Learning to Live in the Moments
By Catherine Jones “I’m sorry,” said the passenger to me on the Hurtigruten ship as we made our way into the fiords off the coast of Norway. This was in response to my sharing that...
Alzheimers and Dementia Blog - Alzheimers Association of Northern California and Northern Nevada Blog
-
-
Empowering native communities with knowledge and care for dementia
November is Native American and Alaskan Native Heritage Month. Valerie Bill grew up thinking memory loss was normal aging, only later learning it was dementia after both her mother and mother-in-law showed signs. Now...
-
North Bay caregiver adjusts holiday expectations and learns to find meaning, once again
When Bob was diagnosed with vascular dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic, he and his wife Amy decided to follow their daughter across the country to be closer to family. Since their arrival in the...
Neurodiverse husband adapts to care for wife with dementia
By Alan Freedman Before Alzheimer’s disease, Robyn had been a natural communicator, a leader, and someone who understood people instinctively. Her husband, Alan, is introverted and autistic. In his own words, Alan shares how...
Solano County man living with Alzheimer’s – Walks for a cure
Dennis spent 30 years in the fashion industry before becoming a substance abuse counselor and retiring in Rio Vista with his wife. After being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, he now travels to Sacramento twice a...
Bridging life and death: A death doula’s journey to help families heal
Tara Blessinger, a certified death doula and founder of Purple Iris End of Life Services, helps families navigate end-of-life care with compassion, planning, and legacy projects. Inspired by personal loss and her own genetic...
Monterey volunteer inspires community through Alzheimer’s Walk committee
When Allison’s father was diagnosed with dementia, she didn’t know anything about the disease and, as a now sandwich generation caregiver, struggled to care for both him and her young daughter. After his death,...
How one Alzheimer’s volunteer is changing lives in Solano County
When Lisa McKim’s mom, Kathy, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she didn’t know anything about the disease. After attending a local support group, Lisa became inspired to help others. Now Lisa volunteers not only as...
How Alzheimer’s caregiving changed a Fresno doctor’s approach and understanding to patients
Dr. Teresa Sigala, an internal medicine physician for Community Health Partners, became a caregiver for her mother after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Through her personal experience as a caregiver, Dr. Sigala changed the...
Mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis sparks lifestyle change in her son
Sheila Cunnneen was a strong, independent woman whose life was upended by Alzheimer’s. As the disease progressed, her son David and his cousin Laura took legal steps to care for her as her conservators....
Bringing cultural awareness to caregiver stress in the Hispanic community
Roger Gonzalez’s mother, Nelida, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in the mid 1990s. Sadly, the stress of caregiving deeply affected Roger’s father Angel. After both parents passed in 2003, Roger turned his grief into action,...
