CORRECTION: AlzAuthors Live! Caring for Mothers with Dementia: Three Sons Share Their Stories
May 27, 2025 11:01 am
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CORRECTION: The graphic in the previously sent email for this event had the wrong day. The event will be held on MONDAY, JUNE 9, not Tuesday as it was incorrectly written. We apologize for any confusion. Thank you.
Hello ,
Caring for someone with dementia can be full of challenges, surprises, and sometimes joy. For many, caregiving is thrust upon them with little warning and no preparation. One day you’re going about your normal routine and the next day you become responsible for someone else: a parent, grandparent, spouse, sibling or other relation. You are now a caregiver.
When we think of caregivers we often think of women, and that is correct: Approximately two-thirds of caregivers are women, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Overall, daughters provide the largest share of unpaid care hours for people with dementia (39%), followed by spouses (25%), sons (17%), and other family and friends (20%). (Population Research Bureau)
Men make up about forty percent of caregivers, many of them caring for their wives or partners, but a great number of them are caring for their mothers.
The needs of caregivers vary greatly, and when we consider gender, we see that the needs of male caregivers, especially those caring for their mothers, may be unique.
We’ll discuss this in our next AlzAuthors Live! virtual panel discussion "Caring for Mothers with Dementia - Three Sons Share Their Stories" on June 9th at 3 pm EDT / 12 pm PST via Zoom.
Our knowledgeable lineup of panelists - David Bredbenner, Vincent Zappacosta, and Alfredo Botello – will offer three unique perspectives sharing their personal experiences and invaluable support and insights for other caregivers currently on a dementia journey.
Potential Topics
- Heeding the call to care
- Lifestyle adjustments
- Getting personal
- Learning new skills
- Handling grief
Meet the panelists
David Bredbenner: David, a technology professional, helped care for his mother, with his sister. He’s the author of “Going Home.” He says, “As we navigated this uncharted territory of dementia with my mom, I constantly came in contact with people that were in similar situations… that had more questions than answers and just wanted a safe space to vent or feel a little less alone. I wrote this book as a way to help people find comfort in community and that, even though it will often feel like it, you are not alone.” You can explore David's journey in his blog post and podcast here.
Vincent Zappacosta: Vincent is a writer, photographer and graphic designer. He and his husband Douglass Christensen cared for his mother using photography, video, music and laughter to ease the way, sharing their journey on his blog, which eventually became a book, “Dementia Mama Drama.” He says, “My intention with the book is to inspire caregivers and show how being creative and not always following the rules could lead to finding your own way of coping with dementia. I want the caregivers out there to know it is possible to make lemonade out of lemons, being thankful for what is rather than what was or what is going to be. Living in the moment while juggling a few hats has its rewards. It did for us.” Learn more about Vincent on his AlzAuthors blog post here, a podcast here, and a panel discussion here.
Alfredo Botello: Alfredo, a novelist and screenwriter, will be featured on AlzAuthors on June 4th. In the meantime, you can check out his book here and his website here. He is the author of the novel “Spin Cycle: Notes From A Reluctant Caregiver,” based on his story of caring for his mother with “likely early onset Alzheimer’s.” He says, “In desperation I wrote Spin Cycle. I know that when I read anything that resonates with me, be it graffiti on the wall of a bathroom or a line in a highbrow novel, I feel comforted. I feel less alone. If one person reads Spin Cycle and thinks, “that character is feeling, doing and saying exactly what I’m feeling and doing and saying – thank god I’m not alone,” then I’ve done my job.”
Buy the books
Going Home, by David Bredbenner
Dementia Mama Drama, by Vincent Zappacosta
Spin Cycle: Notes from a Reluctant Caregiver, by Alfredo Botello
Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales at no additional cost to you or the author.
Meet the Moderators
This event will be recorded and published on our podcast and YouTube Channel.
Question? Contact alzauthors@gmail.com
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Coming Up for Book Club
Book Description: Slow Puncture is an account of a year in the life of Peter, an ordinary man living in a sleepy Suffolk (England) village. Happily married and running a successful business, Peter's life changes when, at the age of fifty, he is given a terminal diagnosis of early onset dementia. Since that day, he has learned to live with his very own dementia monster. From depression and suicide attempts through to his determination to confront his dementia, Peter has embarked on a series of challenges to show that life isn't over with dementia, it's just a little different. Peter has raised thousands of pounds for dementia charities, cycling hundreds of miles in his quest to show that life is always worth living. When Peter meets Deb, recently retired, they embark on regular cycle rides and, as their friendship grows, Deb is able to look at her own life through the lens of Peter's dementia. In Slow Puncture, Peter tells the world what it is really like to live with a terminal condition and Deb learns to enjoy each day more fully. With a foreword by the late best-selling author Wendy Mitchell, author of Somebody I Used to Know, this is an inspirational look at both living in the present and coping with dementia.
Peter and Deb have also authored Walk With Me: Musings Through the Dementia Fog" a compilation of the thoughts and poetry of Peter Berry, which we will also discuss.
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Celebrate Our 10th Anniversary and Raise Awareness of Alzheimer’s
AlzAuthors celebrates our 10th Anniversary this June, which is also National Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. We’re excited to spotlight our wonderful authors along with our supporters who work in the dementia field this month. Please help by sending us one or more of the following:
- a photo of you with your AlzAuthors book and a quote about AlzAuthors
- a photo of you with any AlzAuthors merchandise (t-shirt, hat, mug, etc.)
- a photo of you, your logo and a quote about AlzAuthors
- a short video (less than 1 minute) of you, your book and something you appreciate about AlzAuthors
We will share this information in our newsletter and on social media.
Please email your submission to alzauthors@gmail.com.
Carol Amos shared this with us:
Thanks Carol! She is the author of “H.O.P.E. for the Alzheimer’s Journey: Help, Organization, Preparation, and Education for the Road Ahead.”
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Be a part of something special with an AlzAuthors limited-edition 10th anniversary t-shirt! Available in sizes small -XXL. Specify your choice of logo with image 1. or 2. on the order form. Comes in white only.
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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.
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Take a Chance on Our 10th Anniversary Book Giveaway!
Winners selected monthly!
First three winners were chosen!
Watch your email inbox for notification!
Enter once to win all year.
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2025 Books & Chit Chat, Podcasts, and AlzAuthors Live! Virtual Events
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: Alfredo Botello, Spin Cycle: Notes from a Reluctant Caregiver
6/9 - AlzAuthors Live! Caring for Mothers with Dementia: Three Sons Share Their Stories
6/24 - Books & Chit Chat with Jean Lee, Alzheimer’s Daughter, a caring for two parents memoir
7/2 - NEW AUTHOR: Marjorie Maddox, Seeing Things, a poetry collection
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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 image with your friends and followers on social media using the following text, copy, paste and hit send!
AlzAuthors has hundreds of valuable resources that offer practical advice and heartfelt guidance to support caregivers on the #Alzheimers and #dementia journey. Visit our website to learn more! https://alzauthors.com/
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We have so much to learn . . .
Friday, May 30th, at 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET: Certified Medicaid Planner Michael Guerrero joins Being Patient Live Talks to share his tips for navigating the complicated Medicaid application process, and he will provide actionable insight on how Medicaid can help with dementia care. RSVP to learn more!
WHEN: Friday, May 30th, 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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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.
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