All Home Care Matters Enriched Life Home Care Services

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton welcomed AlzAuthors to the show to learn about their new book "Poetry for the Dementia Journey - An AlzAuthors Anthology".
 
Marianne Sciucco - Co-Founder of AlzAuthors:
 
Marianne Sciucco is not a nurse who writes but a writer who happens to be a nurse, using her skills and experience to create stories that bear witness to the humanity in all of us. She writes contemporary, women's and young adult fiction. With more than 20-years’ experience as a staff nurse and case manager, she's worked with countless families dealing with issues related to aging, elder care, Alzheimer's, and dementia. In 2002, she put the two together and began writing about the intricate lives of people struggling with health and family issues.
 
She published her debut novel, "Blue Hydrangeas, an Alzheimer's love story," in 2013 to glowing reviews. This book led her to become a co-founder and manager of AlzAuthors, the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Started by three women who had each written a book about dementia in 2015, there are now more than 350 author contributors. She is the producer and host for Untangling Alzheimer’s and Dementia, an AlzAuthors Podcast. When not writing she works as a campus nurse at a community college in New York's Hudson Valley.
 
Ann Campanella - Manager and Director of AlzAuthors:
 
Ann Campanella is a former magazine and newspaper editor. She is the author of two award-winning memoirs and four collections of poetry. Her writing has appeared in newspapers, magazines, literary journals and online sites across the country and around the world. Her first memoir, Motherhood: Lost and Found, tells the story of her mother’s descent into Alzheimer’s at the same time Ann was trying to become a mother and dealing with a series of miscarriages.
 
This memoir was named “One of the best Alzheimer’s books of all time,” by Book Authority two years in a row. Celiac Mom, Ann’s second memoir, tells the story of her daughter’s celiac diagnosis and her family’s transition to a gluten-free lifestyle and has become a “go-to” resource for those with celiac. 
 
Two of Ann’s poetry books, What Flies Away and The Beach Poems, capture poignant moments of living with and loving someone with dementia. Ann is a manager and director of AlzAuthors, a nonprofit organization representing hundreds of books about Alzheimer’s and dementia. In 2018, she was recognized by her hometown newspaper as one of the Most Influential Women in her community for her work promoting Alzheimer’s awareness. Ann and her husband live on Lake Norman in North Carolina and enjoy nightly sunsets.
 
Sue Fagalde Lick - Caregiver & Author:
 
Sue Fagalde Lick, who lives on the Oregon coast, has published three poetry chapbooks, Gravel Road Ahead, The Widow at the Piano, and Blue Chip Stamp Guitar, and a full-length collection, Dining Al Fresco with My Dog. Her prose books include Stories Grandma Never Told, Childless by Marriage, and No Way Out of This: Loving a Partner with Alzheimer’s. When not writing, she plays music wherever people will listen.

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton welcomed the CEO and Founder of Keys for Caregiving, Christina Keys to the show to share how she is supporting family caregivers.
 
Christina Keys chased the American dream. She had a successful career, traveled, was financially stable, healthy and happy then on March 16,2013 at 3:42 everything changed. Her mother had a life changing stroke and was given 1% chance to live. She instantly went from career woman to caregiver. Within 3 years of caregiving for her mother she was financially, emotionally, mentally and physically bankrupt. The doctors told Christina She would be lucky to live 6 months if that. Her body was literally shutting down from the stress of caregiving and trying to do it alone. She had a choice to make, figure out how to change her life and live while caring for her mother or give up and start making arrangements on how her mother would be cared for after her death.
 
She chooses to live and not only change her life but now helps to change the lives of caregivers who struggle while caring for loved ones. Turning a mess into a message and making it her mission to make sure caregivers everywhere are seen, heard valued and appreciated and are Never Alone, She founded and ran a award winning local nonprofit called “Loving Them Forward” was the Director of Community Growth for a National company where she created and lead a team of almost 200 Caregiving Champions in cities all across the US. She is now a National Speaker and Advocate as well as the Founder and CEO of Keys For Caregiving where she is Connecting businesses, organizations, and Family Caregivers to collectively transform the Care Space community and amplify our voices for change.
 
Christina cared for her mother from until she passed for almost a decade from 2013-Dec 2022.
Keys for Caregiving offers:
• Consulting services
• Community Building
• Speaking and advocacy services for press, media, film, podcasts, etc.
• Caregiver Event project management and execution
• Education and Training for caregivers and businesses
• Fractional leadership
• Caregiver support and concierge services

Conscious Caregiving with L & L is "Tackling the Tough Conversations."
 
The topic of this episode is on "Mental Health & Seniors" and features an All-Star Panel. 
 
Dr. Linda Ganzenmuller, Doctor of Psychology:
 
Dr. Ganzenmuller is a Doctor of Psychology and president of Supportive Psychological Services of Long Island, where she has dedicated most of her career to focusing on Senior Citizens and their caregivers. She is the author of the Tiny Professors series of children's therapy books intended to help children and the adults in their families cope with life's most difficult challenges, which includes having a loved one with Alzheimer's; and Grief over the death of a loved one.
 
She currently practices on Long Island, New York caring for adults of all ages, with the hopes of helping at each stage and teaching the generations to learn how to understand, support, and rely on one another through the years.
 
Olivia Block, Registered Nurse in Minnesota:
 
Olivia Block is a Registered Nurse in Minnesota. Most recently she has been practicing as Director of Nursing in an Independent, Assisted Living and Memory Care community and part-time as a hospice nurse.
 
