Welcome back to the podcast where we share the powerful stories of those who have been impacted by Alzheimer's and dementia. In this episode, Christy and Marianne sit down with Sue Fagalde Lick, a remarkable poet, author, musician, and dog lover from the Oregon coast. Sue shares her deeply moving story of caring for her husband, Fred, throughout their Alzheimer’s journey until his passing.

We dive into Sue's earlier work, Childless by Marriage, and explore her latest writings on widowhood and life after dementia, including her poetry anthologies and newly published memoir,  No Way Out of This: Loving a Partner with Alzheimer’s, which beautifully intertwines the romance and challenges of life with Fred. Sue opens up about the support she unexpectedly received from friends, the therapeutic value of writing, and the importance of maintaining agency and preparedness as a caregiver.

Sue's candor about the hardships of caregiving in a rural area, the emotional impact of rehoming pets, and the solace she finds in music and community will resonate deeply with listeners. 

We also discuss the creation of our new anthology, Poetry for the Dementia Journey, for which Sue volunteered to serve as editor and formatter. 

Join us for a heartfelt conversation that highlights resilience, love, and the importance of support systems in the caregiving journey.

Key Takeaways

• Living Through Dementia Twice
• Coping with a Spouse’s Alzheimer's
• Embracing the Caregiver Role
• The Difficulties of Relocating for Medical Care
• The Healing Power of Writing 
• The Role of Pets in Caregiving and Therapy

Learn more about Sue at AlzAuthors.com

Connect with Sue

Website

Blog

Facebook author page

Twitter

Can I do It Alone? on Substack

Purchase Sue’s books

No Way Out of This

Gravel Road Ahead

Childless by Marriage

Blue Chip Stamp Guitar

Dining Alfresco with My Dog

About the Hosts

Marianne Sciucco

Christy Byrne Yates

About the Podcast

AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.

We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please donate here.

Ideas and opinions expressed in this podcast belong to the speakers and not AlzAuthors. Always consult your healthcare provider and legal and financial consultants for advice on any of the topics covered here.

Thanks for listening.

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Purchase our new anthology, Poetry for the Dementia Journey