June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month—a time to talk about the changes in the brain we tend to sidestep until they show up at the front door, uninvited, and impossible to ignore. Over a hundred years ago, a German doctor named Alois Alzheimer first spotted the disease that now bears his name, after noticing changes in a patient’s brain tissue. Today, millions of families are living in the ripple effects of that discovery. This month, we’re turning toward it, with clarity and compassion. Because when memory fades, understanding matters more than ever.

🩷 Carrie Aalberts, known as @dementiadarling, brings insight and warmth to the often overwhelming world of dementia care. With over a decade in senior living experience, a Masters of Science with a focus on Gerontology, and a personal journey rooted in caring for her grandmother, she offers practical resources and heartfelt support to caregivers navigating the challenges of dementia.

💸 Hans Wirt, a 62-year-old Florida resident on Medicaid, suffered a heart attack while visiting South Dakota and was billed nearly $78,000 due to out-of-state billing issues. Although Federal law mandates Medicaid coverage for emergency out-of-state care, hospitals aren't always obligated to file claims, leading to significant financial burdens for patients.

🧠 Emma Heming Willis opened up about her husband Bruce Willis' frontotemporal dementia diagnosis, sharing how it reshaped their family's future. She's now channeling her experience into advocacy, emphasizing the need for greater support and awareness for caregivers.

🏠 A family grapples with the complexities of caring for a father-in-law with dementia moving into their home. Questions arise about financial responsibilities, caregiver compensation, and legal considerations, highlighting the intricate balance caregivers often must maintain.

🧩 The Shapiro Administration launched the PA CareKit, a comprehensive resource designed to support Pennsylvania's 1.5 million unpaid caregivers. It offers training, respite service connections, and personalized tools to assist caregivers in their roles.

Let’s talk about Alzheimer’s. Not in a “WebMD spiral at 2am” kind of way, but in a real, human, “what’s actually happening to my mom” approach.

Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disease. That’s a clinical way of saying: it starts out slow (misplacing a name, forgetting a word), and then keeps going. Over time, it messes with memory, decision-making, speech, and eventually even basic movement. It’s the most common form of dementia, accounting for up to 80% of cases, and no, it’s not just regular aging.

Think of the brain like a well-loved library. A place full of stories, some recent, some decades old. With Alzheimer’s, the filing system starts to break down. Books are misplaced. Pages go missing. The lights flicker a little. 

We don’t fully understand why it happens, but scientists point to two culprits in the brain: amyloid plaques and tau tangles. These are proteins that build up in places they shouldn’t, clogging communication between brain cells and wearing them down over time.

Risk-wise, here’s what we know:

There’s no cure yet. But there are treatments, some newer ones, like Lecanemab (Leqembi) and Donanemab (Kisunla), both IV infusion therapies, that may help slow progression in the early stages. Others can ease symptoms like sleep trouble, agitation, or memory loss. Most importantly, an early diagnosis can help families plan, adjust, and find support. Just a couple weeks ago, the FDA gave the green light to the first-ever blood test for Alzheimer’s—big news in a space that rarely moves fast.

If Mom is acting in ways that don’t feel like “just aging,” trust your gut. Ask questions. Make an appointment. Early diagnosis is key to helping minimize symptoms and prolonging quality of life. 

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s isn’t a sprint—it’s more like a winding, uphill marathon with no map, and weather that changes by the hour. If you’re deep into it or just starting to spot the signs, hear this: it’s okay to feel lost, exhausted, or worn out. This is hard. Really hard. But you don’t have to do it solo.

The Alzheimer’s Association has solid, clear info and support when you need it. Running on empty? Hilarity for Charity offers respite care grants to give dementia caregivers a much-needed breather. 

Stay the course. We’ll keep showing up with you. One chapter at a time.

Helpful care focused finds we’ve identified and researched so you don’t have to. 

If you’re navigating the maze of dementia care and feeling like you missed the memo on how to do it, Nicole J. Smith’s Diagnosis Dementia: Your Guide for Eldercare Planning and Crisis Management is the handbook you didn’t know you needed. Part memoir, part practical guide, Smith shares her personal journey of managing her mother's dementia diagnosis, offering a blend of heartfelt storytelling and actionable advice. From legal documents to medical decisions, she covers the essentials in an empowering manner, making the overwhelming feel manageable.