Leah Stanley Untangles Double Dementia Duty for Two Grandparents
- S2021E38
- 53:55
- September 27th 2021
Leah Stanley is the author of Goodnight, Sweet: A Caregiver’s Long Goodbye, the memoir she wrote years after caring for her beloved grandparents, both diagnosed with dementia. At the time she was a 29-year-old newlywed with no clue about elder issues, dementia, or caregiving. She had to learn fast! When her dementia journey ended, she realized she wanted to take her hard-earned lessons and share them with others so they would not be as unprepared as she was when duty called. Her degree in journalism gave her the confidence to start writing and she began a memoir, and then put it on hold for years while she raised her children. When they were teens and no longer needed her full-time, she got back to writing and published her book in 2019. This led to her becoming a caregiver advocate and a well-known speaker in the Houston area.
In this episode we discuss the challenges of becoming a caregiver at a young age, how to continue a loving relationship with elders after a dementia diagnosis, and the sweet story behind the title Goodnight, Sweet.
Read Leah’s AlzAuthors Post: https://alzauthors.com/2019/05/21/meet-leah-stanley-author-of-goodnight-sweet/
Start reading Goodnight Sweet now! https://amzn.to/3fXCeme
Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales.
Connect with Leah Stanley
Website: http://www.leahstanley.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LStanleyBooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/OneCareVoice
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahstanleybooks/
About the Podcast
AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.
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AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & Dementia
Welcome to the AlzAuthors podcast! We’re so glad you found us. We are the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Join us each week as one of our authors shares their dementia journey, revealing intimate details and painfully obtained knowledge to help others currently on this path. We hope our stories offer comfort and support as we strive to break the silence and stigma surrounding a dementia diagnosis. May one of our authors speak to your experience. For more info please visit https://alzauthors.com.
Ideas and opinions expressed in this podcast belong to the speakers and not AlzAuthors. Always consult your healthcare provider and legal and financial consultants for advice on any of the topics covered here.
Meet Our Hosts
Marianne Sciucco is a registered nurse, dementia daughter, and author of the novel Blue Hydrangeas, an Alzheimer’s love story, based on a couple she met through her work. It is a testament to the power of love in the face of this heart-wrenching disease. Marianne cared for hundreds of dementia patients over a 20+-year nursing career. She provided care to her stepfather during his dementia journey, and witnessed the painful decline of four beloved aunts to the disease. She's a founding member of AlzAuthors, sits on the Board, and is a director and manager. She can talk about AlzAuthors all day.
Christy Byrne Yates is a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP), retired school psychologist, author, speaker and coach/consultant. Her book, Building a Legacy of Love: Thriving in the Sandwich Generation recounts her journey as a working mother of two who also managed the care of her parents, both of whom had some form of dementia. Combining her lived experience with her professional expertise in human development, wellness and a strengths based approach to finding solutions, Christy develops content, workshops and coaching to support Sandwiched families. She incorporates meditation, mindfulness and other evidence based mind/body practices into her work. She’s worked with care communities, financial professionals, estate planners and employers. Christy has a master’s degree in counseling psychology, and graduate credentials in both education and school psychology.
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AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. The podcast is one way we provide knowledge, comfort, and support to busy caregivers desperate for information. Your generosity will help us to continue our mission to lift the silence and stigma that often accompanies a dementia diagnosis. Please consider making a donation. Thank you.