Moments That Matter: Poetry and Presence in Alzheimer’s Care with Marjorie Maddox
Jul 02, 2025 12:01 am
If you’re new to this email, welcome! We’re glad you’re here. We email twice a month with news of our latest author, podcast, and events to guide the dementia caregiving journey, and in between to announce special events. Feel free to share what you see here with others concerned about Alzheimer's and dementia. You may unsubscribe at anytime below.
Hello ,
Welcome back! We’re introducing a new Featured Author of the Month: Marjorie Maddox, author of Seeing Things, a poetry collection written from her experience caring for her mother with dementia. In our latest episode of Untangling Alzheimer’s and Dementia, host Marianne Sciucco and Marjorie explore the raw experiences of caregiving, grief, and the myriad emotions that come with witnessing loved ones navigate dementia. We're joined by acquisitions editor Sheila Luna who selected this book for our collection.
Why Poetry Matters:
Sheila shares how Marjorie’s poems resonated deeply, describing them as “beautifully moving and relatable,” encapsulating the complex mix of grief, guilt, joy, and love that caregivers experience. The poetry offers not only comfort and connection, but also a way for readers to process their own journeys through dementia, even when the words are difficult to read.
Personal Stories & Caregiving Insights:
Marjorie opens up about her own caregiving experiences, primarily supporting her mother from afar and caring for her father-in-law locally. She reads several poems from her collection, including “Dusk” and “A Few Minutes After a Fall,” which illuminate fleeting moments of hope, fear, anguish, and the sometimes surreal comfort found in forgetting.
The episode also touches on:
- The comfort and insight poetry provides in difficult caregiving moments
- The importance of human connection, love, and showing up—even in simple ways, like daily calls
- Navigating complex family relationships and support networks
- The extra challenges brought by COVID, especially the enforced distance it created
Marjorie’s Takeaway:
Marjorie encourages listeners to embrace the moments they can share, however small, to focus on “no regrets,” and to offer themselves grace. She emphasizes that even just holding a loved one’s hand or speaking on the phone can be meaningful and healing for both.
After listening or watching on YouTube, you can read Marjorie's exclusive blog post for AlzAuthors.
If you find this episode meaningful or wish you had discovered AlzAuthors sooner please forward this newsletter to a friend or caregiver who could use a little light on their own journey!
Thank you for being part of our community.
💜 💜 💜
In Case You Missed It . . .
Catch up on this replay from our latest Books and Chit Chat discussion, where we had the pleasure of hosting Peter Berry and Deb Bunt, the inspiring duo from Suffolk, England. Read on for heartfelt stories, practical insights, and updates on their current projects.
Peter was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at age 50. After initially facing depression and loss, Peter found renewed purpose by sharing his journey to help others. Deb, his cycling friend, and now co-author, met Peter after his diagnosis. Their partnership has resulted in two powerful books:
- Slow Puncture: Living Well With Dementia
- Walk With Me: Musings Through the Dementia Fog
Both bring you honest, practical, and compassionate reflections on living fully with dementia.
For more on Peter and Deb, simply search their names on our site.
💜 💜 💜
4th of July Sale!
Our intern Grace has been hard at work revamping our merch store! Check it out, and while you're there treat yourself to something new and cool for summer, such as a bucket hat, T-shirt or tank, polo, and more. We have several designs to choose from and you can design your own item by moving the images around. Lots of colors, too! Take advantage of 25% off all orders on July 4th! All proceeds benefit our mission to provide quality resources for Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers and others concerned with these conditions. Happy shopping!
Join Our Alzheimer's & Dementia Community on Bluesky!
We're always looking for new ways to connect with our incredible community, and we're thrilled to now be active on Bluesky!
On our Bluesky feed, you'll find a dedicated space where we:
- Share our latest blog posts, podcasts, insights, and resources on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias
- Highlight important news and developments important to those caring for one one with dementia
- Spark conversations and provide a platform for those concerned about these conditions to connect, share experiences, and support each other
If you're passionate about finding support for caregivers we invite you to follow us and become part of our growing community. Your engagement helps us amplify important messages and reach more people who need information and support. Find us here: https://bsky.app/profile/alzauthors.bsky.social
You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter/X
💜 💜 💜
Is Medicaid Part of Your Dementia Journey?
Urgent Alert: Medicaid Cuts Threaten Alzheimer's & Dementia Care
Medicaid is a lifeline for millions, providing essential healthcare, home care, transportation, and long-term care for our nation's elderly, disabled, and low-income individuals. For families navigating the complexities of Alzheimer's and other dementias, Medicaid is often the only way to ensure their loved ones receive the critical support needed to stay safe and cared for.
A proposed White House bill (H.R.1 One Big Beautiful Bill Act) currently moving through Congress and the Senate threatens drastic cuts to Medicaid, potentially removing as many as 10 million people from its rolls. This could leave countless individuals, especially those with Alzheimer's and dementia, without the vital care they depend on, placing immense burdens on families and our healthcare system.
