Fostering the right solutions & connections
for more than 33 years
for more than 33 years
The critically acclaimed autobiographical story of a man who faces his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease by actor and playwright Samuel A. Simon. Simon takes the stage as a man facing his cognitive decline and asks the hard questions of what to do next in the face of what he calls “an existential journey.” It is a peek into the head and heart of the struggle with a broken medical system and a personal and family challenge.
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Brief outline of discussion
Chat Transcript
12:06:08 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : https://goodwinliving.org/stronger-memory/
12:06:55 From Muhammad Salman : Greetings from Alzheimer'sPakistan
12:07:51 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : https://www.dementiaman.com/
12:09:00 From Jessica Fredericksen to Hosts and panelists : Hi all! So excited to hear from Sam and Susan today. If you have any questions about StrongerMemory feel free to chat or to email me at jfredericksen@goodwinliving.org
12:09:55 From Teri Jacobson to Hosts and panelists : Jessica, Do you service Anne Arundel County?
12:11:48 From Jessica Fredericksen to Hosts and panelists : We provide some virtual groups and will do virtual training to anyone wanting to start their own group! We would love to connect with Anne Arundel County or include you in one of our virtual groups!
12:12:22 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : World Alzheimer's Day is September 21, 2023 https://www.alz.org/about/awareness-initiatives/world-alzheimers-day
12:15:31 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : The Actual Dance
Love's Ultimate Journey Through Breast Cancer https://www.theactualdance.com/book1.html
12:18:57 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : From Teri Jacobson to All Panelists 12:09 PM
Jessica, Do you service Anne Arundel County?
From Jessica Fredericksen to All Panelists 12:11 PM
We provide some virtual groups and will do virtual training to anyone wanting to start their own group! We would love to connect with Anne Arundel County or include you in one of our virtual groups!
12:22:41 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : https://www.dementiaman.com/performance-calendar.html
12:22:47 From mary busse : I can testify to the value of Stronger Memory. I make a lot fewer trips up and down the stairs because I don't remember why I am there and remember more names since I began the program at its inception. I still have episodes of word loss, but it often comes to me if I just give it a bit of time. I like this idea..."my hard drive is full." The search takes a bit longer. I now have more confidence that I will remember what I need.
12:25:14 From Teri Jacobson to Hosts and panelists : Jessica, I would very much like to become a facilitator in AAC. I am a CDP and an ADDCT through NCCDP already but find the support is as important, if not more so, than education. I have worked inside memory care communities and work with private clients as well.
12:29:57 From Jamie MacDonald : This sounds so much like my mother’s experience……..it’s so frustrating.
12:31:43 From Jessica Fredericksen to Hosts and panelists : Thank you, Mary for your endorsement of StrongerMemory! We love having you in our virtual group.
12:31:49 From Lori Stahl : Thank you Sam and Susan for your honesty and courage in sharing your story. I too run a virtual early-stage support group and would be honored to have you share your story with our group.
12:32:20 From Deborah Smith : Went to a neurologist to talk about things I was seeing things that concerned me. He told me to enjoy my hallucinations. I do have migraine with aura and he referred me to a headache doctor.
12:32:40 From Jessica Fredericksen to Hosts and panelists : Teri I would love to connect- send me an email at jfredericksen@goodwinliving.org and we can chat! I'm also a CDP and ADDCT and StrongerMemory adds an extra tool I get to share with families and individuals.
12:32:46 From Vivian Ling : My husband's neurologist did not even deliver the bad news - the diagnosis - himself, but assigned it to a nurse practitioner who met with us 6 weeks after the neurological testing!
12:34:09 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Suicide Prevention Month https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Suicide-Prevention-Month
12:39:57 From Vivian Ling : Sam's sense of humor makes him an outlier!
12:40:21 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : SOLO ARTS HEAL is a vision born from artists’ inspiring true stories that celebrate overcoming adversity, surviving emotional, mental, and physical challenges, and becoming health advocates… https://www.soloartsheal.com/
12:43:31 From Jane West Walsh to Hosts and panelists : Living with purpose while experiencing dementia is a quote to recall!
I volunteer with an Arden Courts memory care assisted living community leading Jewish Shabbat dinner programs and holiday events and I’ve learned that through singing together there are many moments that show that learning and joy continues through the years living with dementia. Family and friends matter - and making new friends is still possible! Light in the darkness exists.
12:44:11 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : From Jane West Walsh to All Panelists 12:43 PM
Living with purpose while experiencing dementia is a quote to recall!
I volunteer with an Arden Courts memory care assisted living community leading Jewish Shabbat dinner programs and holiday events and I’ve learned that through singing together there are many moments that show that learning and joy continues through the years living with dementia. Family and friends matter - and making new friends is still possible! Light in the darkness exists.
12:44:29 From Norman Reiss : Please send out recording of today's session
12:45:55 From Myra Leysorek to Hosts and panelists : Yes, I’d like it too. This is a wonderful program.
12:46:23 From susan kimmel to Hosts and panelists : In the UK, all government employees have training in dementia and learn how to help people navigate. This means policemen to librarians.
