Posted in cultural phenom, history of memory, public education, science of memory, tagged aging, memory loss, wisdom on May 21, 2008 | 1 Comment »
The NYT’s Science Section featured an interesting article today about how memory loss associated with aging might actually be recast as a widening of the attention/focus to better synthesize information rather than focus on details. This, the article tells us, is another way to define wisdom.
Might this also be true of other “losses” associated with age? Of mobility? Of vision? Of hearing? Of visual “sex” appeal? Those are rhetorical questions…
Posted in books, cultural phenom, history of memory, science of memory, tagged books on memory, memory loss, sue halpern, what's normal? on May 19, 2008 |
As the population ages, the marker of “normal” in memory loss will continue to shift. There are several books out now that address the worry over memory loss in all its manifestations – from seemingly benign to the significant losses in the dementia experience. The latest entry is coming out this month from Harmony Books, a division of Random House. Sue Halpern’s Can’t Remember What I Forgot: The Good News from the Frontlines of Memory Research is a personal journey through memory research. I’ll write more after I have a chance to read it, but for now, check out reviews and ordering info here.
Posted in cultural phenom, film, public education, tagged alzheimer's, alzheimer's demographics, Complaints of a Dutiful Daughter, Deborah HOffman, dementia, fear, film and dementia on May 16, 2008 |
I was sure that when I turned in the final copy of the book to the publisher on Tuesday, that it was already out of date. I’d just given two talks at chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association, and the audiences really got what I was saying. We can no longer raise awareness of Alzheimer’s with a message of fear alone. Doing this only restigmatizes the amazing people who are living with this disease.
Then today, my husband sent me this article from Alternet, which does exactly that. The moment when a parent doesn’t recognize you is indeed very painful. But it is not the end of your relationship. It might even, in some cases, as Deborah Hoffman showed us in Complaints of a Dutiful Daughter oh so long ago, be the beginning of something better.
The numbers are frightening. They do feel overwhelming. And we should do something. But the experience of dementia can have meaning. We can’t empty out the meaning of people’s lives in the hopes that it will raise awareness and dollars for research.
Posted in art, public education, tagged arts, creativity, dementia, Don Moyer, Jenny Knauss, non pharmacological interventions, Renee Beard on May 14, 2008 |
Don Moyer and Jenny Knauss, the folks behind Alzheimer’s Spoken Here, worked with sociologist Renee Beard and a student to pull together a mammoth literature review of all the academic citations having to do with non-pharmacological interventions in dementia care, a.k.a. the arts and creative expression.
It’s a great list – and a great way to share it. Pass it on!
Posted in cultural phenom, tagged advocacy, alzheimer's, dementia, mental illness, pride on May 12, 2008 | 1 Comment »
In the conclusion of Forget Memory, I dream of a time when advocates with/for dementia create a movement like “Act-Up” that insists on humane treatment and financing of care and research. This past Sunday, a New York Times article pointed out a similar movement starting to happen with mental illness. Can my dream be far behind?
Posted in music, tagged alzheimer's, creativity and aging, dementia, judith-kate friedman, music and dementia, songwriting on May 6, 2008 |
Judith-Kate Friedman came through Milwaukee in April to give a workshop on Songwriting Works at Luther Manor (UWM’s Center on Age & Community sponsored, along with the Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music). Friedman works with groups of people to catalyze the creation of an original song. She works with all walks of people – including people with dementia.
WUWM’s Lake Effect came out to record the session, and created a lovely story about it. You can listen to it online by clicking here.
Posted in art, cultural phenom, public education, tagged creativity and dementia on May 5, 2008 |
I’m always trolling for news about creative expression and dementia, and came across this one today – Creativity Not Slowed by Dementia in the San Mateo Times (CA).
Enjoy.
Posted in public education, tagged early stage conference, NYC chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, StoryCorps Memory Loss Initiative on May 5, 2008 |
What an incredible conference. The New York City Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association held its annual Early Stage Conference on May 1st at the Roosevelt Hotel in NYC. 350 people – a blend of professionals in dementia care, family care partners and people in the early stages of dementia–were guided by a stable of clear and calm volunteers up to the grand ballroom and break out rooms.
I mainly talked about StoryCorps’ Memory Loss Initiative, sharing clips of that project, and results of our Center’s evaluation of it in the first year. I see this conference as the wave of things to come for the field. Usually, conferences in dementia care leave a sticky feeling on my tongue – that I’m talking about THEM. A conference in which people with dementia sit laughing and learning among care partners – professional and informal – takes that uneasy stickiness away. WE are in this together. WE aren’t so different. WE can learn from each other. Thanks to the NYC chapter for organizing such an incredible day.
