Come Laugh with Us: A Free Virtual Dementia-Friendly Experience

April 4, 2021

Laughter is an instant vacation.      Milton Berle Let’s have a staycation and laugh together. Please join us April 6, Tuesday afternoon at 1:00 Central Time, 2:00 Eastern, for our next laughter session.  You’ll boost your immune system, lift your spirits, and get a nice little workout. Plus, you’ll meet a great group of people…

Presenting to Care Partners in Tortola: The Power of One Person to Make a Difference

March 10, 2020

The founding of the Virgin Islands Alzheimer’s Association in Tortola, BVI, is about the power of one person to make a difference. It started at a Rotary Club meeting in 2013 when a fellow Rotarian confided in Edna Williams, “I have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.” He told her how hard it was to find support…

Five Ways to Make Valentine’s Day Special for a Loved One Living with Dementia

February 11, 2020

My parents liked to celebrate Valentine’s Day with dinner and dancing.  Years into my mom’s Alzheimer’s journey, my parents’ love hadn’t diminished, but my mom’s capacity for going out to dinner and dancing had drastically decreased. I saw how blue my father was—one more event he had to give up, one more change in the…

Presenting to Community Members in the St. Martin’s Home, Along with Powerhouse Performer Raymond Jessurun

January 28, 2020

We knew that Raymond Jessurun was an amazing leader, organizer, and dementia advocate from our previous work with him in Philipsburg, St. Maarten. But we had no idea what a powerhouse performer he was until recently, when we presented with him at the island’s White and Yellow Cross Care Foundation. On our way to the…

Presenting to Care Partners in St. Thomas

January 21, 2020

Listening to favorite songs. Singing. Conducting an imaginary orchestra. Looking at art. Cooking and baking. Laughing. These are just a few of the topics we discussed when presenting to care partners in St. Thomas.   Recently we gathered with professional and family care partners, along with friends and advocates, to share ideas for staying connected through…

Singing in the Season with the Kansas City Symphony at the KC Memory Cafe

January 14, 2020

We were already in a holiday mood. A layer of sparkling snow blanketed Kansas City. Our generous neighbors at Cosentino’s Market in Brookside donated fresh-baked sugar cookies, colorful frostings, and cheerful sprinkles so our guests could decorate their own holiday cookies. Now we were ready for singing in the season with the Kansas City Symphony…

The Ways the Cookies Crumble

December 24, 2019

Dear friends, This story holds such lovely memories for me. I wanted to share it with you, in case the tale evokes delicious and sweet memories for you. Here’s to a meaningful, connective, and fun holiday season. With warm regards, Deborah The Ways the Cookies Crumble I set my briefcase on my gritty kitchen counter…

Seven Secrets of Dementia Inclusive Holiday Cooking

December 17, 2019

 “Who prepared this delicious meal?” a friend asked during a holiday dinner. I named my brother Dan, our head chef, first. Then I included the support team—myself, my mom, my daughters and nephews. “Did I help?” Mom whispered as I passed her the mashed potatoes. “You sure did,” I told her. ”You mashed the potatoes,…

KC Movies & Memories’ New Focus on Musicals: Oh What a Beautiful White Christmas

December 10, 2019

First we get people’s toes tapping and hands clapping with live musical performances from some of Kansas City’s great musicians. Then KC Movies & Memories’ new focus on beloved movie musicals keeps our audience engaged and connected. This is a lively,  intergenerational experience that families can easily replicate. Please see our invitation below.  Our November…

A Thanksgiving Love Story: Bringing Home the Gravy

November 19, 2019

Thanksgiving changed the year I went vegetarian. I did not mind giving up the tender, moist turkey or the savory oyster-specked stuffing. But giving up the flavorful flow of mushroom-laden gravy was quite another thing. I watched enviously as my family ladled the luscious liquids over their mashed potatoes, turkey and stuffing. As I nibbled…

Deborah Head shot small

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Books & Videos

A ‘must read’ for every care partner because it really helps you to look at things differently! This book is very special in the way it provides you with hundreds of suggestions on how to be a good care partner for someone with dementia and enjoy this yourself as well. Deborah inspired me by bringing together so many positive examples of using creativity to engage with people with dementia.”--Marc Wortmann, Executive Director, Alzheimer’s Disease International

“Deborah Shouse’s inspiring book provides caregivers with tools from which to create meaningful, life-enhancing activities that can strengthen their connections. Buy the book, read it, highlight what inspires you. As you make notes and bend pages to personalize this guide, you are creating a family treasure.”--Carol Bradley Bursack, Founder of Minding Our Elders

“Once again, Deborah Shouse delivers a book that softens our hearts and opens our minds to find fun ways to connect to the soul. No matter what our situation in life, no matter what our ability is to communicate, we all crave and need to be connected to one another.”--Lori La Bey, Founder of Alzheimersspeaks website