Category: Family Issues

Caring for a loved one is stressful. There are new situations, new issues, and new decisions to make. When you don’t know what to expect or what questions to ask or who to call, it can be a frustrating feeling, and your emotions often affect your decisions. Debbie Miller can help. Debbie is the author of “Doing the Right Thing: Simple Solutions, Essential Tips, and Helpful Resources for Assisting Aging Loved Ones,” which is full of information she has collected over 30 years’ of working with seniors, including several of her own relatives. She’ll share 40+ questions to ask an assisted living facility, must-have information you need from your loved ones before they become incapacitated or die, and how to figure out what to sell, donate or give away when downsizing a parent’s home. Debbie Miller is The Retiree’s Home Transition Expert, a Certified Senior Advisor, and a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist. Contact her at (703) 328-0143; debmillr@hotmail.com

It’s one thing to overlook paying a bill, or to misplace your keys, or to be unable to remember a stranger’s name. It’s another thing to become so forgetful that you can’t complete a task you have done a thousand times. Or to forget how to find your way home. When such things happen, especially to a loved one who isn’t even 60, you may wonder if it’s early-onset Alzheimer’s, which can strike as early as 30. Discover more about the disease and how to spot its symptoms, when you interview Carlen Maddux. A former reporter who chronicled his family’s 17-year Alzheimer’s journey in the award-winning book “A Path Revealed,” Carlen is determined to helpothers with information and been-there advice. His wife, Martha, was just past her 50th birthday when diagnosed. Carlen will discuss his family experiences, and what it was like to become his wife’s caregiver. Highly articulate, Carlen has done dozens of media interviews. Ask him:  Who might be susceptible to early-onset Alzheimer’s? Are there unmistakable signs? Is the disease ever mistaken for something else? Is this the latest boomer pandemic? What does caregiving involve? What treatments are available to enhance health and quality of life? Contact Carlen Maddux at (727) 351-8321; CMaddux@rtirguests.com

For four years, legendary singer Tony Bennett and his family have kept his secret. Now, they’re breaking their silence. Bennett has Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of age-related dementia. It’s not easy for families to talk about a loved one’s diagnosis because of the stigma surrounding the disease. As a devoted caregiver and husband of someone who was diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s in her fifties, Carlen Maddux can discuss what it’s like to have a loved one who fades away even as they continue to live. He can share early warning signs and treatment options along with the biggest challenges for loved ones and tips for caregivers. Maddux has appeared on numerous shows. He’s the author of “A Path Revealed.” Contact him at (727) 351-8321; CMaddux@rtirguests.com

When Sean Connery passed away last week, millions mourned the original and arguably best James Bond. And even though it was dementia — not Spectre —that took 007 and quieted his memory in his last years, the public will never forget his masterful MI-6 skills, his suaveness, and Connery’s superb acting career. Connery was married for 45 years and his wife will experience his loss most of all. As the spouse of someone who had early-onset Alzheimer’s, Carlen Maddux can identify with her and inform your audience about what it is like to have a family member who fades away even as they continue to live. He can also offer tips for those who find themselves in the same situation. Carlen served for 17 years as a caregiver for his once-dynamic wife Martha — who was her family’s super-hero and only in her fifties when diagnosed. Carlen shares his insights in the book “A Path Revealed.” Contact Carlen Maddux at (727) 351-8321; CMaddux@rtirguests.com