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June 2016
Dear Friends,
Peace be with you
The Longest Day 2016
To honor this day and dementia-caregivers past, present, and future, I'd like to focus again on the topic for which I've sacrificed a corporate $$$ career: saving the lives of dementia-caregivers. Alzheimer's and Dementia-caregiving is very often very bad for your health. This is not only my experience; it is evidence-based. Inquirers, please read Schulz R. and Matire L., Literature Review: Family Caregiving of Persons With Dementia: Prevalence, Health Effects, and Support Strategies, Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2004 May-Jun;12(3):240-9.
Not to cause alarm, please remember that every dementia-caregiving experience is unique. Disease-type, rate of progression, the age, personhood and personality strengths and weaknesses of the person-living-with-dementia (and the caregiver(s)), family dynamics, social and financial resources, geography and distance of caregiver and care-receiver, are among many factors that increase or decrease the burden felt by a dementia-caregiver.
When I was 35-years-old, in 2007, dementia-care forced me out of my career as a user-experience designer (I project-managed teams of designers, making corporate websites easier to use). I managed care across two states (MA and NY) for my mom, Margaret, age 67, with Fronto-Temporal-Degeneration, until her death, for 18-months. FTD is a fast-moving degenerative disease that strikes people between the ages of 40-60. It is considered by experts to be "the worst" type of dementia as far as the effects on family caregivers. Though short compared to most dementia-caregiving journeys, each day I managed Margaret's FTD-care was the longest day. The acute cognitive-emotional stress I suffered daily caused me to have a panic attack after nine months. I nearly died of fatigue associated with managing her continuously-changing care-needs. Diagnosed with "Acute Stress Disorder," I took control of my health by taking a 4-week vacation from care-management. Four months later she died, and I experienced PTSD similar to a combat war veteran -- I was cognitively circuit-damaged to the extent that I had trouble choosing a cereal box from the overwhelming choices on the shelf at the local grocery store. That was 2009. In 2010 I founded MaryMac Missions to save the lives of dementia caregivers.
Saving Lives with Illustrations
Shown above: Edith & Mary at Seasons of Danvers, Danvers, MA, on June 16, 2016.
I presented to a small caregiver support group on 6/16 at a local dementia-care assisted living facility, Seasons of Danvers. Edith assisted with the art presentation. It was the first time I used my 2015 illustrations of dementia-caregiving to educate a live group, and according to participants and the group facilitator, it was very well received. I'm ready to take this presentation on the road. I welcome anyone to contact me to schedule this life-saving presentation for caregivers at your facility or caregiver conference.
Accessible Gardens ~ Respite, Recreation, Healing, Hope
Shown above: Father's Day Stroll & Memory Cafe Volunteers: Marlene, Hui & Jean.
 Shown above: Continuing to spend MA State DDS Memory Café Money by the end of June, we now have four activity tear-drop flags: Fish Tales, Bird Tales, Flower Fun, and Drums & Dance.
Upcoming Stroll & Memory Café
NEXT SUNDAY STROLL & MEMORY CAFE:
July 10, 2016, 11am - 2pm
A reservation is required. No charge. Contributions welcome.
Learn about our Memory Café in Topsfield, MA >
Find a Memory Café around Greater Boston >
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS AGE 14+ (hospitality hosts, activity leaders, horticulture helpers...)
If interested, please e-mail or call me to discuss, and/or:
Learn more about volunteer opportunities >
Our Sunday Strolls and Memory Café serves independent wheelchair users, family care-givers and care-receivers living with:
- Neurodegenerative Disease (Alzheimer's/Dementia, Parkinson's, ALS, MS...)
- Developmental Disability (i.e. Traumatic Brain Injury, Down Syndrome)
- Terminal Illness
Saving Lives ~ Family Caregivers
2-HOUR GUIDED RESPITE RETREATS
Are you a weary family caregiver living North of Boston? If yes, you may enjoy a one-on-one mini-retreat at our home, Rest.Stop.Ranch. Taking 2 hours away from your to-dos might help restore your body-mind-spirit in ways unexpected and wonderful.
Learn more about Respite Retreats >
Moving forward with a listening heart,
vision, inquiry, and action,
~ Mary
email: mary@marymacmissions.com
mobile: 978-887-4202
local: 202 Haverhill Road, Topsfield, MA 01983
global: marymacmissions.com
I am available for speaking, training, and retreat engagements. Please e-mail me to discuss your future planning (caregiver support groups and conferences, professional meetings and continuing education, and day/weekend retreats).
Consider how you might support- This Week - a nearby family-with-dementia you know.
- Might you invite someone with dementia to your home for a cup of tea?
- Might you provide an hour of respite for a weary caregiver?
- Might you lend a hand with a maintenance job around their home?
Our Practice
Please click on one of the images below to learn more about how we rest, dance, and pray with the long-term-care topic:
  
You are receiving this email because you are a friend, a subscriber, a programs participant, a professional who serves families affected by Alzheimer's or other long-term illnesses, a spiritual leader who counsels families affected by long-term illness, a team member, supplier, partner, mentor, or advisor who is helping to grow the social enterprise Marymac Missions, and/or a social change leader. Please feel free to unsubscribe at any time or change your subscription preferences using the links at the bottom of this email. Please share with family and friends now journeying with long-term illness who may benefit.
our vision:
Care givers and receivers feel and know the presence of caring communitee companions throughout and beyond the long-term-care journey; they are empowered to love themselves and each other in balanced ways; they experience universal comfort, respite and recreation in local natural places of hospitality.
our values:
Creative, Accessible, Sustainable
our mission statement:
Champions for caregivers and adults living with extended illness, we: meet people where they are (locally, financially, physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, spiritually); provide positive experiences, strategies, practices, coping methods and skills through the cycle of health, illness, loss, recovery and renewal; raise public awareness and facilitate communitee alliances between individuals, families, businesses and communitee organizations to reach, include and care for care givers and receivers who become marginalized because of the systemic effects of illness; lead and participate in research that aims to understand the effectiveness of care giver and receiver health programs; support research that aims to illuminate and eliminate the root causes of disease; and adapt to best serve current care giver and receiver needs.
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