Explore dementia through poetry with Susan J. Farese, listen to our latest podcast, and sign up for our next Writers Group Live!

Feb 23, 2022 1:16 pm

Dear Friend AlzAuthors,

We're putting the finishing touches on a new project we think you're going to love. Hint: it's something you can gift to yourself and others. Intrigued? Watch your inbox. Details will be coming in March. In the meantime, read on to discover our latest author and podcast.

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Introducing Poet Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN

Poetry is a meaningful way to tell your story, to work out emotionally draining issues, to preserve memories, and to express love. Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN, discovered all of this years after her beloved grandmother, Ann, succumbed to early onset Alzheimer's. As a child, she witnessed her decline, and it left an indelible impact on her, inspiring her to become a nurse, then a poet. Fifty years have passed since Susan lost her grandmother. Here she shares her story and what led her to write her poem, "Ann's Zest Ends."

Susan writes:

The day before Grandma Ann died, April 13, 1971, my parents and I went to visit her. She no longer "knew" or remembered my parents but absolutely "connected" with me on a level that was profound, reaching out to me at her bedside, mumbling and staring straight through me. I was 14, turning 15 later that month. That has haunted me to this day.

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Listen to Susan read "Ann's Zest Ends" for free in the audiobook sample.

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On The Podcast: Susan Landeis Untangles Finding Rainbows in Dementia Care

Susan Landeis and her mother shared a difficult childhood, leading to abandonment issues, estrangement, and then a need for care on a dementia journey. Despite their turbulent past, Susan put aside her feelings and came to her mother’s aid, taking on not only the role of mom’s caregiver, but eventually the role of caring for her father. This experience inspired her first book, Optimal Caregiving: A guide for managing senior health and well-being. And then a second, more personal memoir, called In Search of Rainbows: A daughter’s story of loss, hope, and redemption.

Susan is a member of the AlzAuthors management team, and is responsible for creating the beautiful graphics on our social media platforms.

In this episode, we discuss how she overcame her difficult childhood and rebuilt her relationship with her mother, her search for the rainbows in dementia care, and the unexpected gift she received from her mother’s Lewy Body disease. Start listening now!

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Connect with the CircleOf App

We're pleased to announce we're now included on the CircleOf app.

CircleOf is a free app that assists busy caregivers, providing a one stop platform to organize care, keep others informed of their loved one's progress, manage tasks, appointments, medications, and more. We're listed as a resource on their Alzheimer's tab. You can check it out here.

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Love Stories Replay is on YouTube

Our recent virtual event, Love Stories: Keeping Romance Alive in Dementia Care, featuring Sue Ryan, Richard Creighton. Gincy Heins, and Tony Copeland-Parker was full of deep insights into dementia care between spouses, offering much enlightenment and ideas to all who attended. Some comments:

I’m impressed with the positive attitude of the caregivers and the strategies they employ.
I love how each couple has kept up their own ways of socializing or managing. It goes to show how unique each relationship is.
This has been so rich and wonderful. I am grateful to all the presenters.
All of the panelists are so inspiring! I'm so grateful to hear their stories.
I love the way our panelists are so supportive of one another.
You are all remarkable, and a great inspiration.
Thank you for sharing so many honest thoughts.

Watch Replay

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Update on Marianne's Facebook Fundraiser!

Thank you to everyone who donated to this campaign. Marianne exceeded her goal to raise $500 but she's not stopping. The campaign runs through February 28th so there's still time to make your contribution here. All funds benefit our mission to provide quality resources for caregivers on a dementia journey. Looking for a new way to support AlzAuthors? Consider hosting your own birthday fundraiser, for yourself or to pay tribute to a loved one. Find out how.

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Our mission is to provide quality resources for those concerned with Alzheimer’s and dementia. If you would like to help here are several ways you can support us:

Become an AlzAuthors Donor

Subscribe to our weekly blog

Follow our podcast and leave a review

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Volunteer your time and talents

Submit Your Book, Blog, or other Resource

Designate AlzAuthors as your Amazon Smile charity

Buy a book (or books!) in the AlzAuthors Bookstore

Join our Amazon book club

Leave a review on Google

Start or join a Round Robin Book Review Circle

Share this newsletter with others on a dementia journey