tracked down researchers behind the latest studies for my Woman’s Day "Momfidence" column. I wrote a parenting book series for Time Inc. and The Happiest Toddler on the Block with top baby doc Harvey Karp.

It’s what I do: Find the best experts, ask the right questions, listen, and then organize and share their ideas in ways that help laypeople.

AlzAuthors: Claudia Rumwell & The Senior Care Organizer

 by Claudia Rumwell

“Caregiving is not for wimps.”

Mom had been falling much too often. Then I heard from a visiting relative that in order to safely come up the stairs from the basement of their home, Mom and Dad had to sit on a stair and scoot up one at a time. 

Answers needed. 

Mom was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Dad was fairly stable with his previous stroke. But it was time to make some changes. 

“Ducks in a Row?” Did I have my “ducks in a row” when it came to starting the process of taking care of my parents’ needs? I did not. Did they? No. And you might think that a nurse would know exactly what to do, but that wasn’t the case. I learned as I went along. 

And I learned a lot. I remember collecting pages of information which held answers to questions that I had asked. I learned about senior care professionals who can help find living locations, or guide you in care management. I found out that my parents didn’t have the needed documents e.g., health care directive; power of attorney. And I had to search for important papers that were well hidden in their home.

The ten years of “hands-on” experience as a parent caregiver was the main impetus and inspiration for creation of the Senior Care Organizer which is a “hands-on” guide for collecting and organizing the necessary information to manage senior adult care. My goal was to provide a resource for others who are or would be going through my experience. I thought…..Why should they have to “reinvent the wheel?” 

My parents may not have had Alzheimer’s, although in her last year of life, Mom did acquire the Parkinson’s form of dementia; but they are good examples of the importance of getting things in order as soon as possible. Especially once things change or the diagnosis has been made. 

The Senior Care Organizer will help you, as a caregiver, do that very thing. It provides an easy method and plan to get organized, identify resources, learn about what to do first, how to do it, and where to go to find specific help. It comes in a 3 ring Notebook format or in a downloadable interactive PDF format that can be saved and revised on your computer. You can see a Preview of some of the book’s contents on the website, or with the Look Inside feature on Amazon. 

So whatever caregiving challenges may be ahead, don’t forget there are others who can help you and resources to support you.

“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” C.S. Lewis

About the Author

Claudia Rumwell is a registered nurse, educator, author and patient advocate who has worked with seniors for over 40 years. In 2008, as a result of advocating for her parent’s changing health care needs for 10+ years; she shifted her nursing focus to the area of senior care. In addition to consulting, she enjoys providing workshops that focus on senior care topics. In addition to updating the Senior Care Organizer, currently in its 4th edition, she updates the Links/Resources and publishes monthly educational articles in the Helpful Articles section of the Website: www.seniorcareorganizer.com; and posts articles and other links on Facebook.  You can also find her on Twitter.

AlzAuthors: Wendy Chanampa, The Unseen Gifts of Alzheimer's and Dementia

by Wendy Chanampa

 

"To love a person is to learn the song that

is in their heart and to sing it to them

 when they have forgotten.”

 

 

This was written by Arne Garborg, a Norwegian writer, and has been my inspiration for many years. Even though I have worked with people with dementia most of my adult life, it was not until my father was diagnosed that I actually experienced the significance and value of learning one’s song. As I became the student and my father, the teacher, I discovered that to truly accomplish learning his song, I had to lay aside my own agenda, listen and be present. And I learned that being fully present took practice. I found this opportunity for learning with all of my clients with dementia and with their families.  

In my personal and professional life, I have aspired to follow this course. As I continue to encounter families and friends struggling with dementia, my desire is to share these lessons in order to assist and empower them. My longing resulted in the writing of The Unseen Gifts of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. This book

guides us to focus on the gifts that remain in the midst of the storm, gifts that people living with dementia have shown me. Offering practical advice coupled with gentle self care and love, this writing is intended as another tool for both family and professional care givers. The beginning step to a deeper connection is recognizing that people with dementia are still with us. Even though their brain is changing and faltering they are still here. As we understand that people with dementia cannot change where they are, we learn that we can change our responses. Personal change with an open heart is essential.

As we change, our challenge is to become willing to receive and recognize the gifts. There is a place that is very reachable within the faltering brain, well into the late stages of the disease process. I have been blessed with reaching this place on many occasions, with many people, my own father included. This, I realized, can be taught and shared with others. Trusting intuition and allowing an open heart prepares the space and attitude to recognize the sacred beauty of connecting with the individual’s personal song of life. These lessons are at the heart of what has motivated me to bring forth this book.

