Untangling Long-Distance Caring for a Father with Irene Frances Olson artwork
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & Dementia

Untangling Long-Distance Caring for a Father with Irene Frances Olson

  • S2020E5
  • 47:40
  • November 30th 2020

Irene Frances Olson writes both fiction and non-fiction, the latter of which can be found on her personal blog "Baby Boomers and More," also known as "Living: the ultimate team sport." Ms. Olson is also a feature writer for "Grandparents Day Magazine," where she has her own byline: IN YOUR CORNER

Much of Irene's early non-fiction pieces found on her personal blog focus on a family caregiver's journey, especially as that journey relates to taking care of a family member with a terminal illness such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and other dementias.

She started her fiction-writing career five years after her father's 2007 death from Alzheimer's disease. "Requiem for the Status Quo" is inspired by her years of dedicated caregiving during her father's dementia journey. If ever there were an occasion to make lemonade out of lemons, the author's caregiver experiences certainly qualify.

"Requiem" was a Finalist in the prestigious 2018 National Indie Excellence Awards contest.

Irene also served on the Board of Directors for AlzAuthors where she steered the organization toward their 501(c)(3) status. She also served as Coordinator of Global Outreach, connecting it with caregiving and dementia-care organizations that support the much misunderstood and underappreciated unpaid caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer's or other dementias.

Ms. Olson lives in Washington state with her husband, 3 daughters, and two grandchildren.

For more information about the author's projects, please go to www.irenefrancesolson.com. Her ebook and 2019 2nd edition paperback are available through Amazon and your favorite bookstores.

Start reading “Requiem for the Status Quo” now! Available in Kindle, audiobook, and paperback on Amazon: https://amzn.to/34BjHXj

Connect with Irene Frances Olson:

Blogs: Baby Boomers and More https://babyboomersandmore.com/, Grandparents Day Magazine http://www.grandparentsdaymagazine.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedmondWriter

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Boomer98053

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irene-frances-olson-59b86648/

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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.

We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ .

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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.

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 avatar
Marianne Sciucco
Podcast Producer and Host

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 avatar
Christy Byrne Yates
Co-host and Producer

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.

Support Us

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.