Podcast: Cindy Weinstein Untangles Finding the Right Words in Dementia Care

Mar 15, 2023 1:01 am

Hello ,

Words. Do they really matter?

As a writer, I find words to be of great import. Words can shape minds, attitudes, action, and change the world. In dementia care, words can make a tremendous difference in the outcome of a journey, a day, or even a moment. What happens when dementia robs our loved ones of their words? When communication is lost? When frustration ensues because the ability to express one's thoughts, needs, wants, is impaired, or gone? How can we construct our words to keep ourselves grounded, focused, and calm while caring for our loved ones? This week's podcast guest, Cindy Weinstein, PhD, took on the task of explaining how and why words matter, and the steps she took, decades after her dementia journey, to understand the science behind words and cognitive impairment.

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Our Latest Podcast

When Cindy Weinstein's father was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's in the 1980's, she was a graduate student at the University of California at Berkley, separated from her family in Florida by more than 3,000 miles. Her family's dementia journey had a long-lasting impact on her, and decades later she decided to write a book about it with the assistance of neurologist Bruce Miller, MD. The award-winning Finding the Right Words: a story of literature, grief and the brain is the tale of a daughter's grief, of how she was studying and mastering language while her father struggled with word-finding. In this episode, we discuss the shock of her father's death and her lifelong grief, her desire to study the language that surrounds a dementia diagnosis and her mission to help others by writing a book about it, and how working with Dr. Miller helped her better understand the changes dementia brought to her father's brain.

Listen to the full story here

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Please note: The podcast will be on hiatus after until further notice.

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Our Latest Author

Occupational therapist Melissa Bernstein, along with her husband, retired internist/geriatrician David Bernstein, has created a program for healthy living called "The Power of 5." To supplement the activities presented in the program and book by the same name, Melissa, a certified vegan chef, created "The Power of 5 Test Kitchen Cookbook: Caregiver Edition." Her methods make cooking a shared activity caregivers and their loved ones can enjoy together.

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From Cynthia Huling Hummel:

"I have some exciting news! We had our Dementia Action Alliance (DAA) manual launch recently on Facebook. I am one of the contributors/writers. It’s a GREAT resource & folks can download the manual for FREE or order a hard copy for $28.65 plus shipping & handling."

This extraordinary how-to manual provides essential information about living with dementia from 48 people living with dementia, care partners, and leading dementia specialists. The practical, helpful information, grounded in science, is presented in a user-friendly format.

Cynthia Huling Hummel, a retired pastor diagnosed with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment in 2011 and with Alzheimer's Disease in 2016, is the author of Unmasking Alzheimer's: The Memories Behind the Masks.

Get it here!

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Are We on the Verge of Curing Alz?

Andy Slavitt's "In the Bubble" podcast started during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and has since moved on to cover other health issues. In this recent episode, Andy takes on Alzheimer's. "Are We on the Verge of Curing Alzheimer's?" he asks, and speaks with researchers Dr. Paul Aisen and Dr. Rudolph Tanzi about the genetic factors that contribute to Alzheimer’s, promising blood tests that can detect the disease long before symptoms begin, and a treatment that could be approved by the FDA as soon as July. They also discuss methods to reduce your risk of Alzheimer's. You won't want to miss this. 48:00 minutes

Start Listening!

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Last call for these two Kensington Senior Living events

We are proud to partner with Kensington Senior Living to present a free interactive writing workshop for caregivers with internationally acclaimed writing teacher and best-selling author Laura Davis on Saturday, March 18th from 9:30-11:30 am PDT via Zoom. A complimentary copy of Laura’s award-winning 2021 caregiving memoir The Burning Light of Two Stars: A Mother-Daughter Story will be included.

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Christy Byrne Yates, MS is included in this expert panel on "The Sandwich Generation:" people raising kids while caring for aging parents. This situation has its own set of challenges and concerns. Christy is the author of Building a Legacy of Love: Thriving in the Sandwich Generation.

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This Week's Reader Raffle Question

Here's your chance to tell us what you think, and what you want and need from us. Enter our monthly Reader Raffle by sending a comment on this email or answering these questions: What do words mean to you? What methods have you used to communicate with a loved one who has lost their words? How have you modified your own language to improve your dementia journey? Hit reply and give us your response. Two or three lines will do. At the end of the month, we’ll compile all the responses and randomly choose a winner who will receive one of the books featured that month. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Show your AlzAuthors pride while toting your essentials in this stylish, functional bag from AlzAuthors Creations! Visit our website for more options.

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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:

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