Dotty Looked Beautiful in Death

I believe in prayer, and I believe your prayers made a difference.

By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room

When Dotty died she just stopped ticking. Her jaw never dropped. Not even her lips. She did sound like a perculator, but she never winced, cringed, or evidenced any sign of pain.

As she was dying I put my cheek on her cheek and held her. I whispered in her ear and told her to go into the light. I said more, but for now that is between Dotty and me.

After a bit, I turned my head and looked up at the ceiling just in case Dotty was up there.

Donations In Memory of Dorothy DeMarco

I continue to be amazed by your kindness and generosity.

By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room

Many of you are asking me how you can make a donation in Dotty's memory. I had not given this much thought.

Several are asking how you can donate to the efforts of the Alzheimer's Reading Room?

It is my intention, based on your inquiries, to turn the Alzheimer's Reading Room into a non-profit.

There are many things I can do to improve the site, and to make the website more effective. My first efforts would be on adding more ways to communicate the message. If you donate to the ARR now, your donation will not be tax deductible. It will take a while to file all the paperwork to achieve 501(c)(3) status (non profit).

The donate button is appearing for the first time today in the upper right hand side of this website.

David Cameron Launches National Dementia Challenge

"Dementia is a terrible, heart-breaking disease – and tackling it is a personal priority of mine. Two months ago I promised that we’d lead an all-out, national fight-back against dementia – and it’s happening." This world leader gets it, I strongly suggest you watch this entire video.

Alzheimer's Reading Room

David Cameron

David Cameron, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, launches measures aimed at making the UK a world leader in dementia care and research, as part of his 'National Dementia Challenge'.

Three key areas where Government aims to make a difference have been identified:

• making sure health and social care systems are properly geared up to deal with the crisis
• radically stepping up research into cures and treatments, with overall funding for research doubled to reach £66m by 2015
• getting society involved in the fight: communities, charities, businesses

Transcript: Prime Minister David Cameron’s Speech on Dementia to the Dementia 2012 Conference

"We’re going to work relentlessly to improve lives, to help hundreds of thousands of families to take the fight to dementia. ~ David Cameron

Alzheimer's Reading Room

David Cameron

"Every day charities and volunteers undertake countless acts of kindness, like running dementia cafes where people can get together and get support. 

This is just the kind of thoughtfulness we need much, much more of. 

So we are issuing a call to action across society… 

…for people to come forward and do more to help those with dementia".

Young People Back Dementia Challenge

"This is simply a terrible disease. And it is a scandal that we as a country haven’t kept pace with it. The level of diagnosis, understanding and awareness of dementia is shockingly low. It is as though we’ve been in collective denial". ~ David Cameron

By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room

As part of Dementia Awareness Week, David Cameron, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, today called on up to 30,000 National Citizen Service young volunteers to help people with dementia by giving their time in care homes around the UK.

The scheme forms part of a national dementia challenge aimed at raising awareness and understanding, improving the lives and experiences of people living with dementia, and helping make our communities more inclusive.