Alzheimer's Archives - A Beautiful Voice

Featured Voices in Caregiving
No Longer a Private Family Matter: Conversations with professionals transformed by family caregiving

Bella DePaulo, PhD, agreed to help us set the stage and lead the conversation for our series of interviews on the topic, "No Longer a Private Family Matter: Conversations with professionals transformed by family caregiving." She is a social scientist, author, blogger, teacher, speaker, and consultant who has authored and [...]

Susan Troyer2026-06-22T21:20:08-05:00June 22nd, 2026|Categories: Creating Community|Tags: Alzheimer's, Conversations about aging in the US, Dementia caregivers, First in a series of conversations with professionals transformed by family caregiving, Foundation for the Empowerment of Single People, Interview with Dr. Bella DePaulo, Leading researcher on Singlism, Psychology Today Blog: Living Single, Single at Heart, Singlism in family caregiving, The "Available Person" in family caregiving, The term "singlism" coined by Dr. Bella DePaulo|0 Comments

Living in a grief illiterate world
We don’t move on… We move forward

David Kessler is an American author, public speaker, and grief expert. He has published many books, including two co-written with psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, MD. Looking to him as a leading grief expert when seeking support, we can be comforted knowing he is well-informed and providing reliable information on the topic. [...]

Susan Troyer2026-06-22T14:42:47-05:00June 20th, 2026|Categories: Mindful Presence|Tags: Alzheimer's, Caregivers, Dementia, Grief illiteracy, Grief. Death, Loss, Psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, Suffering|0 Comments

365 Ways to Say I Care
Way #13: Read a Short Summer Story Aloud

Why this helps: Reading aloud is different from poetry (Way #2). A short story—just a few pages—offers a narrative arc, characters, and a gentle plot. This can be more engaging for some people while still being low-pressure. Summer-themed stories about beaches, gardens, or family gatherings can spark seasonal memories. [...]

Susan Troyer2026-06-06T23:57:53-05:00June 6th, 2026|Categories: Literary Companionship|Tags: Activities requiring very minimal preparation to engage a person living with dementia, Alzheimer's, Calming and soothing activities to engage a person living with dementia, Caregivers, Dementia, Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Reading aloud to each other in dementia care|0 Comments

A landmark human rights treaty
Inclusion is Not Optional. It is a Human Rights Commitment

"People with disabilities have the right to liberty, security, and freedom from cruel or degrading treatment." - The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) [...]

Susan Troyer2026-05-31T01:55:44-05:00May 31st, 2026|Categories: Creating Community|Tags: Alzheimer's, Author & Facilitator Mary Beth Wighton, Consultant & Educator Jessica Luh Kim, Dementua caregivers, The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)|0 Comments

Featured Caregiver - Neal Shah
Breaking News: Is Medicare about to Pay for Caregiving and Respite Care? A New Senate Proposal

Neal K. Shah, a Johns Hopkins- and NIH-funded caregiving researcher and CEO of CareYaya, reveals how bipartisan support, groundbreaking surveys, and innovative policies are converging towards a future where caregiving becomes a covered, accessible service for all. He uncovers why the GUIDE Model - paying for dementia care navigation, [...]

Susan Troyer2026-05-28T23:21:23-05:00May 28th, 2026|Categories: A Sense of Place|Tags: 63 million caregivers, Alzheimer's, Caregiving becomes a covered accessible service, Dementia caregivers, Medicare pays caregivers?, Neal Shah Reports|0 Comments

365 Ways to Say I Care
Way #12: Create a “Summer Bucket List” Together

Why this helps: Anticipation is a form of joy! Creating a visual list of simple, achievable summer pleasures gives your loved one something to look forward to. The list can include tiny things (eat a popsicle, sit in the shade) and slightly bigger ones (visit a relative, water the [...]

Susan Troyer2026-06-06T22:51:27-05:00May 27th, 2026|Categories: Mindful Presence|Tags: Alzheimer's, Dementia caregivers, Simple sensory joy-filled activities for a person living with dementia, Summer activities for a person living with dementia, Using whiteboard to list fun-filled activities for a person living with dementia|0 Comments

Featured Caregiver - Neal Shah
63 million caregivers get nothing. This former hedge fund manager is fighting back

Neal K. Shah left a $250 million hedge fund to fix a system that failed his own family. After caring for his grandfather through dementia and his wife through a multi-year cancer battle, he saw firsthand what 63 million family caregivers already know: the care system in America is completely [...]

Susan Troyer2026-05-15T23:55:52-05:00May 15th, 2026|Categories: Creating Community|Tags: 63 million unpaid American caregivers, Alzheimer's, American care system is broken, Caregivers, Dementia|0 Comments

365 Ways to Say I Care
Way #11: The Birthday Song Calendar Tradition

"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 [...]

Susan Troyer2026-05-18T13:03:20-05:00May 14th, 2026|Categories: Music as Medicine|Tags: Alzheimer's, Caregivers, Dementia, Encouraging family connections following dementia, Happy Birthday messages left on voice mail via speaker phone, Novelty journaling, Way #11 in a series of 365 Ways to Say I Care|0 Comments

Too important to not share!
Foods that prevent disease according to a 30-year Harvard study

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 [...]

Susan Troyer2026-06-01T07:47:56-05:00May 14th, 2026|Categories: Food For Life|Tags: 30-year Harvard food study, Alzheimer's, Caregivers, caring for aging parents, Dementia, eating real food, Neal Shah report|0 Comments

365 Ways to Say I Care
WAY #11: Blow Bubbles Together

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 [...]

Susan Troyer2026-05-09T23:43:49-05:00May 9th, 2026|Categories: Mindful Presence|Tags: 365 Ways to Say I Care, Alzheimer's, Blowing bubbles as activity with older loved one, Dementia, Living in the moment with an older adult with dementia, Novelty journaling|0 Comments

Alzheimer’s