For the last five years, I've researched every bit of medical research done on dementia and how to adjust to the transition of a parent who has this illness.
As a caregiver, I had to make a complete lifestyle change, which in the end has made me more mature and appreciative of life. For the last year, I've counseled others through support groups on Facebook and Meetup. I've also had friends and family refer others to me for advice and consulting about moving abroad to get better care for their loved ones.
I currently live at the senior residence where my mom lives and has 24 hour care. The place is in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Though I'm not originally from Chiang Mai (I'm from the San Francisco Bay Area), the journey of caregiving for my mom has brought me here. The lack of one-on-one 24 hour care in nursing homes in the U.S. along with affordability in terms of having my mom also receive therapy and treatment along with care, brought me to where we are today in Chiang Mai.
If you have questions on how to best support your parent, or if you need advice or support as a caregiver, please don't hesitate to give me a call. I'll help you assess where you are, what you need to plan for (mentally, emotionally and financially) and how to best navigate the stress and heartache that is caused by this disease, because, let's face it: Dementia sucks! And it's often the people closest to the person who has dementia that may suffer the most.
You can find more information about me and how I coped with my mom's illness through my podcasts here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ckofkvzql5w
