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Articles by Debbie Selsavage

The misunderstanding of medication!

By Debbie Selsavage | August 9, 2024 | Comments Off on The misunderstanding of medication!

I cannot count the times that clients have told me, “My doctor prescribed (we’ll fill in the blank below) and said it would slow the progress of dementia.” Sorry, it’s …

Alzheimer’s – What’s in a name?

By Debbie Selsavage | August 9, 2024 | Comments Off on Alzheimer’s – What’s in a name?

Many times, I have heard a family member struggling with a parent living with dementia say, “My mother is in denial! If I could only get her to admit she …

Maybe it takes a Village!

By Debbie Selsavage | August 20, 2023 | Comments Off on Maybe it takes a Village!

Our institutions of care are based on ideas developed during the industrial revolution when we found that factories and assembly lines worked so well for making things on a large …

The good will of dementia!

By Debbie Selsavage | July 4, 2023 | Comments Off on The good will of dementia!

We have just finished our annual fund-raising walk for Dementia Education, Inc., a Citrus County-based nonprofit that supports families living with dementia. As always, I came away from this event …

PTSD, dementia, and traumatic brain injury!

By Debbie Selsavage | July 4, 2023 | Comments Off on PTSD, dementia, and traumatic brain injury!

“PTSD” means “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.” It is not a disease; it is a syndrome, a collection of symptoms and behaviors that can emerge after we experience an especially traumatic …

It’s Conference Time!

By Debbie Selsavage | July 4, 2023 | Comments Off on It’s Conference Time!

Back around 2012, I had just earned my license to become an assisted living and memory care administrator, and my partner Ed and I were attending a lot of conferences …

What about alcohol use?

By Debbie Selsavage | July 4, 2023 | Comments Off on What about alcohol use?

In tackling the topic of alcohol use and dementia, I am going to begin with a “myth-buster” statement based on the landmark study conducted in England and published in The …

No time for a sabbatical

By Debbie Selsavage | July 4, 2023 | Comments Off on No time for a sabbatical

Seven years ago, the Citrus County Chronicle asked if we might submit a monthly column about Alzheimer’s and dementia. We were thrilled and honored to be offered this opportunity. We …

Dementia and pain

By Debbie Selsavage | July 4, 2023 | Comments Off on Dementia and pain

Some years ago, a woman asked me to check on her sister in a dementia care facility to evaluate how she was being treated. As I approached her room, I …

Dementia and the twin tsunamis!

By Debbie Selsavage | July 4, 2023 | Comments Off on Dementia and the twin tsunamis!

It is estimated that seven million Americans 65 and older currently have some form of dementia. This population is expected to grow to nine million by 2030, and to 15 …