Patti Davis Shares What Her Father's Alzheimer's Taught Her in "Floating in the Deep End"

Apr 26, 2022 8:41 pm

Dear AlzAuthor,

AlzAuthors began as a work of the heart; a passion project. We had no pattern to guide our work. We did not color inside the lines. Instead we chose to find the beauty in each well-written story, from people who were brave enough to publish a personal experience, about a life impacted by Alzheimer's and dementia. Those stories are the colors that overlap as we learn we all share parts of the same experience. The blending hues of your stories form the beauty of AlzAuthors today. Thank you for allowing us to elevate your work.

Jean

On the Blog:

This week we feature a beautifully heartfelt memoir by Patti Davis, Floating in the Deep End, written from her experience with her father, President Ronald Reagan, as he declined from Alzheimer's at the end of his life.

Patti writes:

On a blue-sky November day in 1994 I walked into Central Park, which was near my apartment in New York. My mother had just called to tell me that my father was going to release a letter disclosing to the world that he had Alzheimer’s. I had only learned of the diagnosis days earlier. Days before that I had walked in the park weighed down by despair and hopelessness; everything in my life was going wrong, I was completely alone, tired down to my soul, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to go on living. Then I learned that my father had Alzheimer’s, a disease that everyone was aware of but no one was talking about. That could have been the thing that pushed me over the edge, but instead it pulled me back from the edge. It gave me something bigger than myself to focus on. I wanted to show up for this journey, whatever it was going to be. I wanted to be there for my father.

Read the entire post:

https://alzauthors.com/2022/04/26/patti-davis-floating-in-the-deep-end/

Retweet our announcement of Patti's post:

https://twitter.com/AlzAuthors/status/1519049418296680448

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On the Podcast: Christy Yates Untangles Dementia Care and the Sandwich Generation

Christy Byrne Yates is the author of Building a Legacy of Love: Thriving in the Sandwich Generation, part-memoir, part caregiver guide, written from her experience caring for two parents with dementia.

In addition to being an author, she is a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP), a credentialed school psychologist, a speaker, and life coach. As the mother of two – now grown – children, she became an expert in navigating life’s challenges and opportunities, including living in the “Sandwich Generation,” those raising children while caring for aging parents.

In this episode, we discuss what it means to be in the Sandwich Generation, how to talk to family about end-of-life issues, and the value of connections for both caregivers and those living with dementia.

Start Listening

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We've joined The Health Podcast Network

We're proud to announce that Untangling Alzheimer's and Dementia, an AlzAuthors Podcast is now part of the Health Podcast Network, the place to discover, hear, and share creative, engaging podcasts on health, care, and well-being. We are also working with them on the creation of a mini-series on Alzheimer's and dementia. Many of our authors are participating. We are happy to be considered a resource for expertise in all dementia matters and to provide podcasters and others connections to those who have shared their Alzheimer's and dementia stories. The mini-series will air in June.

Find Us Here

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We're Nominated for the UK Health Radio Awards

We are pleased to be nominated for a UK Health Radio Award in the "Dementia Support" category. Last year we won in the Listeners Vote category for "Care Organizations." You can help make us winners again. Watch this space and our social media for when you can cast your vote. Thank you for your support. Listen to UK Health Radio, home of The "D" Word, the UK’s only dementia based radio show. Host Pete Hill talks to experts and people living with dementia to raise awareness of this condition affecting 50 million people across the globe. Pete has interviewed several AlzAuthors, and is open to requests to be on the show.

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A long-time dream coming true...

For years we've wanted to find a way to get physical books into the hands of those who need them: caregivers and others concerned with dementia. With our tiny team of volunteers this seemed like a long shot. But our dream is coming true! We are now offering

real books

to real people

in real places

through Custom Caregiver Collections

Our initial goal is to test 10 of these collections in 10 locations throughout the U.S.

We owe a debt of gratitude to five special people who made this dream come true:

author Paulette Sharkey for her generous donation to launch this project
author and manager Susan Landeis and her husband, Randy, for the craftsmanship of these lovely table-top shelves which hold 15-20 books
management team members Jean Lee and Ann Campanella who wouldn't let go of this dream

To date we have Custom Caregiver Collections in senior care communities in Ohio and North Carolina.

Stay tuned as we bring you news about how you can become involved in this new initiative.

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AlzAuthors is on the Nurse Keith Show

Our co-founder Marianne Sciucco, RN was recently interviewed on The Nurse Keith Show, sharing her story of AlzAuthors. Host Keith Carlson offers weekly nursing career advice, information, and inspiration for nurses and healthcare professionals who want to take their careers to the next level. Nurses are a huge audience for AlzAuthors, as they are often the hands-on caregivers to our loved ones with dementia. They need to hear our stories. If you are a nurse author Keith would love to hear from you to talk about your career trajectory. The Nurse Keith Show is a member of the Health Podcast Network.

Listen here

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Our shop is open 24/7!

You've asked how you could purchase AlzAuthors apparel - T-shirts, hoodies, and more - so we've opened our own shop to support our mission to provide quality resources for Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers. We're sure you'll find something you love. Please share pics of yourself wearing or using your AlzAuthors apparel on social media, using #AlzAuthors. Let the world know you're proud to be an AlzAuthor.

Shop Now!

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April is National Poetry Month

We’re closing National Poetry Month by putting the spotlight on the work of Sue Fagalde Lick. Sue is a writer/musician/dog mom living on the Oregon coast. She lost her husband Fred to Alzheimer’s disease in 2011. Years earlier, she went through dementia with her grandfather, and she lost her father, whose words and memories were also beginning to fade. She definitely knows her way around the nursing homes which appear in her poetry chapbook Gravel Road Ahead. A second chapbook, The Widow at the Piano, was published by The Poetry Box in March 2020. Her prose books include Stories Grandma Never Told: Portuguese Women in California, Azorean Dreams, and Childless by Marriage. When not writing, she leads an alternate life as a music minister. Until next Poetry Month explore our bookstore for more poetry on Alzheimer's and dementia.

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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:

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

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Share this newsletter with others on a dementia journey