AlzAuthors: the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. by Lance A. Slatton

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AlzAuthor and poet Margaret Stawowy is the editor of the anthology "Storms of the Inland Sea"

Poetry written by Caregivers about their loved ones with dementia/Alzheimer's

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If you’re new to this email, welcome! We’re glad you’re here. We email weekly with news of our latest author, podcast, and events to guide the dementia caregiving journey. Please stay with us.


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Hello ,


Do you enjoy poetry? Typically, I find reading poetry a challenge, and have been known to comment, “I don’t get it.” I confess that I ate those four words over and over while reading the anthology Storms of the Inland Sea. 


Edited by Margaret Stawowy and Jim Cokas, this gem of a book is a collection of poems written by caregiver-poets, focusing on dementia/Alzheimer’s. Their heartfelt words spoke to me, offering a glimpse into the daily life of caring for a loved one with memory loss in a way I understood and could relate to. 


Have you used poetry on your dementia journey? Are you a poet or do you simply enjoy reading it? Or both? How has this helped you?


Please read on as Margaret shares a few of her thoughts about poetry and this book. 

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“. . . Caregivers may have difficulty finding time to read a book, but not a poem or two. As for relatability, I like to think of the Duke Ellington quote: “There are two kinds of music. Good music and the other kind.” I believe that quote is applicable to poetry as well. 


Storms of the Inland Sea is not only a book but also a testament from a community of caregivers. We encompass myriad situations and challenges. Some have had more resources and support than others, but none of us were ever granted an easy path.  We all have lost people dear to us before they die. How is it that the world seems genuinely ignorant of this tragedy? How can they not see caregivers as heroes on heroic journeys?” 


Read More


Catch the replay of our virtual event Poetry for the Dementia Journey, featuring several of the authors in this poetry collection, here. It's also on the podcast.




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On the Podcast: Rayna Neises

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Our most recent podcast guest is Rayna Neises, author of No Regrets: Hope for Your Caregiving Season, who asks us to think of our caregiving years as “a season of life.” Have you ever thought of it that way? Like most seasons, caregiving comes to its own natural conclusion, opening up a new, yet to be explored, season. Please listen as Rayna shares with us her personal dementia story caring for two parents during two different seasons of life, and what she learned.


Start Listening!



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A Video Book Review from Patti LaFleur

image"Thank you, Paulette Sharkey and AlzAuthors, for sharing this beautiful children’s book with me that empowers children, and combats stigma around Alzheimer’s disease."


See it on Twitter


See it on Instagram


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New Alzheimer’s Film Debuts September 7th

image8 Above is proud to announce the worldwide release of the new feature documentary "Keys Bags Names Words" having its US Premieres on September 7 at the Vogue Theater in San Francisco, and on September 10th at the The Marlene Meyerson Theater in NYC, followed by screenings in over 50 cities worldwide and over 15 countries in recognition of World Alzheimer’s Day on Sept 21. 


Produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker Cynthia Stone, "Keys Bags Names Words" is a hopeful and inspiring lens portraying stories of both the personal and global impacts of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, while following a cohort of young scientists and artists from around the world as they harness creativity, humor and compassion to lead the way towards hope and resilience. 


View Trailer



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Fall Fashions!

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Our online store has dozens of items in a variety of colors and designs for you to tell the world about AlzAuthors. Free shipping through September 10th!


Start shopping!


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Our 6-Word Memoir Project is Still On

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We are still collecting stories for our Six-Word Memoir Project.

Here are a few examples of submitted stories:


What I wish I knew about Alzheimer's or dementia that I didn't find out until later: 



Here’s how to share your six word story:

 

1.    Go to: https://app.sixwordmemoirs.com/dashboard where you’ll be prompted to login with a name/password/email. It's free.

2.    Then go to Join Topics and use these codes:

3.    Share one or as many six-word stories as you like!

 

We can't wait to read your stories! All stories will be collected into a book to share with the world, offering hope to those currently on a dementia journey.


