Golden Rules Empowering Families Living with Dementia

Our series on living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias will culminate with an expert "coffee chat." For families living through imposed difficulties of memory loss, it's a 24/7 journey. Our September 30th episode will revolve around hospitalization of dementia patients and those caring for them. We’ll discuss communication breakdowns, care measures and safeguards, and lessons learned. 

 

As recently shared in The Examiner, Richard Taylor Ph.D. will provide “15 Golden Rules for Making the Dementia Patient’s Hospital Stay Easier.” The retired psychologist returns to our show to share his intimate knowledge– as someone diagnosed nearly a decade ago. Joining Richard Taylor will be Michael Ellenbogen and Rae-Lynn Ziegler, also pioneers for a dementia friendly world. 

 

Ellenbogen left a position in upper level management after Alzheimer’s early-onset. After struggling to get an accurate diagnosis and then with the reality of  the disease, Ellenbogen turned his energy toward advocating for education and eradication. His testimony resonates with medical teams and the media, and is helping spread awareness, empowerment and hope for The Purple Angel Project. 

 

As an occupational therapist, Rae-Lynn Ziegler will join our chat with the therapeutic, creative tools included in her interactive book: Let’s Look Together. Her capacity to facilitate communication between patients and their families, when words and memories seem lost, is refreshingly hopeful. Ziegler created the book's prototype for her late-mother while confronting Alzheimer’s disease.

 

Join us for this empowering episode covering communication during hospitalization and beyond, with a spotlight on awareness projects and end-of-life decisions.