Author Archives: Debbie Selsalvage

Debbie Selsalvage's Articles

Coping with Dementia Care Education: To Cruise or Not to Cruise

Better weather is on the way, the pandemic seems to be truly behind us, and cruising is booming!  No doubt, part of this sudden interest… Read More

Coping with Dementia Education: When Your Friends Drift Away

The journey of dementia brings many unexpected changes.  One of these is how it affects social and family relationships that have remained unchanged and that… Read More

Coping with Dementia: Thank you, Mr. Vice President

My partner, Ed, and I recently visited a memory care community. During these visits, I like to try to meet and talk with as many… Read More

Coping with Dementia: The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders

Shiro Oguni is a young television producer in Tokyo who turned a mistake into a social experiment that has captured the attention of dementia practitioners… Read More

Coping with Dementia: Alzheimer’s – What’s in a Name?

Many times, I have heard a family member struggling with a parent living with dementia say, “My mother is in denial!  If I could only… Read More

Coping with Dementia: Sometimes we just need Magic!

One of the difficulties with dementia care can be that we go into it with a negative attitude.  This is understandable.  It is terrible disease… Read More

9th Annual Coping with Dementia Partner Care Conference will be April 20 in Beverly Hills

Back around 2012, I had just earned my license to become an assisted living and memory care administrator, and my partner Ed and I were… Read More

Coping with Dementia: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Dementia

“PTSD” means “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.”  It is not a disease; it is a syndrome, a collection of symptoms and behaviors that can emerge after… Read More

Coping with Dementia: No Time for a Sabbatical

Seven years ago, the local newspaper asked if we might submit a monthly column about Alzheimer’s and dementia.  We were thrilled and honored to be… Read More

Coping with Dementia: Why do we say ‘Care Partner’?

A person who provides care for another is called a “care provider” or a “care giver.”  Not much reason for explanation.  It’s just straight-forward, everyday… Read More

Coping with Dementia: The good will of Dementia

We have just finished our annual fund-raising walk for Dementia Education, Inc., a Citrus County-based nonprofit that supports families living with dementia.  As always, I… Read More

Coping with Dementia: Alcohol Use

In tackling the topic of alcohol use and dementia, I am going to begin with a “myth-buster” statement based on the landmark study conducted in… Read More