The Art of Connection: How Creativity Transforms Dementia Care with Mary Crescenzo
Feb 19, 2025 12:01 pm
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Hello ,
You may already know that connection is key in dementia care, and art creates connections. In this engaging new podcast with Mary Crescenzo, you'll learn more about the transformative power of arts engagement for people living with dementia. Mary, author of “The Planet Alzheimer’s Guide: 8 Ways the Arts Can Transform the Life of Your Loved One and Your Own,” shares her decades of experience using various art forms to connect with and enrich the lives of people living with cognitive decline. From her early days as an art teacher to becoming a pioneering voice in arts engagement for dementia care, Mary offers practical, accessible ways to bring creativity into caregiving. This is a replay of an Aging & Amazing Books & Chit Chat discussion.
You’ll learn:
- Simple ways to incorporate music, visual arts, movement, and storytelling into daily care
- How creative expression can bridge communication gaps
- The importance of intergenerational engagement through art
- Self-care strategies for caregivers through creative writing
- Ways to implement arts activities in both home and facility settings
Mary created a wonderful Caregiver Tip Sheet for us, "7 Tips for Connection and Communication through the Arts." Here she explains how the arts can impact your relationship and engagement with your person utilizing simple strategies and resources you may have at home. The Tip Sheet is free.
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In Case You Missed It . . .
In this episode, you will be able to:
- Discover effective strategies to navigate dementia caregiving and provide the best care possible.m
- Learn the importance of self-care and how it can positively impact your caregiving journey
- Gain insights into the challenges and rewards of long-term dementia caregiving and how to navigate them with resilience
- Explore the benefits of creating a relationship contract as a dementia caregiver and how it can enhance your caregiving experience
- Find out how to build a strong support network to ease the challenges of dementia caregiving and find a sense of community
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Coming Up on the Book Club
Please join us for a discussion of Susan Landeis' memoir, In Search of Rainbows: A Daughter's Story of Loss, Hope and Redemption, February 25th at 2 pm EST via Zoom.
Description: Susan always knew her relationship with her mother was different from that of other mothers and daughters. As a young girl, she struggled to cope with her mother's unpredictable behavior, rejection, and abandonment. At the age of sixteen, she left home and put it all behind her. Years later, her mother was diagnosed with a devastating illness, and Susan was suddenly faced with the difficult decision to care for both of her parents. In this inspiring, soul-searching memoir, Susan tells the story of a troubled childhood, her struggles as an adult, and her determination to find peace with her mother before it's too late. After her mother's death, Susan confronted a haunting past to seek answers and break the chain of dysfunction in her family. Accompany Susan on her healing journey as she comes full circle with a family legacy and discovers compassion, forgiveness, and faith in her own future.
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Treat Yourself to this 10th Anniversary Keepsake Box
To commemorate our tenth anniversary, we're offering a limited-edition keepsake box featuring an inspirational message and the AlzAuthors 10th anniversary logo. This beautiful box measures 6-inches round x 2.5 inches high with black velvet lining and a lift off top. Available for a limited time only!
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Take a Chance on Our 10th Anniversary Book Giveaway!
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2025 Books & Chit Chat, Podcasts, and AlzAuthors Live! Virtual Events
2/25 - Books & Chit Chat with Susan Landeis, In Search of Rainbows: a daughter’s story of loss, hope, and redemption, a caring for mother memoir
3/5 - NEW AUTHOR: Marilyn Raichle, Don’t Walk Away: A Care Partner’s Journey
3/15 - PODCASTHON: Replay of The Long Haul: The Impact of Long-Term Dementia Caregiving
3/19 - Replay of Books & Chit Chat with Susan Landeis on podcast and YouTube
3/25 - Books & Chit Chat with Debra Tann, Ed.D, The Race of Dementia, a caregiver guide
4/2 - NEW AUTHOR: David Bredbenner, Going Home, A Journey with Dementia, a memoir of caring for a mother
4/22 - Books & Chit Chat with Marita Golden. The Wide Circumference of Love, a novel
4/29 - AlzAuthors Live!: National Poetry Month Virtual Poetry Reading
5/7 - NEW AUTHOR: Carol Steinberg, Come Grandpa Meow, Let’s Fly, an illustrated children's book
5/27 - Books & Chit Chat with Peter Berry and Deb Bunt, Slow Puncture: Living Well with Dementia, a memoir, and Walk With Me: Musing Through the Dementia Fog, poetry
6/4 - NEW AUTHOR: TBA
6/24 - Books & Chit Chat with Jean Lee, Alzheimer’s Daughter, a caring for two parents memoir
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It's Marianne's Annual Birthday Facebook Fundraiser
Ten years! We thought our little project to provide dementia caregivers with quality resources would last one month! What started as 20 blog posts in June, 2015 has grown into a robust website of information for caregivers, almost 400 authors, more than 400 resources, a podcast, YouTube channel, virtual events, and more. Our all-volunteer organization is celebrating this milestone ALL YEAR with a variety of projects, including giving away books, a film festival in the fall, virtual events (including a poetry reading on 4/29) and that’s just the start. For the third year, I’m asking my friends and followers to help out by supporting us with a donation. Any sum is appreciated, even $1. If everyone gave just that much I’d meet my goal to raise $1000. Has your life been impacted by Alzheimer’s or dementia? If so, check out the resources at AlzAuthors.com.
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Love Podcasts?
If you enjoy listening to podcasts, check out the resources for caregivers on the Whole Care Network's Streaming Radio App. You'll discover a number of informative and inspirational podcasts dedicated to the caregiving journey.
Available in the Apple store
and Google Play.
Disclaimer: Our Untangling Alzheimer's and Dementia podcast is supported by the Whole Care Network.
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Susan's Design of the Week
Please share this with your friends and followers on social media using the following text, copy, paste and hit send!
If you have the heart of a caregiver, you have a unique gift to make a difference in someone's life. AlzAuthors offers invaluable resources created by caregivers to support those seeking guidance and insight on the #Alzheimers and #dementia journey. https://alzauthors.com/
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We have so much to learn . . .
Co-host of “Living Our Best With Memory Loss,” Denis Lowe, will discuss his personal journey with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and offer insights on how to continue to live well. RSVP to learn more!
WHEN: Thursday, February 27th, at 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET
WHERE: Being Patient’s Facebook page
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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.
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Let's keep connected ...
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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
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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
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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.
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