“The Longest Day 2017 was truly one of the most memorable days of my life.” Actress Amy Aquino, currently starring as Lt. Grace Billets on the Amazon series “Bosch,” is known for equally tough-as-nails characters she has brought to life on “ER,” “Being Human” and “Felicity.” She recently spoke with us about her deep familial connection to Alzheimer’s disease and how the color purple has inspired her participation in the Alzheimer’s Association’s fundraising event, The […]
I washed Mom’s hair today. What a mess! For some reason, Mom, like many people living with Alzheimer’s, does not enjoy bathing or showering. Perhaps it is the overwhelming number of tasks associated with morning rituals that someone with Alzheimer’s can no longer remember how to do or what order to proceed in. I imagine Mom has a blank space in her memory when she’s asked to wash. And not being able to do it […]
Actress Lois Smith’s face is one film buffs instantly recognize. Whether it’s a standout performance in a television series (“The Americans,” “True Blood”) or a memorable turn in a major motion picture (“Minority Report,” “Twister,” “East of Eden”), hers is a talent that has endured over six decades. But one wouldn’t guess that Smith recently celebrated her 87th birthday, or that she would post her first tweet that same day. She keeps people on their […]
We are at a crossroads. Should we give Mom anti-psychotic medication to combat her hostility and irrational behavior (i.e., hallucinations, delusions, aggression, agitation), thereby knowingly accepting possible side effects of these drugs? Or should we continue to shepherd Mom through her heartbreaking performances and embrace her anger? Mom is regressing into a world of incoherence and fantasy. She experiences what my dad calls psychotic episodes between periods of greater clarity with lack of cognition and […]
Every Christmas, it’s my family’s tradition to make homemade tamales! We make pork, chicken and raisin, usually 12 to 15 dozen. Christmas Eve dinner always includes these specialties, and then our extended family takes some home for Christmas morning. I love everything about this time of year, from our family get-togethers to knitting gifts and watching all of my favorite Christmas movies. Although we plan to continue these traditions together, I will be resting more […]
It’s been nearly three years since my sister-in-law Angela called to inform me that my youngest brother Richard was heading to the Mayo Clinic to get a second opinion to confirm his Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis. I remember it vividly; the news stunned my family. We had no family history and no connection to Alzheimer’s. ‘How could this be?’ I thought. ‘He’s only 53!’ A few days later, the phone call came from Rich, confirming the […]
We spoke with Mal Young, Executive Producer and Head Writer of The Young and the Restless, about the upcoming Alzheimer’s storyline centering on Dina Mergeron and the Abbott family, which begins Friday, November 17 when Dina’s family learns of her diagnosis. The daytime drama is in its 45th season on CBS. Many of the cast and crew have been impacted by Alzheimer’s, including Mal, who lost his mother to the disease, and participated in this year’s […]
I met my husband Steven in an organic chemistry class in college. There were handouts coming down the aisle, and Steven, who was sitting to my left, received the last one for our row of seats. Before I could do anything, he quickly jumped over the rows to the front of classroom to grab a handout for me, a knight in shining armor! We have been together for 41 years. Today, Steven is my care […]
This is great what you’re doing. My dad had Alzheimer’s. He passed just over a year ago, finally free. I miss him, but all the good memories mean he lives on. Thank you so much for raising awareness. *** That’s just a tiny snapshot of the tremendous reaction Teryn Schaefer received – and continues to – for wearing a simple, purple wristband. “They all knew somebody, either directly or indirectly, who had been affected by Alzheimer’s or […]
There is no escaping the similarities between us. Mom and I look alike. We dress alike. (We both wore blue dresses on Rosh Hashanah, and on Sunday, we were wearing black skirts and white t-shirts, definitely unintentional on my part.) We walk alike. And our voices are somewhat similar, too, despite my American versus her British accent. I am reminded of these facts every time we are together. It is not something I can avoid: it is genetically determined. I keep […]
