Seeing dementia through new eyes
A writing assignment brings new perspectives
<Welcome to Sandwich Season, adventures in middle age, sandwiched between aging parents and growing children ... and other duties as assigned.>
Hello everyone—
Many of my posts have focused on my family’s journey through my mom’s dementia experience. Today I get to share about dementia from some new perspectives.
I was hired to write a magazine article about a pilot project where university students were going into a local retirement community to spend time with people living with dementia.
I had the chance to observe their interactions, chat with the residents, interview students, researchers and retirement community administrators, and talk with the donor who made this program possible.
As I wrote the story, my mom found her way into it. When my editor, Micaela Gerhardt, saw the first draft, she asked for more of my personal story. So this piece ended up incorporating my family’s experience—and helped me to see it with new eyes.
I’m so thankful for this opportunity from the North Dakota State University Foundation and to my friend and fellow writer Jill Kandel, who recommended me for this assignment.
I hope you enjoy the story.
Take good care,
Sarah
P.S. Click the screenshot below to read the story.
Wow, what a great idea! Every memory-care facility needs a program like this!
I loved reading this piece about the impact of interns with memory care elders. Thank you for the tender way you wrote this. Oh and I enjoyed the way you infused the piece with your personal experiences 💞