Myths, Stigmas, Lies & Seniors

Today on Conscious Caregiving with L & L Lance A. Slatton of All Home Care Matters and Lori La Bey of Alzheimer’s Speaks and Dementia Map talk with two fantastic panelists about Myths, Stigmas, Lies, & Seniors. Samuel A. Simon, known as the “The Dementia Man” and who is living with dementia. He is also a Playwright, Producer, and Actor. Their other guest is the renowned author Tracy Cram Perkins. Tracy is a four-time dementia caregiving survivor with sixteen-years of experience caring for four family members living with a variety of types of dementia. She is the author of Dementia Home Care: How to Prepare Before, During, and After. Dementia Home Care.

Learn:

What our guests feel are some of the biggest myths, stigmas, and lies seniors have to deal with.
How people treat things like cancer, heart disease, and strokes differently from a disease like dementia.
What our guests think perpetuates stigma.
Issues families can have when a loved is placed in a community living situation.
Unknown medical costs or processes to protect your family.
Lessons learned through illness when someone has to face their anticipated death or that of a loved one.
How to protect your family against elder fraud.

Samuel A. (Sam) Simon started his career in Washington, DC as a lawyer for Ralph Nader’s first advocacy group in 1970. He then spent 25 years as head of a public affairs firm. In that work, he was often in the news, appearing on Face The Nation, Phil Donahue Show, Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, and many more.

Sam calls his playwriting and theatre work is 4th Age. His first play, The Actual Dance, Love’s Ultimate Journey Through Breast Cancer, toured from 2013 to the present. In 2021 The Actual Dance was turned into an award-winning biography.

In 2018, Sam was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or MCI. In 2022, he was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. He began documenting his journey with Alzheimer’s in 2023 by writing a new play, Dementia Man, An Existential Journey, which debuted with a performance in the Capitol Fringe Festival that same year.

Sam lives in Mclean, Virginia, with his wife Susan. They have two adult children and four grandchildren. Sam’s work in law and theatre has been recognized by his inclusion in Who’s Who in American Law and, in 2023, Who’s Who in America.

This painting is the one Sam referenced in the show. It is the work of the late Dr. Sheldon Holen, and is a self-portrait of a man losing his memory.

Tracy Cram Perkins, is a four-time dementia caregiving survivor with sixteen-years of experience caring for four family members with dementia.

She is the author of Dementia Home Care: How to Prepare Before, During, and After. Dementia Home Care.

Tracy teaches hands-on solutions for reducing repetitive questions, meltdowns, and wandering. She includes tips using simple, inexpensive fixes found at hardware and office supply stores.

Contact Our Guests

Samuel A. (Sam) Simon

Website

www.dementiaman.co m
YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@dementiaman_

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/thedementiaman

Facebook – Dementia Man https://www.facebook.com/dementiaman

Facebook – Samuel A. Simon https://www.facebook.com/samuelasimon

1^st Play – The Actual Dance, Love’s Ultimate Journey Through Breast Cancer, 2013

https://www.theactualdance.com/

2^nd Play – Dementia Man, An Existential Journey

https://www.dementiaman.com/about-the-play.html

Phone 202-329-1851

Tracy Cram Perkins

Website

tracycramperkins.com

Email

LinkedIn @tracycramperkins

Facebook @tracycramperkins

Twitter @tracycramperkin (no “S” at the end)

Instagram @tracycramperkins

Resources

10 Common Misconceptions About Aging

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/healthy-aging/10-common-misconceptions-about-aging

The Truth Behind Age-Old Myths

https://www.rush.edu/news/truth-behind-age-old-myths

Reality Versus Myth

https://www.apa.org/pi/aging/resources/guides/myth-reality.pdf

Retire These 10 Myths of Aging

https://healthlibrary.brighamandwomens.org/1,1945

Debunking the Myths of Older Adult Falls

https://www.ncoa.org/article/debunking-the-myths-of-older-adult-falls

A Social Psychological Perspective on the Stigmatization of Older Adults

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK83758

Ageism is one of the last socially acceptable prejudices. Psychologists are working to change that

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2023/03/cover-new-concept-of-aging

Lance A. Slatton & Lori La Bey Cohost and Produce Conscious Caregiving with L & L.

Lance A. Slatton and Lori La Bey cohost and producer Conscious Caregiving with L & L.

Connect with Lance at LanceASlatton.com and All Home Care Matters or Lori at Alzheimer’s Speaks or Dementia M ap.

Conscious Caregiving with L & L is a monthly program highlighting tough conversations. Experts talk honestly. They love giving hope and resources to people. Watch other videos.

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