Death Cleaning. The Swedish word for it is, DoStadning ("Do” is death,“Stadning” is cleaning). And it is the title of a popular new book by Margareta Magnusson called, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. The idea is to de-clutter your life so your death isn't a burden for those you leave behind. This particular TED Talk was given by a guy named Bob Stein. He started off talking about how, from the time he was a young boy, he was always searching for rituals to give mean

Daily I am reminded of how we are never too old to learn. Here I am doing this documentary — ostensibly to share information about Alzheimer’s, dementia and caregiving. And yet every day, I am the one getting the education: learning something new, reevaluating that which I thought I knew, looking at what seemed settled with a new eye. The bottom line—I am constantly realizing I don't know as much as I thought. When you are past the age of feeling like you have something to pr

Last week I visited a friend’s dad, I’ll call him Mr. H. Mr. H has Alzheimer’s and dementia. He came to the door well-dressed, crisp chinos, and button down shirt. Mr H didn’t know me, but graciously welcomed me in to his home because I was with someone he knew well, and loved—my friend’s longtime girlfriend, Barbara, with whom he is very close. Mr. H was overjoyed to see Barbara. Also in the room, his caregiver, Evelyn. She was a warm woman and it was clear they had a comfor