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Susan's Design of the Week

Susan Landeis, author of In Search of Rainbows and Optimal Caregiving, is the creative talent behind the beautiful graphics that adorn our social media feeds. She makes fresh ones daily. To honor Susan and her work, we feature our favorite design of the week - not easy - in each newsletter in case you missed it. Feel free to share the graphics - and their text - to your own social media. This will help spread the word of AlzAuthors and give your followers a reason to smile. Thank you, Susan, for making us look so good!


September is World Alzheimer's Month. AlzAuthors raises awareness about Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia by offering stories and trusted resources created through personal experience to support your journey. https://alzauthors.com/ 


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Scholarship Alert: Humans of Dementia Scholarship is Now Open

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HFC's Humans of Dementia Scholarship 🎓

Know a student who's eager to kickstart their academic awesomeness this year? The Humans of Dementia Scholarship offers a unique opportunity for high school and college students to make a difference, reduce stigma, raise awareness, and inspire change while boosting their own academic journey.


Submissions open now through October 1, 2023.

 

Get the details!


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Informative Event from Being Patient

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Leah Fisher: Overcoming Fear After an Early MCI Diagnosis


On Friday, October 6th at 10:00 a.m. PT/1:00 p.m. ET, Leah Fisher joins Being Patient Live Talks to discuss her journey of overcoming the fear of the unknown following a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment. Now based near Berkeley, California, Fisher is a self-proclaimed “wild and crazy grandma” to four young grandchildren. In a previous chapter, she worked for 35 years as a psychotherapist and marital counselor and corporate consultant, during which time she brought her expertise to television programs including The Oprah Winfrey Show and 60 Minutes, and to media outlets including Newsweek and The Wall Street Journal, in their “Work and Family” column. Tune in to hear about her experience with the early signs of MCI, seeking a diagnosis, and what lies ahead.


Learn more!



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Ann Campanella and Susan Landeis.


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15 comments

StevenzerBH 3 weeks ago

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MarvinScadAWE 3 weeks ago

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MarvinScadAWE 3 weeks ago

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MarvinScadAWE 2 weeks ago

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MarvinScadAWE 2 weeks ago

Hola a todos, me encuentro planificando un viaje a Tenerife y tengo ganas de hacer jetski durante mi estancia. He estado leyendo sobre los dos lugares mas conocidos para esta actividad: Los Gigantes y Playa de las Americas. Por lo que he visto, Los Gigantes tiene unos acantilados impresionantes que creo que crearian un marco visual magnifico mientras estas sobre el agua, pero he leido que puede ser un poco mas desafiante para alguien con nivel intermedio, especialmente con el oleaje y las corrientes que representan un reto considerable. Por otro lado, Playa de las Americas se presenta como una alternativa mas calmada, ideal para disfrutar sin tanto estres, aunque el entorno no resulta tan llamativo. Para alguien que desea un equilibrio entre el paisaje y el disfrute sin riesgos, ?cual recomendarian? He encontrado un post con fotos y imagenes que muestran claramente las diferencias [url=https://alquilermotoacuaticatenerife.top]how old do i have to be to ride a jet ski[/url] , pero me encantaria escuchar experiencias reales de quienes hayan probado jetski en ambos sitios. ?Cual creen que tiene mas atractivo para alguien como yo que busca una experiencia equilibrada con buenas vistas? Gracias de antemano por sus consejos.

Ethan Davis 2 weeks ago

I am preparing a few undertone photos and want to avoid misleading results. Automatic white balance seems to turn each room into a different colour story. I plan to use indirect daylight near one window rather than direct sun. I will keep the same camera distance and avoid filters, portrait mode, and flash. I am considering a neutral card in the photo so the light has a visible reference. Repeating the test in similar light seems safer than trusting a single photograph. A quick [url=https://color-type.top]skin undertone test camera[/url] could help me remember the steps while I keep the final judgement open. I know a phone image cannot replace seeing colours in person. I will compare the images side by side instead of relying on what I remember. Do you lock exposure, use a neutral reference, or simply compare several sessions? Simple safeguards are more useful to me than buying a complicated kit. Keeping the original files feels important when automatic processing can be so persuasive. I would appreciate lessons learned from a real home setup.

