July 6, 2025
Dear Dementia,
I am going to keep this short as I need to get some sleep. But have you ever thought about the families you have impacted? Some united, some destroyed.
Over the last 20 years I have met a blend of both families that have been drawn closer because of you and those that have been ripped apart. How can we help more families stay together? Through education? Through programs? Through care planing if we must? I am not sure about that last one, but maybe in some families?
Each Sunday, my family gathers for dinner. And, while this is a new tradition, it has me thinking about all the dinners we had with my grandmother after you arrived. It brought us closer. While not all of my extended family chose this journey as a moment of invitation, I found myself looking for more moments to spend with my grandmother beyond my regular visits. We were a blend of unity and separation. I believe that many families are like mine. Some choose to remain close while other abandon.
Dementia, are you aware of this pain and unity you can cause?
To be continued.
Kate
