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22ndCenturyMedia.com Active Aging Guide
22nd century media | October 12, 2017 | 15
Ask Mary Ann: Parenting
your parent with Alzheimer’s
Question: Gradually,
I’m becoming a parent
for my parent. Is it normal
to feel anxious and
overwhelmed?
Mary Ann: Yes, it’s
very normal to be anxious,
feel guilty and feel
overwhelmed. I, myself,
have experienced all of
these emotions, having
cared for my mother, who
had dementia for many
years. Often, when finding
ourselves in the role
of caregiver for a parent,
we try to suppress our
negative emotions, feeling
guilty for even having
them. Even if you have
a great relationship with
your mom or dad, there
may still be some unresolved
issues between
you. So, feelings of guilt
are very normal, as well.
In your new role, you will
have many feelings that
you will work through,
one at a time.
I found it helpful to
seek support, educate myself
and share my feelings
with others in the same
situation. Doing so helped
me to process and better
understand my emotions,
which, in turn, helped me
learn to accept and cope
with them.
This is a journey that
will evolve and change
day to day as the disease
progresses. You are joining
your parent on this
journey, and the more you
understand it the easier it
will be, not only for yourself
but for your loved
one, as well.
Please know that I am
available as a resource for
you personally and professionally,
now and/or in
the future.
At Emerald Place, we
offer support groups and
educational events. You
can contact me at (630)
296-6383 or mpappone@
anthemmemorycare.com
with your questions or to
receive my monthly “Ask
Mary Ann” newsletter.
Mary Ann Pappone is
community relations director
for Emerald Place
Memory Care. She spent
more than 18 years caring
for her mother, who had
dementia.
Submitted by Emerald Place
Memory Care. For more
information, visit www.anthemmemorycare.com
or call
(630) 296-6383
Energize your
ears: Mingle with
the ones you love
Lake Forest Hearing Professionals will help energize
your ears for the upcoming holidays, so you can
mingle with the ones you love.
Meet the Lake
Forest Hearing team
at the Active Aging
Expo.
“We will help jazz
life up, so you can
hear all the things you
love,” said Dr. Lori
Ann Halvorson.
Lake Forest Hearing
Professionals
and Halvorson, an
audiologist, are visionary
leaders in hearing and the brain, helping
you hear better with less effort. Come and find out
how. They are known for innovative solutions that
help boost clarity and relieve cognitive load while
turning down background noise. As premier elite
providers, they are experts in the hearing world
and partners with Lyric, Oticon, Phonak, Widex,
Resound and Sensaphonics, to name a few.
From helping you hear at restaurants, family gatherings,
on the telephone or while watching television,
Lake Forest Hearing Professionals and Halvorson
are trusted by true American heroes, some of
which have left the planet — namely, Captain James
Lovell.
Stop by to hear what he has to say about Lake Forest
Hearing Professionals.
Submitted by Lake Forest Hearing Professionals. For
more information, visit www.lakeforesthearing.com or
call (847) 295-1185.
Wondering what to do
with those old medications?
Find a Cook County collection site near you! Check
out our database of medication disposal sites. Go to
CookCountyMEDS.org and simply enter your address.
www.CookCountyMEDS.org
~Katie Post Hunter
312.399. 6133
Shaun Kirsh | 847.293.3216
It is my privilege to work with the 50+ community!