A Diva Works Harder than Anyone Realizes and Lives Bigger and Greater At the Same Time.
My Mom and I, Dementia Divas for Life!
Ana-Shea Edwards
Dementia Diva, Caregiver, Public Speaker, Aspiring Scholar
I think it’s really important to let you know first: I chose the caregiver life. I didn’t know the depth of that choice at first, or the amount of things that I was going to change.
I came into caregiving like many other people do- unprepared. Totally unprepared. To say that I was in grief would be an understatement. I struggled really hard with a learning curve so steep that I felt like I needed some proverbial rock climbing gear. I was very alone, and trying to find my way, and I said “It doesn’t have to be this hard.” I vowed then and there that if I could, I’d do what I can to help other caregivers because, truly, it doesn’t have to be this hard. So I started talking on panels, talking to people, and now I’m writing this blog because someone said “gee, it would be really great if you would write about your life hacks, research, story, and advice in one place.”
The unspoken truth about caregiving is that you are going to survive it- and you need to have something to survive for, and not only should you survive you should flourish. Caregiving is an act of living. If you’re going to live, you may as well live your absolute best caregiver life, and that means different things to different people. And that is precisely why I’m writing this blog- because we all deserve that.
What Does This Diva Do
- Blog about practical caregiver matters
- Speak on Clubhouse regarding caregiving hacks and experiences
- Interview other caregivers for their lived experience
- Network together caregivers
- Speak at institutional functions
- Take care of my mother with dementia every single day
- Take care of my home and elderly dogs
- Dance in the streets of New Orleans with parade troupes
- Volunteer within her community
- Write reports for professional consumption on caregiving
The Dementia Diva 