Regarding "Troubled Byrd Alzheimer's Center Should Be Taken Over By USF" (Our Opinion, Feb. 7): ...more

February 8, 2008

Dear Lyn: I read your column on long-distance caregiving. My parents live across the country. Caregiving may be in my future someday, but the thought of reversing roles and caring for them seems unreal to me. Would things be easier if I ask them to move near me now? — Curious ...more

January 31, 2008

A recent article in The Hunstville Times told of the death of two women who lived together. They were mother and daughter. One was age 63. She was the caregiver for her 89-year-old mother who had Alzheimer's disease. The daughter apparently died from a heart attack in their home - unbeknown to neighbors or friends. Subsequently, her mother starved to death. Like us, you're probably asking, " How could that have happened? Didn't anyone ever check on them?" But think about it. How easily could that happen in your neighborhood? Might we sometimes be confused between what is interfering and what is caring? Either way, interfering or caring could have saved one or perhaps two lives. If the caregiver had had a buddy who called every morning and evening, things may have ended differently. Our mom and a friend had a daily phone system worked out between them. Their agreement and friendship greatly eased our concerns – especially when we were traveling and couldn't always check on her ourselves. ...more

January 25, 2008

I would like to commend Bill and Lyn Roche. They head up the Alzheimer's support group that meets at Crown Point Assisting Living Facility on Thursdays at 1 p.m. I was the speaker at the meeting on Thursday, Dec. 6. As a podiatrist I spoke about foot care, but I was very impressed by the way the Roches take "care" of these "caregivers" and the patience they have with the attendees who have Alzheimer's. ...more

December 21, 2007

WHO: Linda Harns CLAIM TO FAME: She has given her time and decorations and Christmas trees from relatives to bring cheer to Gulfside Regional Hospice houses at Lafayette Street and Sunset Bay in west Pasco. ...more

December 16, 2007

I'm always leery when a potential employer seems too eager to hire me, kind of like how Groucho Marx felt about not wanting to belong to a club where they'd accept him as a member. But when the woman who interviewed me told me this job would be "just having fun" and didn't raise her eyebrows at my colorful resume, I accepted her offer. ...more

December 16, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - Authorities are searching for a 77-year-old man with Alzheimer's who wandered from his home Thursday night. ...more

December 14, 2007

I recently served as emcee at a fundraiser for the USF Suncoast Alzheimer's & Gerontology Center. It was a challenging job because the audience was especially chatty. ...more

November 23, 2007

PLANT CITY - Linda Lawson, founder and executive director of the United Food Bank of Plant City, is retiring at the end of the month. ...more

November 20, 2007

Dear Abby: My husband, "Cal," and I have decided to have Thanksgiving at our house this year. The past three years we have gone to my sister-in-law's house. ...more

November 18, 2007