Top Alzheimer's/Caregiving Sites - March 2001
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Caregiver's Army http://www.caregiversarmy.org/ 1st Place - March 2001 The Alzheimer's Disease Caregiver's Army, founded September 1999, has launched a worldwide petition drive in support of finding a cure for Alzheimer's Disease and for helping caregivers. Their goal is to collect a million signatures, and several months ago spokesperson, Carolyn Haynali, presented the first 20,000 signatures in Washington DC. The Army has an impressively professional Web site, providing Alzheimer's information, statistics about this disease, and featuring photos of Carolyn meeting Congressmen. The Army mailing list/support group which can be subscribed to at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAREGIVERSARMY Hearing Carolyn interviewed on the Don & Carla Show a few months ago, I must say I was impressed, and I can't think of a better spokesperson. For her husband, Chuck, who has Alzheimer's, and for caregivers and patients everywhere, Carolyn and the Caregiver's Army are busy fighting this disease that has so affected all our lives. Simple Pleasures by Peter Smith Webmaster: Marsha Penington https://www.zarcrom.com/users/alzheimers/peter1.html 2nd Place - March 2001 Peter was diagnosed with frontal lobe dementia at age 48. Marsha Penington (aka Tay Austin) has provided space for his journal at her Alzheimer's Outreach, and she, as usual, has done a beautiful job at designing this site. Peter's journal is a combines his poetry and thoughts about his illness since February 2000. His first entry for February 15, 2000 is a poem beginning with "I now understand my illness and have come to embrace it!" In spite of having to retire from ninteen years with his Company, as he tells us in his second journal entry, Peter's positive attitude is seen throughout his writings. In one his April 2000 entries he said "Nothing in this life of ours lasts forever, so I have come too enjoy each day in my life! ... Now when I wake up in the morning I do not care if its raining, snowing, or sunny outside, each day is one too enjoy!" This is a wonderful attitude for anyone dealing with Alzheimer's or other memory loss/dementia, and for caregivers as well, to live day by day enjoying the "Simple Pleasures" life offers us. Mary's Place http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mari5113/index.html 3rd Place - March 2001 Mary Lockhart has early-onset Alzheimer's. Before she was diagnosed, she had managed a licensed day care for infants for fifteen years. She misses the babies she cared for, but she has three little dogs which she enjoys, as well as having an acquarium, and feeding birds and squirrels. She is doing a wonderful job telling her story on her home page, Mary's Place, where she shares her daily journal, family photos, memories from her childhood, links to other sites, and a chats for other patients like herself. Mary says "This is a very lonely disease. If I can help one person with my page it will all be worth it." Through the Internet, Mary has found friends, and she is indeed helping others, being very active in several chats. It is a joy to watch Mary's page develop, as she adds new and very creative pages, incorporating beautiful backgrounds, graphics, and java. I couldn't help but notice an entry in her guestbook, from her daughter I think, about Mary having a way of turning lemons into lemonade, and I think that's a wonderful way to deal with the Alzheimer's journey, as well as caregiving and any of the losses that life brings us. The Ribbon http://www.theribbon.com/ 4th Place - March 2001 The Ribbon Newsletter, the inspiration for this Web site, began in January 1998, with the mission of providing information and support for caregivers dealing with Alzheimer's and dementia. The teal colored ribbon was chosen to help raise an awareness of AD and symbolizes the connection of caregivers in their fight against this illness. The Ribbon is a Suite 101 Four-Star Rated Site, has been an Empowering Caregivers Site of the Month, and the newsletter was awarded People's Connection Newsletter of the Week by America Online.
Background Copyright © 2001 Brenda S. Parris
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