"Seeking Clarity in the Labyrinth" AlzAuthor Jessica Stokes shares Alzheimer's Journey with her Mother

Jul 12, 2023 4:16 am

Hello ,

This week, we are pleased to welcome our newest AlzAuthor, Jessica Stokes, author of “Seeking Clarity in the Labyrinth.”

The walking path, or labyrinth that had been built by her mother and aunt became a “beacon” and “friend” to Jessica during her Alzheimer’s journey with her mother. She shares that while writing her book “the labyrinth kept appearing and became a centering metaphor for our journey.”

Have you ever walked a labyrinth? I have walked labyrinths in my life, but only a handful of times. I read that labyrinths have been around for centuries and are found all over the world. Typically, it often follows a circular path to the center and is one of humankind’s oldest “contemplative tools.” Walking a labyrinth can increase self-awareness and encourage the interaction of the spirit, body and mind. As caregivers, that certainly sounds like something we could all benefit from as we travel the caregiver path.

Vicki T.

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Jessica tells us: I was much more present in the last years of our journey with Alzheimer’s. Once I had found mom’s voice, and I started writing about her and about us and about our journey, I was able to be available in a way I was not during the first half of our journey. I was able to accept and see her in new ways. I watched my dad keep loving her at each turn and I was able to match that. Loving her and seeing her. Don’t get me wrong, it sucked. All of it sucks. But I can genuinely say we loved her and accepted her until the day she died.

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Our Most Recent Podcast

Most of us in this space are all too familiar with the struggles of caregiving, and meal time is no exception. The planning, shopping, prepping, and preparing of quality nutritious foods can overburden our already stressed out lives. We may resort to quick solutions, which, though convenient, may be detrimental to our goal of living a healthy lifestyle. In this week's podcast, occupational therapist Melissa Bernstein and her geriatrician husband, David Bernstein, MD, tell us how to make meal prep fun for everyone, including our care recipients. When this dynamic duo retired, they collaborated on an innovative approach to caregiving for those with neurodegenerative diseases, combining Melissa's culinary skills with David's "Power of Five Formula." They've revolutionized the way caregivers provide meals for their loved ones, and offer a wealth of advice for caregivers to use in the kitchen and beyond.

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