The feedback has been sincere and heartfelt. The positive impact on the readers is evidenced by calmer, more confident family caregivers. Dealing with their personal feelings has opened doors to a better relationship with their loved ones with dementia. Professional care givers have commented that this writing provided them with better insight regarding approach and empathy. A deeper understanding regarding family member’s concerns and issues surfaced for many after reading the real life scenarios presented.  

 

Ultimately, self-aware and knowledgeable caregivers help facilitate better lives for people with all types of dementia. Because the many emotional challenges and losses often overshadow the wellbeing of the caregiver, self-care is emphasized. Letting go of dreams, expectations and our own agendas can be extremely difficult. The Unseen Gifts of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia offers a pathway towards this goal. Let us all see the gifts and know that those living with dementia are still with us and are able to teach us, touch us and bless us beyond words. 

Purchase on Amazon

About the Author

Wendy Wells-Chanampa is a Registered Professional Guardian with expertise in senior care and is a Certified Dementia Care Practitioner and Certified Dementia Care Trainer through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners and International Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. She is also a Certified PAC (Positive Approach to Care) Dementia Care Trainer through Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA and a new author.
Connect with Wendy Chanampa
Website 
Email wchanampa@aol.comLinkedIn   Twitter  Facebook 

AlzAuthors: R.J. Thesman, How a Trilogy about Alzheimer’s Brings Hope

by RJ Thesman

"We have to park here,” Mom said, as I drove her to the grocery store. 

“Why here? Why in this particular spot?” 

“Because…when we come out, we’ll know where the car is.” 

That was my first clue that Mom’s forgetfulness had merged into something more serious. She always parked her car in the same spot at the grocery store so she could find it when she finished shopping.

“What happens, Mom, if that parking spot is already taken?”

“I just go home and forget about groceries that day.” 

Several months later, we heard the dreaded prognosis of Alzheimer’s disease and our lives changed. We knew what to expect, because Dad suffered through ten years of trauma-induced dementia before he passed away. Mom, his caregiver throughout that Long Goodbye, now needed to receive care.

As I thought about my parents and their experiences through this dreaded disease, the germ of an idea began to form. What if a woman minister had the same experience? What if she was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s and had to resign from her pastorate? What would be her greatest struggle? 

The story began to evolve from a base of pure creativity and my need to grieve. I started typing and listening to my main character’s voice. Reverend G whispered ideas and revealed to me her greatest fear. 

As a minister, what happens if I forget God?

Within six months, I had completed “The Unraveling of Reverend G,” but I knew I wasn’t finished with her story. As my mother’s Alzheimer’s journey continued, so did the story of this gutsy little minister who honestly prayed, “Oh God, oh God, I can’t stand it.”

 
CrossRiver Media sent me a contract for the book and soon I was scheduling book signings and speaking events, talking about Alzheimer’s and caregiving. I tried to share hope with my audience and at the same time, kept writing the second book. 

Two years later, I finished “Intermission for Reverend G” and then a year after that, “Final Grace for Reverend G.” CrossRiver Media published the entire trilogy and urged me to continue to reach out to caregivers. 

I started a group on Facebook, “Sometimes They Forget.” With the wide reach of the internet, members joined and told their stories. Though my heart broke with each post, I knew Reverend G and I could use our faith to encourage these caregivers who needed just one nugget of hope to make it through another day. 

The comments on my blog, on the Facebook group and on my monthly newsletters confirm that caregivers everywhere need to find hope. When I teach at writers conferences and as I speak in various venues, I meet people everywhere who know someone with Alzheimer’s. The Reverend G books help them realize they are not alone in the journey and somehow – they will make it through one more day. 

About the Author

RJ Thesman has been a writer since she flipped open her Red Chief tablet and scribbled her first story. She has over 700 publishing credits in various magazines and her work is included in 13 compilations, including 5 Chicken Soup books. Besides the Reverend G trilogy, she has also published 4 nonfiction books. As a Certified Life Coach, Thesman enjoys teaching writing workshops and coaching writers to find their personal writing plan. Thesman lives in the heartland of Kansas with her adult son and an elderly cat. 