There is still time to act. Your voice is crucial. Please, take a few moments to understand the profound impact these cuts would have and contact your elected representatives today. The bill is scheduled for a vote before July 4th.
Learn more here and contact your representatives with just a few clicks here.
💜 💜 💜
Take a Chance on Our 10th Anniversary Book Giveaway!
Winners selected monthly!
First six winners were chosen!
Watch your email inbox for notification!
Enter once to win all year.
💜 💜 💜
2025 Books & Chit Chat, Podcasts, and AlzAuthors Live! Virtual Events
7/16 - Replay of Jean Lee's Books & Chit Chat
8/6 - NEW AUTHOR: Jennifer Sullivan, When the Window Closes: What I learned caring for my mom while she was alive and dying, a Caring For Mother Memoir
8/20 - Replay of Poetry for the Dementia Journey
9/8 Film Festival begins! Stay tuned for details.
💜 💜 💜
Susan’s Design of the Week
Please share this image with your friends and followers on social media using the following text, copy, paste and hit send! Thank you!
AlzAuthors is rooted deep in dedication with the understanding of the growing need for support and compassion for caregivers and those impacted by Alzheimer's and dementia. Our resources are created from personal experience to offer valuable insights to those in need. https://alzauthors.com/
💜 💜 💜
We have so much to learn . . .
Dr. Munro Cullum joins Being Patient Live Talks to break down what science has uncovered so far — and what remains unknown — about the relationship between concussions, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and long-term brain degeneration. Cullum, a professor of psychiatry, neurology, and neurological surgery at UT’s Southwestern Medical Center, has spent decades at the forefront of investigations into the brain pathology that indicates CTE and its potential causes.
WHEN: Thursday, July 10, at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET
WHERE: Being Patient’s Facebook page
💜 💜 💜
Start Spreading the News . . .
In celebration of our 10th anniversary, we published a news release telling our story and outlining our plans for this momentous year. Here it is. Please share this with your family, friends, followers and contacts in dementia care.
Thank you.
💜 💜 💜
Celebrating with our US Friends
Cheers to freedom, family, and fireworks! AlzAuthors wishes you
and your loved ones a bright and beautiful Independence Day!
Thank you for being a part of our community.
💜 💜 💜
Love our newsletter?
Please forward it to a family member, friend, or someone you know on a dementia journey. Share the news about our authors, their stories and books, and the valuable resources we offer: website, podcast, blog, and more.
Thank you.
💜 💜 💜
Let's keep connected ...
💜 💜 💜
Our mission is to provide quality resources for those concerned with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Please help by connecting with us in at least one new way this week:
Follow our podcast and leave a review
Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Join Books & Chit Chat book club
Volunteer your time and talents
Submit Your Book, Blog, or other Resource
Share this newsletter with others on a dementia journey
Visit us on The Whole Care Network
Check us out on the Health Podcast Network
Vote us up on the NYC Podcast Network
Check Out This Curated List of Alzheimer's Podcasts Featuring our Authors
Discover our authors in this podcast series on Alzheimer's
Purchase a Custom Caregiver Collection
Vote us up on the World Podcast Network
Listen to the podcast on Coming Home Well
💜 💜 💜
Thank you for supporting our mission to
connect caregivers with resources.
Your Management Team
L to R: Vicki Tapia, Ann Campanella, Christy Byrne Yates,
Marianne Sciucco, Susan Landeis, and Jean Lee
How to reach us:
Marianne Sciucco: podcast host/producer
mariannesciucco@gmail.com
Jean Lee: acquisitions editor, Custom Caregiver Collections
jean@alzheimersdaughter.com
Vicki Tapia: acquisitions editor, children's books
vicki.tapia@gmail.com
Ann Campanella: Custom Caregiver Collections
anncampanella@gmail.com
Susan Landeis: Custom Caregiver Collections
contact@susanlandeis.com
Christy Byrne Yates: podcast host/producer, YouTube channel manager
christy@cbyates.com
💜 💜 💜
Show us some love on Google
Share your thoughts on AlzAuthors with the world.
This helps caregivers find us on the crowded internet. Submit your review here.
💜 💜 💜
Please note we are an Amazon Associate and there may be links to Amazon attached to book titles and images in this email. If you click on them and make a purchase, AlzAuthors may receive a small commission from these links at no additional charge to you or the author.
Why am I getting this email?
When you signed up for the AlzAuthors newsletter, participated in a program, entered a giveaway, or attended an event, you consented to receive our email communications.
How do I unsubscribe?
If you no longer wish to receive our emails you may unsubscribe below; it's the very last word in this email. However, if you do so you will be unable to resubscribe, say, for an event, because our email service provider does not allow those who unsubscribe to rejoin the list. If you want to be taken off a particular list it may be best for you to make your request to alzauthors@gmail.com.
How can I stop emails from going to spam?
To make sure you don’t miss our emails, add alzauthors@gmail.com to your address book.
Copyright © 2025, ALZAUTHORS, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is: alzauthors@gmail.com