"A friend hears the song in my heart and sings it with me when my memory fails." (Author unknown) Why this helps: For someone living with dementia, family connections can feel distant and abstract. A regular ritual of acknowledging birthdays—through song, a phone call, or simply speaking [...]
Harvard researchers followed 105,000 people for 30 years and only 9% reached age 70 free of chronic disease, cognitive decline, and depression. Their secret wasn't genetics or supplements. It was consistently eating real food: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and unsaturated fats with almost no ultra-processed food or [...]
Editor's Note: Zulekha Ali, a regular contributor to ABeautifulVoice.org, writes about Sanjay Gupta's wisdom in a voice which reflects the ranchers' perspective. We three (my parents and I) engaged in all kinds of journaling - in addition to my own reflective writing at the end of the day. Dr. [...]
Why this helps: Blowing bubbles is playful, low-energy, and deeply engaging. Watching bubbles float and pop encourages visual tracking and can bring spontaneous smiles and laughter. The deep breathing required to blow bubbles is also a natural relaxation technique, good for both of you. How to do it: Buy a [...]
A quiet but extraordinary moment in the neuroscience of healing For years, journaling has often been dismissed as “just" expressive writing. But something remarkable happened recently at the end of an interview between Sanjay Gupta and Mel Robbins about chronic pain. When asked: “If the person listening were to do [...]
Novelty journaling is not about recording life as it happens. It is about shaping life by paying attention differently. Part I of The Novelty Explainer introduced the structure and philosophy behind 365 Ways to Say I Care and why it was created. Part II turns inward—exploring how novelty journaling changes [...]
"Air pollution has long been linked to heart and lung disease. But a large US study suggests it may also raise the risk of Alzheimer’s disease – the most common form of dementia." Author: Eef Hogervorst, Loughborough University Researchers tracked nearly 28 million older adults over six years nationwide. They [...]
Author: Kate Swaffer Kaurna Country The discourse of suffering has long been a topic of lived/living experience dementia advocates and activists. Most people who’ve followed me here for a while now will know I have been very vocal about it, and how it is harmful to people living with a dementia [...]
Why this helps: A hands‑on craft that welcomes the season creates a visual celebration you can both admire. For someone living with dementia, working with simple materials—faux flowers, ribbons, a foam or grapevine base—engages fine motor skills and provides a sense of accomplishment. Art activities like painting, drawing, and [...]
Today, on his 96th birthday, I find myself reflecting with deep gratitude on the life of my Uncle Maurice Yordy—known to many of us as Uncle Max. A gentleman, farmer, and gardener… a retired science teacher and pastor… a historian, activist, and antiques enthusiast. He is a family storyteller and [...]