Connect with RJ Thesman 

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A Debut Author on His Debut at the Brain 2 Books Cyber Con, Online Book Expo for Writers & Readers

I love a good writer's conference, especially when it's an online conference, because there's no limit to what fabulousness I can find and I can attend all the sessions I want no matter how long it takes. The sheer brilliance of an online conference is that it's available 24/7 and, in most cases, indefinitely. Plus I don't have to leave home. It's all at my fingertips whenever I have the chance to indulge. Beginning April 8th through the 10th I'll be taking part in the Brain 2 Books Cyber Con, an online conference for readers and writers. My guest today is author Shane Wilson, who will also participate. I'll let him give all the details.

I will never forget my experiences with writing and book conventions. They have been

some of the most valuable experiences of my life. As readers, we load up and drive to conventions to meet our favorite writers. We stand in long lines to get them to sign our copy of their book. There is something beautiful and communal in that act. We've often spent hours poring over every detail of each page. If you’re like me, you read with a pen—underlining the beautiful passages and writing single-word exclamations in the margins. “Wow!”

I was a participant in one of these beautiful and communal acts on the campus of North Carolina State University in Raleigh two years ago. I sat in a large room and listened to one of my favorite authors talk about his work. That man was Junot Diaz, and I stood in a long line for a chance to shake his hand and get his signature. The book he signed for me was This is How You Lose Her, and it was the book I was reading when I started writing my debut novel A Year Since the Rain. I told him how his book inspired me, and I’m sure it was nothing he hadn’t heard seven million times, but it felt good to give him the appreciation I felt he deserved. His creation had inspired. That’s big, man.

Appreciation is funny that way. It often means much more to the person showing the appreciation than it does to the person appreciated.

But now I get to slip around to the other side of the pen. The Brain 2 Books Cyber Con will be my first convention as a published author, and I am incredibly pumped for it. Not only do I get to meet tons of readers and other writers I’ve never met before, I don’t have to change out of my pajamas to do it. In the business world, they would call that a “win-win,” I think. I honestly don’t know, though. My business knowledge is limited to The Office re-runs on Netflix, which is probably not the best MBA program out there.

When I first heard about the B2BCyber Con from a fellow author-friend (shout out to Ed Ireland), I wasn’t sure what to expect. Is it possible to capture the same magic of a brick-and-mortar book/writing convention online? But my curiosity was piqued, so I investigated the Convention groups on Goodreads and Facebook, and I read about what they are offering to readers. I have to say, this is an impressive undertaking by our fearless leader, Angela B. Chrysler, especially considering this is the convention’s second incarnation.

In short, the convention is expecting hundreds of authors to come through during the convention (April 8-10). All of the events are held online in the Goodreads Fairgrounds—where authors have virtual booths set up with their books and other materials. Some are even sponsoring giveaways. In addition to Goodreads, B2B Cybercon will be hosting hour-long author takeovers in their Facebook event all weekend. In fact, I’ll be there from 7-8 PM on April 8! If you want in on the fun—and you do—just click over to the links provided and join up.

So I’ve been asked, as a first time attendee, to speculate on the proceedings. I don’t know how helpful I’ll be on that front, but I can say that there are some very cool things happening Backstage at the convention’s fair grounds. There are plans in the works for live panel discussions with authors on a variety of topics from genre discussions (YA for Adults) and world building to writing about abuse. I’m personally very excited for these panels as the panels are often the most rewarding aspect of physical conventions.

Readers that come through can expect to find their favorite authors (and new favorites…ahem) answering questions at their virtual “booths” as well as hosting panels and behind-the-scenes video broadcasts. There are also rumors of a Character Tournament (Heroes vs. Villains). I’ve never witnessed a character tournament, but I can only assume it includes a fight to the death in some way. To the victor goes the spoils, amiright?

The Brain 2 Books Cyber Con is going to be a TON of fun, and I hope to meet all of you there! Look for me and my book, A Year Since the Rain. I’ll see you in April.

About the Author

Shane Wilson is the author of A Year Since the Rain, a magical realism novel forthcoming from Snow Leopard Publishing. Born in Alabama and raised in Georgia, Shane is a child of the southeastern United States where he feels simultaneously at-home and out-of-place. He graduated from Valdosta State University in south Georgia with a Masters in English. He taught college English in Georgia for four years before moving to North Carolina in 2013. No matter the temperature outside, there is always an iced coffee in his hand when he walks into class in the mornings. He tends to chase the day with a whiskey and a re-run of The Office. Shane has published poetry in Tethered by Letters and the Stonepile Writers' Anthology, Volume III. He is currently at work on a new novel as well as a collection of short stories based on the mythos of and set in the same town as A Year Since the Rain. You may purchase A Year Since the Rain here.

Connect with Shane Wilson

Website

Facebook

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