Author Miriam Green’s important book–The Lost Kitchen: Reflections and Recipes from an Alzheimer’s Caregiver–combines memoir, recipes, and poetry associated with the author’s changed role as a caregiver for a mother with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Show Notes with Links:
- Author Miriam Green introduces herself–coming from Be’er Sheva, capital of the Negev Desert–and gives us an update on her mother’s situation.
- Miriam reads “Brain Tangles,” a poem in her book The Lost Kitchen: Reflections and Recipes from an Alzheimer’s Caregiver
- How Miriam was able to incorporate memoir, recipes, poetry, and education on Jewish tradition into one book, and her mentors.
- Traditional family roles and how they change with an Alzheimer’s patient.
- “Walking on eggshells” around her mother, and the feeling of being “unbalanced” and confusion experienced by her mother, and evidence Naomi knows things aren’t quite right.
- The challenges of living in the moment, The Power of Now, and Miriam’s TEDx Talk: Finding Joy in Alzheimer’s at Shenkar College
- “When in doubt, sing!” Music and healing, and Oliver Sacks’ Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain.
- The impact of color (specifically red) on the brain and behavior. Boston University Arts and Science Study If you couldn’t see your mashed potatoes, you probably wouldn’t eat them by Jeremy Schwab
- Miriam suggests tips for reducing stress when visiting with an Alzheimer’s patient.
- Fear, both for her mother and for herself, and the changes she has made to reduce her own risk of developing the disease.
- “Working body, wandering mind. Was that better than keeping your mind and losing your body?”
- Miriam reads her poem “Alzheimer’s Lens” and talks about how the disease is like books on a bookshelf
- Miriam talks about finding a “lost” song.
- She talks about how her mother’s disease has changed her own world.
- She talks a little bit about recipes and her most frequently made one.
- Advise to other caregivers.
- She talks about how her father, Jack, is coping with his new world.
- What’s next for Miriam?
- Miriam’s website thelostkitchen.org
- Shout-outs and Black Opal Books
- Miriam’s father, Jack Cohen, also wrote about his experience in his book Life on Planet Alz: Songs in Captivity
- To find out more about this disease, visit Alzheimer’s Association
If you enjoy my podcasts, you might enjoy my books!
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- Laurel’s Amazon Author page
- https://leadvillelaurel.com/writing-tips/
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- https://twitter.com/LeadvilleLaurel
- Intro/outro voice by Nick McHargue,
Podcast music from Jamendo Royalty Free Music
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