She was 87 years of age and her pacemaker battery was dying. The problem was so was she.
My mother developed Alzheimer’s at the age of 80 and by age 82, she was living in one of my assisted living communities.… Read More
In February 2012, President Obama announced that he will boost funding for research on Alzheimer’s disease by $130 million (a 25% increase over the next two years).
I applaud his intent but the effort is weak.
5.4 million people in the U.S. are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and the problem will only… Read More
I think of myself as being educated in recognizing the signs of dementia. After all, I have been around people diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s for most of my life. I have probably met, assessed or observed over 10,000 dementia residents in the last three decades. Certainly I could quickly identify and recognize… Read More
We all know the wedding vows…”For better or for worse. ‘Til death do us part.”
As recently seen in the news, Charles and Adrienne Snelling were married 61 years and by every indication, they had a love story that most couples dream of. Six years ago, Adrienne developed Alzheimer’s. She knew her disease… Read More
Today, the average American lives until nearly 78 years of age. In 1900, it was less then 50. So my parents, who were born in 1923, must have been the “Jack LaLanne” of their time – eating well and exercising daily. Dad lived… Read More
Did your parents influence your fashion choice?
My mom loved fashion to an unreasonable level. It was okay to trade paying the gas bill for a new dress. Fashion was therapy for mom and hey, it was less addictive than Valium.
But I never thought my mom’s obsession with the “Paris Pastime” would be mine. In fact, when I was… Read More
I think as we age, we forget the little things that were so simple when we were younger. My grandson, Andre, was over the other night. I was reading him a book on manners at 7:23 pm and we were having a grand conversation about it. At 7:25 pm, he was fast asleep on my lap. Wow, that happened fast.… Read More
My wife, T, is on this unending quest to keep me moving. Let’s go to the gym, go for a walk, take dance lessons…I know, it is healthy but I have come to the unpopular conclusion that sitting is where it is at. No, not sitting in front of a television on a couch or behind your desk at the… Read More
It has arrived, like delivering a baby after a long pregnancy – a seven-year pregnancy. Okay, my book came out this week, soft cover first and hard cover next week. I held it in my hands and just stared at it. There were times I felt like it would never be done. But it is and it seems surreal.
There… Read More
One of the great gifts of working in senior housing is meeting the incredible residents who live with us. I love chatting with them about their lives and their perspective on life.
Earlier in the month, I toured several of our buildings in Southern California. One stop was Aegis of Granada Hills, where… Read More