12:46:29 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Recording, chat and all links to Sams details will be available this afternoon at www.proaging.com
12:47:07 From Joseph Lim to Hosts and panelists : I am late getting here. Will this be available in its entirety?
12:47:46 From Barbara Ryan to Hosts and panelists : are there any future showings of the play?
12:48:20 From Joseph Lim to Hosts and panelists : Excellent question Ms Jamie
12:49:30 From eileen wilkinson to Hosts and panelists : Have you found the dementia friendly designation or restaurants in Herndon is helpful, if so, how? (sound and lights?) Eileen Wilkinson WELLartsinfo@gmail.com
12:50:13 From Deborah Rittenhouse : There are museum tour guides as cognitive facilators. And those who work in creative expression classes guiding care givers and those challenged with cognitive decline
12:50:24 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : UPCOMING PERFORMANCES https://www.dementiaman.com/performance-calendar.html
12:51:00 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : From susan kimmel to All Panelists 12:46 PM
In the UK, all government employees have training in dementia and learn how to help people navigate. This means policemen to librarians.
12:51:17 From Deborah Smith : Thank you !!
12:52:34 From Jessica Fredericksen to Hosts and panelists : Great point, Sam! Love the idea of a cognitive navigator.
12:53:41 From Jane West Walsh to Hosts and panelists : The experience of doing improv strikes me as another area for finding opportunity to grow and learn to cope better when in cognitive decline, as Sam Simon explored.
12:53:51 From Jessica Fredericksen : Great point, Sam! Love the idea of a cognitive navigator.
12:55:16 From Arlene Williams : Thank you so much Sam and Susan.
12:56:01 From Muhammad Salman : it's really amazing Sam & Susan
12:56:17 From Jessica Fredericksen : Thank you Sam, for sharing your experience so openly. Truly inspiring!
12:56:34 From paula david : My daughter was recently in an airport in Peru and saw a display referring to Sunflower lanyards for folks with hidden disabilities that attendants can discreetly help if necessary.
12:56:48 From eileen wilkinson to Hosts and panelists : Bless both of you for your transparency - great work Sam and Susan!
12:58:10 From Joseph Lim to Hosts and panelists : ????
12:58:22 From Joseph Lim to Hosts and panelists : Thank You for this
12:58:24 From Tracey Kelley to Hosts and panelists : Thank you for your sensitivity to the subside topic as it is a problem for both young and old and is devastating to families.
13:00:29 From Deborah Smith : Thank you Jamie !!
13:00:48 From Jamie MacDonald : ????
13:01:26 From Deborah Smith : Some meds I am taking now can cause cognitive issues
13:02:25 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Real Life Story: An Amazing Healthcare Recovery: From Nursing Home to Hospice to Independence https://www.retirementlivingsourcebook.com/videos/real-life-story-an-amazing-healthcare-recovery-from-nursing-home-to-hospice-to-independence
13:03:03 From Myra Leysorek to Hosts and panelists : Thank you for the very good program. I have a new understanding of early dementia.
13:09:01 From Jessica Fredericksen : I LOVE Reimagining Dementia! They are a fantastic group!
13:09:09 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Reimagining Dementia: A Creative Coalition for Justice is an international group of people living with dementia, carers/care partners, family and community members, dementia activists and allies, health professionals, advocates, artists, academics, policymakers, and others. https://www.reimaginingdementia.com/
13:09:22 From Barbara Ryan to Hosts and panelists : article in the Washington Post today about "The cafe of mistaken memories" (or something like that) - a cafe in Japan that features folks with dementia as servers once/week
13:09:44 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : From Barbara Ryan to All Panelists 01:09 PM
article in the Washington Post today about "The cafe of mistaken memories" (or something like that) - a cafe in Japan that features folks with dementia as servers once/week
13:10:49 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Jennifer Wexton confronts a grave diagnosis with typical good grace https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/09/19/jennifer-wexton-progressive-supranuclear-palsy/
13:12:30 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : I am so excited that Ginger Smith is in the audience today!!! Amazing stories Sam and Ginger!!!
I'm the woman who recovered from being on hospice dying. I love your story and Steve for giving my story respect. Ginger
13:14:26 From Jamie MacDonald : Your optimism and sense of purpose are inspiring, and I also think play a role in your ability to continue to do this important work.
13:14:42 From Sharron DuBose : Thank you! Very informative!
13:14:50 From Shoaleh Alai : Wow, this is amazing. Thanks
13:17:10 From Jamie MacDonald : Susan just knocked it out of the park with her remarks!!
13:17:21 From eileen wilkinson to Hosts and panelists : You are a beautiful inspirational couple, golden words susan!
13:17:33 From Jane West Walsh to Hosts and panelists : This is so illuminating- thank you Sam and Ms Simon!!!
13:17:39 From Jamie MacDonald : Thank you both, and Steve, for this and all that you do.
13:17:46 From Deborah Smith : Thank you Steve, Sam and Susan
13:18:18 From Leslie McTyre : Thank you all!!
13:18:26 From eileen wilkinson to Hosts and panelists : Medical theater is fabulous
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