JOAN’S WEEKEND BLOG – AUGUST 15-17, 2008 – GETTING MY CHANCE TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE TRUE NATURE OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND ITS EFFECT ON MARRIAGES.

As regularly as I am able, I like to give you updates on all the “behind the scenes happenings” here at The Alzheimer Spouse. As I have been reporting since the beginning of this website, it has been my mission to spread the word to spouses everywhere that their marital struggles brought on by the scourge of Alzheimer’s Disease are not theirs alone. Millions of spouses of AD patients around the globe suffer the same losses, anguish, and guilt, and I have provided a place where they can feel comfortable discussing these issues. I have also made it my mission to educate the public that Alzheimer’s Disease is not a simple memory fading disease – it is a total brain destruction disease. Click this link to read the most recent blog on that subject.

Having been an educator my entire adult life, I guess the habit is hard to break, so here are my “Alzheimer’s Disease Education Plans” for the next few months.

**Next week, I am meeting with a photographer/reporter for a local newspaper to (hopefully) be part of a documentary on families and caregiving. If I do this show, I am DETERMINED to demonstrate the TRUE story of Alzheimer’s Disease, marriage, and stress. I have watched documentaries of people I know personally, who are falling apart from anxiety, stress, and depression, yet they portray themselves as happy and helpful. It is my contention that such portrayals only serve to feed the guilt of those of us who are struggling with personality changes, tantrums, loneliness, anger, and stress.

**At the end of August, I am taping another radio show – Teena Cahill’s – Nurturing the Nurturers – to be aired sometime either the end of September or early October. Teena is a bundle of positive energy, and I’m going along for the ride, so this should be an interesting show.

**My Workshops on “Alzheimer’s Disease, Communication, and Marriage” should be ready to go by the middle of September. If your organization is interested in my presentations, e-mail  - joan@thealzheimerspouse.com for information.

**The Caregiver Cruise – February 9-14, 2008 – Teena Cahill will be the Welcoming Speaker, AND she is planning on conducting interviews for her radio show ON THE SHIP. For this cruise, I am not planning a formal presentation – Just looking forward to meeting those of you who will be joining us.  Unless Patrick and Teena have other plans for me.   

Website Recent Additions:
 A resource packed section for the newly diagnosed and new members
 Where to find drug trials
 Finding a Memory Disorder Clinic in your area

 COMING SOON:
    Guest columnists
    Caregiver Tip Section – I know this one has been promised for a long time – I haven’t forgotten, just been busy.

 All of my regular readers are aware that I live in Southern Florida. In July (which was quiet, thank goodness), August, September, and October, we are prone to hurricanes. If we are about to get hit, I will warn you in advance that it is coming, and my power (which includes Internet), will most likely be out for an unspecified length of time. If that happens, IT WILL NOT AFFECT YOUR VIEWING OF THE WEBSITE OR WRITING ON THE MESSAGE BOARDS. YOU JUST WON’T HEAR FROM ME.  If the phone works, I will call my techno advisor son in California, and tell him to post a blog explaining my hurricane status. As I am writing this – 8/15/08- there is some rumbling about a storm in Puerto Rico that may come up this way as soon as Monday.

If any of you have suggestions on topics or sections you would like to see on the website, please feel free to e-mail me with your ideas.

Feedback to joan@thealzheimerspouse.com

The material included on this website contains general information intended as information only. This site is not intended to provide personal, professional, medical, or psychological advice, and should not be relied upon to govern behavior in any certain or particular circumstances. The opinions in the blogs are solely those of the owner of the website. The opinions on the message boards are not necessarily endorsed by the owner of this website, and are the opinions of those persons writing the messages. All material on this web site is for demonstration and informational purposes only.

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