Neurologist, Dr. Daniel Gibbs, Reveals His Personal Story in A Tattoo on my Brain

It's been so interesting, connecting with Dr. Daniel Gibbs about his ground-breaking new book. As a neurologist, he gives powerful insights into his progression and guides us in our approach to caring for our loved ones in, A Tattoo on My Brain.

Dr. Gibbs writes:

I am a 70-year-old retired neurologist, and I have early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. In retrospect, my first symptom of Alzheimer’s occurred when I was 57 and realized that my sense of smell was not as sharp as it once had been. I chalked this up to normal aging, but about a year later I started to have strange, illusory odors, like the smell of baking bread mixed with perfume. They would come out of nowhere and last a few minutes to an hour or so. These are called phantosmias, and they are sometimes associated with neurodegenerative disorders. At the time I was not aware of the association of loss of smell with Alzheimer’s, but it turns out that virtually all people with the disease have at least some impairment of olfaction when tested, but most are not aware of it. I still wasn’t worried until while doing genealogical research in 2012 I unexpectedly discovered that I have two copies of the APOE-4 allele putting me at very high risk for dementia. Alzheimer’s disease had not been on my radar screen because both my parents had died in midlife from cancer.

Read the entire post on AlzAuthors:

https://alzauthors.com/2022/03/22/dr-daniel-gibbs-a-tattoo-on-my-brain/

Meet Mary Crescenzo, author of "The Planet Alzheimer's Guide: 8 Ways the Arts Can Transform the Life of Your Loved One and Your Own"

 

My life has been enriched by encountering the dynamic Mary Crescenzo, whose list of credentials include master teaching artist, public speaker, playwright, as well as the author of the new book The Planet Alzheimer's Guide: 8 Ways the Arts Can Transform the Life of Your Loved One and Your Own. 

If you are looking for ways to value your loved one with Alzheimer's, while forging a deeper connection with them, I encourage you to purchase Mary's book and try out some of her wonderful ideas.

Mary writes:

I wrote this how-to guide for caregivers, personal and professional, to offer step-by-step tips and techniques so caregivers, family and friends of those with this disorder can discover how interaction and communication, through painting, music, movement, storytelling, poetry and photography, can enrich the lives of loved ones as well as their own, even though they or those they care for may have no arts background.

Read the entire post on AlzAuthors.

https://alzauthors.com/2022/03/01/mary-crescenzo-planet-alzheimers-guide/

Dave Meurer Writes His Book, New Every Day, With Healing Humor

 

Introducing AlzAuthors Featured Book of the Week

This week's new author, Dave Meurer, is an acclaimed humor writer. He has been featured on Focus on the Family and many other publications, and has even done some work for the United States Congress and the California State Senate.

In his latest book, New Every Day: Navigating Alzheimer's With Grace and Compassion, he gives comfort to caregivers through using his characteristic humor to write honestly about the care he and his wife, Dale, provided to his mother-in-law, Karin.

Read the entire post:

https://alzauthors.com/2022/02/01/dave-meurer-new-every-day/

Anthony Copeland-Parker and Partner Catherine Become Marathon Nomads

 

I encounter Anthony Copeland-Parker's book through shared Alzheimer's and dementia tribes on social media. 

He and his partner, Catherine, write an amazingly inspiring travel memoir, Running All Over the World; Our Race Against Early-Onset Alzheimer's, in which they detail their life as marathoning nomads despite life-altering diagnoses which would sideline most people to the security of their home and an easy chair. Instead, they decide to push every boundary and live a life beyond full... to overflowing.

Anthony writes:

Just like the attitude Catherine takes towards running a marathon, she takes when it comes to her diagnosis of Early Onset Alzheimer’s. She just puts her head down, puts one foot in front of the other, and never gives up. Catherine’s resilience or reserve is anything athletic, so we combine that with our love of travel. Catherine has completed 83 marathons, one Iron Man Competition, a 50 miler Ultra Marathon and many races and triathlons of various distances.

During our years as nomads, we've pushed our physical and mental limitations as often as we could - and we finished every race hand in hand.

Read the entire post:

https://alzauthors.com/2022/01/04/anthony-copeland-parker-running-world/

LaBena Fleming writes "Caregiver to Caregiver: a Scripture-Focused Guided Reflection Journal."

LaBena Fleming's first book, I Love You Always, One Family’s Alzheimer’s/Dementia Journey and the Lessons Learned Along the Way, details her journey as her mom's devoted caregiver. Now in her second book, LaBena lends more support to caregivers by publishing Caregiver to Caregiver, A Scripture-Focused, Guided Reflection Journal in hopes that hurried caregivers will take time for reflection and renewal of the spirit.

LaBena shares:

I feel my book is beneficial to others because I encourage them to do many of the things caregivers either don’t think to do, forget to do, or don’t think they have time to do. I encourage them to think through, experience, and write their feelings in this journal without fear of guilt, shame, or judgment. I guide them in planning to do the difficult things because those things are not going away. Most importantly, I encourage them to be kind to themselves and to look for blessings amid the pain.

Read the entire post on AlzAuthors:

https://alzauthors.com/2021/12/14/labena-fleming-c…ver-to-caregiver/ 

Rayna Neises, author of No Regrets: Hope for Your Caregiving Season

My heart was touched as I read Rayna Neises' memoir/caregiver guide, No Regrets; Hope for Your Caregiving Season. She allowed her book to be posted with AlzAuthors at the end of November. 

Although Rayna lived 200 miles from her dad, she and her family devised a nearly impossible plan to provide 24-hour care while keeping her father in his own home. Read Rayna's book and be inspired, knowing you are not alone in your journey.

Rayna writes:

After burying my dad in 2018 I reflected on the season of caring for him in his home with family members, paid caregivers and myself providing 24-hour care for the last 4.5 years of his life and realized I was honored, proud and thankful that I walked him all the way home, still lived a life that I loved, and had no regrets.

Read the entire post: https://alzauthors.com/2021/11/23/rayna-neises-caregiver-guide-no-regrets/

Meet Laurette Klier, author of Nana’s Books; Sit With Me At Sundown, and Other Nostalgic Picture and Literature Books for Seniors

A few months ago I had the pleasure of meeting Laurette Klier and discovering her wonderful book series called Nana’s Books. One example is Sit With Me At Sundown, Nostalgic Poetry for the Young at Heart. The series includes over a dozen other nostalgic picture and literature books for seniors. These books would be an excellent addition to any senior living community, adult day care setting, and any home in which an elder is being cared for.

Laurette states:

Confounded by the lack of quality reading materials at my mother-in-law’s long-term care facility, I scoured the internet for something stimulating and enjoyable to share with her on visits. It had become increasingly difficult to engage ‘Nana’ who was living with Lewy Body dementia.

A lifelong reader of the Boston Globe and an avid bridge player, word searches and coloring books fell flat with Nana.

Determined to find something to bring in a little joy, and to spark a conversation, I decided to try my hand at creating books of my own...I completed Sit with Me at Sundown, Nostalgic Poetry for the Young at Heart (Life’s Journeys) in a few weeks and was thrilled with the book. So was Nana and the people who lived in her memory care unit.

Read Laurette's featured post on AlzAuthors by clicking the link below: 

https://alzauthors.com/2021/11/09/alzauthors-com-2021-11-10-laurette-klier/