Caring for My American Dad in Peru: An Alzheimer's Caregiving Odyssey

Barbara Drake-Vera’s caregiving journey in Peru, caring for her American father with Alzheimer's, is a unique and eye-opening story that sheds light on cultural differences in elder care. While Barbara lived in Lima, Peru with her Peruvian husband, her widowed father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He lived in a four-bedroom home he previously shared with his late wife in Florida, USA, and it was soon determined he could not live alone at home. As the only child, Barbara felt compelled to come to his assistance. She knew that elder care was manageable and affordable in Lima, where multigenerational families living together was the norm. So, she and her husband made the unconventional decision to move her dad to Peru to be cared for in their home. This was a radical change for him, a proud and independent American man, World War II veteran, and former postal worker in his eighties. Together, they navigated the cultural nuances of caregiving within a Latin community that, in spite of their challenges, led to success. Barbara, the author of Melted Away: A Memoir of Climate Change and Caregiving in Peru,had had a difficult relationship with her father for many years, but this caregiving journey helped heal old wounds. Quotes “Caring for someone with dementia can be a real gift, but you don't think of it at the time because you're just trying to get through each day.” - Barbara Drake-Vera “I decided to be compassionate. It wasn't forgiveness, but I chose not to let the past be my present.” - Barbara Drake-Vera “My father, who was a self-absorbed, narcissistic jerk, was never such a nice person as when he was finally treated for Alzheimer's and cared for in Peru.” - Barbara Drake-Vera In this episode, you will: Explore the impact of cultural differences in elder care and learn how diverse perspectives can enrich the caregiving experience for individuals with Alzheimer's.Discover the benefits of multigenerational living for Alzheimer's caregiving and how it can positively influence the well-being of both the individual with Alzheimer's and the caregivers.Learn effective strategies for transitioning elders with Alzheimer's to new environments and understand the importance of creating a supportive and familiar space for them.  After the podcast Purchase Melted Away: A Memoir of Climate Change and Caregiving in Peru Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. Learn more about Barbara Drake-Vera 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. We are a Whole Care Network Featured Podcast Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network Find us on The World Podcast Network and babyboomer.org Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know We’ve got merch! Shop our Store

Om Podcasten

Welcome to the AlzAuthors podcast! We’re so glad you found us. We're the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Join us as one of our authors shares their dementia journey, revealing intimate details and painfully obtained knowledge to help others currently on this path. We hope our stories offer comfort and support as we strive to break the silence and stigma surrounding a dementia diagnosis. May one of our authors speak to your experience. For more info please visit https://alzauthors.com. Featuring Marianne Sciucco, RN Podcast producer and host Marianne Sciucco is a co-founder and director at AlzAuthors and a registered nurse who cared for hundreds of dementia patients over a 20-year career. She provided care to her stepfather during his dementia journey and witnessed the painful decline of four beloved aunts to the disease. Her novel, "Blue Hydrangeas, an Alzheimer’s love story," is based on a couple she met through her work and is a testament to the power of love in the face of this heart-wrenching disease. Learn more about Marianne at AlzAuthors.com. Purchase "Blue Hydrangeas" Featuring Christy Byrne Yates, M.S., LEP Christy is a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP), retired school psychologist, author, speaker and coach/consultant. Her book, “Building a Legacy of Love: Thriving in the Sandwich Generation” recounts her journey as a working mother of two who also managed the care of her parents, both of whom had some form of dementia. Combining her lived experience with her professional expertise in human development, wellness and a strengths based approach to finding solutions, Christy develops content, workshops and coaching to support Sandwiched families. She incorporates meditation, mindfulness and other evidence based mind/body practices into her work. She’s worked with care communities, financial professionals, estate planners and employers. Christy has a master’s degree in counseling psychology, and graduate credentials in both education and school psychology. Learn more about Christy at AlzAuthors.com. AlzAuthors is an Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small commission on book sales at no cost to you.