Her heart is in working on helping seniors continue to feel valued and whole as they adapt to changes in their lives.
 
Christina Keys, Owner and Founder of Keys for Caregiving:
 
Christina Keys went from a career woman to a caregiver on March 16,2013. Her mother had a life-changing stroke and was given a 1% chance to live. Within 3 years of caregiving for her mother, she was financially, emotionally, mentally, and physically bankrupt. The doctors told Christina She would be lucky to live 6 months if that. Her body was literally shutting down from the stress of caregiving. She had a choice to make, figure out how to change her life while caring for her mother or give up and start making arrangements on how her mother would be cared for after her death.
 
Christina chooses to live and not only change her life but now helps to change the lives of caregivers all across the US. Her mission is to make sure caregivers everywhere are seen, heard, valued, appreciated, and Never Alone, She founded and ran an award-winning local non-profit, and was the Director of Community Growth for a National company. She created and led a team of almost 200 Caregiving Champions in cities across the US. She is now a National Speaker and Advocate as well as the Founder and CEO of "Keys For Caregiving" Christina cared for her mother until she passed from 2013 to Dec 2022.
 
Lance A. Slatton and Lori La Bey Co-Host and Produce Conscious Caregiving with L & L.
 
Visit their website at:
https://consciouscaregivingll.com
 
To learn more about Lance A. Slatton and Lori La Bey you can visit their websites.
 
Connect with Lance A. Slatton:
Official Website:
https://lanceaslatton.com/
Official Website for All Home Care Matters:
https://www.allhomecarematters.com
 
Connect with Lori La Bey:
Official Website:
https://alzheimersspeaks.com/
Official Dementia Map Website:
https://www.dementiamap.com/
 
 

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton spent a day at the Frenchtown Adult Center in Monroe, Michigan.
 
Many family caregivers are unfamiliar with what an adult day center is and what resources are available to them through adult day centers. Many people hear the word ‘dementia’ and wonder what it is, described as a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving, or language.
 
Often these issues are small to start with and can become severe enough to affect daily life. Dementia is often time associated with Alzheimer’s disease, while this is true, Alzheimer’s is the cause of dementia, just like a series of strokes can lead to dementia. ​
 
Discover how the Frenchtown Adult Day Service program supports the individual and his/her Caregiver.
 
Connect with the Frenchtown Adult Day Center in Monroe, Michigan:
https://www.frenchtownsenior.com/adult-day-services-program.html
 
Connect with Lance A. Slatton:
https://www.lanceaslatton.com
 
 

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton sat down for an in-depth interview with Max Sherman the author of the book "Releasing the Butterfly: A Love Affair in Four Acts".
 
Max Sherman, with a notable career in public service and academia, has served as a Texas State Senator, President of West Texas State University, and Dean of the LBJ School of Public Affairs.
 
His leadership roles also include President of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Vice President of the Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation. Active on several boards, including the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Sherman is also the author of "Barbara Jordan: Speaking the Truth with Eloquent Thunder". 
 
About "Releasing the Butterfly: A Love Affair in Four Acts":
 
Three years since its initial release, Releasing the Butterfly: A Love Affair In Four Acts, authored by former Texas State Senator Max Sherman and his wife, Gene Alice, continues to make a profound impact on individuals and families dealing with Alzheimer's disease. The book, which has been celebrated for its raw and honest depiction of life as a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer's, brings a much-needed focus to the often-overlooked experiences of caregivers. 
Since its publication, Releasing the Butterfly has become more than a book; it's evolved into a movement of awareness and empathy for the millions of Alzheimer's caregivers worldwide. It tells the captivating story of Max and Gene Alice, who met as teenagers in a Texas Panhandle jail, forging a bond over shared interests in literature and the arts. Raised in humble, blue-collar families, their relationship matured in the 1950s, evolving into a partnership of mutual respect and equality. This decades-long love story, rooted in a strong foundation of education and faith, faces its greatest challenge when Gene Alice is diagnosed with Alzheimer's. 
 
The narrative beautifully captures their enduring love and resilience, showing how deep bonds can withstand even the most heartrending trials. The book has received acclaim from healthcare professionals, Alzheimer's advocacy groups, and readers alike. It has sparked conversations about the critical role of caregivers in the journey of Alzheimer's, leading to greater recognition and resources for those in this challenging role.
 
Visit the Official Website of All Home Care Matters:
https://www.allhomecarematters.com
 
Visit the Official Website of Lance A. Slatton:
https://www.lanceaslatton.com
 

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton were honored to welcome the pioneer of senior care technology Jack York as guest to the show.
 
Jack York is a pioneer in the field of technology and aging. He co-founded It’s Never 2 Late (in2l) in 1999, a company dedicated to helping older adults realize the full benefits of engagement technology. With a 15-year background in the Silicon Valley, he saw a vast potential in utilizing technology to foster these connections.
 
Jacks experience at iN2L left him thirsty to capture more of the stories of residents living in senior living communities. To that end, in 2022 Jack launched Talegate, a company 100% focused on capturing the stories of the remarkable residents living in senior living communities, and that staff that brings the heart.
 
Through mini-documentaries and whimsical drives interviewing elders, TaleGate changes the perception of senior living and aging. Jack has a passion for changing the paradigm and the stereotypes for aging, especially stereotypes tied to people living with dementia. His work has been recognized by the Wall Street Journal, NPR, and dozens of senior living publications.
 
Connect with All Home Care Matters:
Official Website:
https://www.allhomecarematters.com
 
Connect with Lance A. Slatton:
Official Website:
https://www.lanceaslatton.com