MarvinScadAWE 2 weeks ago

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Diego Iglesias 2 weeks ago

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Ella King 1 week ago

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Amelia Roberts 1 week ago

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Clara Santos 1 week ago

Estoy pensando en regalarme una noche tranquila despues de unas semanas intensas. Me interesa una zona accesible desde Barcelona para una sola noche. Lo que mas me preocupa es la privacidad cuando viajo sin compania. Para ordenar las dudas busque informacion sobre [url=https://escapadaburbuja.top]hotel burbuja barcelona[/url] y me recordo que conviene preguntar por aspectos muy concretos. Me interesa confirmar como resuelven las zonas visibles desde caminos proximos. Me tranquiliza conocer el procedimiento de entrada antes de viajar. Busco un lugar donde pueda cenar temprano y retirarme sin horarios incomodos. Una ficha clara sobre higiene me inspira mas confianza que cualquier promocion. Revisare la cancelacion y los servicios incluidos antes de elegir una fecha. Se que el paisaje depende del clima, pero quiero ir con expectativas sensatas. Asi podre decidir con criterio sin mandar mensajes genericos a todos. Me ayudarian relatos que expliquen que preguntas valio la pena hacer. Con buena informacion previa, creo que podre disfrutar del silencio y la autonomia de la escapada.

Ella Davis 1 week ago

I am planning a capsule wardrobe and want to confirm my season before choosing the main colors. Repeated questionnaires place me near autumn although the exact subtype changes. Warm taupe and olive feel comfortable but mustard and strong rust can make my complexion look uneven. Because I want fewer clothes each neutral and accent needs to combine easily with the others. [url=https://seasonal-palette.top]autumn seasonal palette[/url] offers a useful reference for testing but I would like to validate the direction with actual fabric. My draft test set includes cream, warm navy, chocolate, olive, muted teal, and brick. I can make consistently exposed photos in indirect daylight using the same camera settings. For the neutrals should I focus more on skin clarity or on harmony with my hair and eyes? I still need a small accent pair that can work across casual and slightly formal outfits. Dusty peacock blue seems useful while brick red may be easier than orange. Is this range useful for checking autumn or should I add a cooler control color for comparison? A compact sequence of comparisons would help me avoid buying colors based only on a label. I am aiming for versatility rather than following every suggested autumn shade. Thanks for any practical advice

George Roberts 1 week ago

I'm trying to work out whether Deep Summer or Deep Winter is closer to my coloring. I reach for dark navy more often than black. That observation isn't enough to settle it, because my photos change a lot between daylight and warm indoor light. A very bright white top can look harsh near my face. Muted berry and charcoal seem promising, but I can't tell whether that's because of their depth or their softness. I would rather compare clothes I already own than buy a new set of drapes. I came across a page about [url=https://hair-color.top]deep summer color palette[/url] while collecting examples for a side-by-side check. Would you compare navy with black first? I'm looking for a test I can repeat in the same light, not a diagnosis from one selfie. If you've faced the same choice, which pair of colors made the difference obvious? I plan to keep the camera position consistent. Then the comparison should be less distracting. I can ask a friend to look at the same set of photos so I don't rely entirely on my own impression. I would welcome a simple order for testing the colors.

Ethan Nelson 1 week ago

I am having trouble separating Deep Winter from Deep Summer because the obvious signs do not all point in one direction. My hair and brows are quite dark but my eyes are lighter and slightly muted rather than bright. Black is acceptable but can look severe while charcoal and deep navy are easier. Soft slate blue blends well yet occasionally looks flat so softness alone has not settled the question. I started with a [url=https://hairdye.top]deep winter color palette[/url] and selected comparable summer shades rather than judging unrelated colors. In side-by-side photos, icy pink looks fresher than muted mauve but cobalt is much stronger on me than smoky blue. I photographed every comparison in the same daylight with a bare face and kept the camera exposure fixed. Could depth be my dominant feature without making me a Winter or do the clearer colors carry more weight than eye softness? Which controlled color pairs would help resolve this before spending money on a professional consultation?

Amelia Walker 6 days ago

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