
Aware Senior Care, Waltonwood Lake Boone and the Dementia Alliance of North Carolina hosted Sandi Savell and her husband Dale to talk about her book, Dear Clueless: A Daughter’s Journey Through Alzheimer’s Caregiving.
Impressions on the Dear Clueless event by Tim Murray, CEO of Aware Senior Care:
It was a wonderful and inspiring event!

Thank you Sandi and Dale for a wonderful event and bless you both form taking the time to write your book and pass on your knowledge for all of us to benefit from.
Impressions on the event by Kyle Murray, Web Content Manager:
The event was a great experience to attend and I’m glad I got to hear Sandi speak. Her story serves as a good example of what to expect when caregiving for a loved one with Alzheimer’s.
Her story is funny. Sandi regaled the audience with a number of humorous situations that took place because of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Her mother, a hard drinker, couldn’t be convinced to attend Alcoholic’s Anonymous prior to the onset of Alzheimer’s. But upon arrival to memory care, they heard an announcement for an AA meeting. Her mother attended like something she had always done.
Sandi’s husband did his part to care for his mother-in-law while enjoyed a brief vacation for some respite. Upon returning, Sandi showed him affection and her mother became angered…believing he was HER boyfriend.
Her story is sad. Her voice cracked recalling the moment she realized her mother would never recognize her daughter again. Old habits and routines that spanned decades fell prey to forgetfulness. For example, her mother’s hair became greasy and dirty from lack of care. She couldn’t remember her weekly visit to the salon. An appointment rarely missed for nearly 30 years.
Sandi explained how frustrated she felt with doctors and other medical professionals. They didn’t seem to take their time in assessing her mother’s unique situation. Their method of treatment relied on “one size fits all” solutions that often harmed more than helped her situation.
I really appreciated how Sandi emphasized the importance of self-care for caregivers. Knowing when the time is right to look for help like dementia or memory care is very important. Thank you to Sandi and Dale for speaking and Waltonwood Lake Boone for hosting. If you were able to make it, thank you for attending!
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