Behind The Mask Book Signing

May 30, 2008 By 1 Comment

I handed out some adopt a caregiver mission statements today at a book signing. People genuinely liked the idea and I hope that everyone who took my flyer will give serious thought to adopting a caregiver.

If anyone has questions or wants information, please write and ask me. I would be happy to answer your questions. I’m hoping that word of mouth increases and the word gets out about adopting a caregiver.

I’m in the midst of having my website redesigned so I will be easier to find.

I want you to feel free to comment, ask questions, and please do adopt a caregiver. I feel that reading my book, Behind The Mask, will help you understand what a caregiver is going through. Let me tell you; it’s hell. My secret journal saved my life, beause there was no one else. No one adopted me, so I wrote out all my feelings in my journal.

Keep love and kisses in your life. Helene

www.helenemoore.com

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Mission Statement

May 26, 2008 By 2 Comments

Adopt a caregiver mission statement:

The most important things in my life are my family and friends; my passion for writing, reading, and knitting; and my self respect.

My book, Behind The Mask, a caregiver’s secret journal shows the complete range of emotions a new caregiver goes through.

Alzheimer’s Disease is not contagious, yet the caregivers are usually left alone without the support of friends and neighbors, even family. This disease can last for years until the caregivers are worn out.

Adopt a caregiver is my unique way of giving back. All you have to do is check your neighborhood, your social clubs, church, synagogue, your doctor’s office, the Alzheimer’s message boards and the Mayo Clinic message boards. Then adopt a caregiver.

Just send an email or phone a person who needs a friend, listen and come back often to let her/him know you are listening, that you care, that you are thinking of them. Just being there to listen is a huge help.

Adopt a caregiver

Give something back: contribute to the well being of people who are so busy caring for others.

Keep love and kisses in your life. Helene

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I Adopted A Caregiver

May 19, 2008 By 2 Comments

Behind The Mask, my secret journal, reminded me of the purpose of my book. I want everyone to adopt a caregiver. (My book is available from me or from Amazon.com.It shows what a new caregiver is feeling and going through.)

So I did just that. Someone I know who is a caregiver is in need of a friend. I emailed her and told her I would write her and that I could listen. I know what she is going through and how hard it is to smile, how much extra work it is being a caregiver. How patience gets exhausted quickly when you don’t get enough rest.

I just listened. Someone close by was a caregiver and I want to help. So I wrote to her and asked her permission to adopt her.

She was thrilled to hear from me, and said she needed a friend. So here I am doing what I’m supposed to do.

Adopt a caregiver is easy. Someone in your neighorhood, your church, synagogue, your club is a caregiver. She needs your support and your friendship. It only takes a few minutes to email someone.

Giving back this way is easy. Try it.

I also finished my knitting project for breast cancer. And I’m still knitting scarves for kids in schools in poor neighborhoods. It feels good.

Want a First Line for writing? “His bald head and droopy eyelids stood out like a child’s colorful drawing.

Keep love and kisses in your life. Helene”

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Midwest Book Review for May

May 14, 2008 By 1 Comment

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

I just received a copy of the Midwest Book Review for May about my book,

Behind The Mask. It states:

“True stories are the best stories. They teach us what people can go through, how they can endure, and most especially, how they can triumph in the end–one way or another. “Behind The Mask” is the story of a woman whose husband was misdiagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. It’s the story of how Helene Moore’s personal world was shattered, how she felt helpless and hopeless with the sudden prospect of watching the man she loved being given a prognosis of slow, inevitable death that would stead his mind long before it would result in his death. It is also the story of her finding the strengh to cope, to survive, to perceive and enjoy the small pleasantries of life, family, and friends. “Behind The Mask” is drawn from her journal entries and provides a compeling account of her struggle back to normalcy and her renewed appreciation for what life and love can make of even the most ordinary of marriages undergoing the most extraordinary of challenges. Superbly written from beginning to end, “Behind The Mask” is as inspired and inspiring as it is informed and informative, making it highly recommended reading for anyone finding themselves or a loved one in similar circumstance.”

Mary Cowper

Reviewer

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Back from California

May 14, 2008 By 1 Comment

I’m back home after spending Mother’s Day weekend in California with my children and grandchildren. We had a very special time, seeing everyone, enjoying family dinners, one of which my granddaughter Allison did on Mother’s Day.

I have to finish my knitting project for breast cancer by Saturday. I am just going to make it.

My writing has slowed down, since I am busy with Behind The Mask and adopt a caregiver. I am starting to contact people about speaking engagements, something I’ve never done before.

Behind The Mask is now on Amazon, or available from me.

Hopefully next time I will have a review written for my book and I promise to share it with you here on my blog.

I am also in the process of of making my website and blog easier to use, and I hope you all will take advantage of that.

Talk to you soon, and will keep you posted on what is happening here in my life.

My topics for speaking will be Behind The Mask and adopt a caregiver. I’ll keep you posted on that too.

Come back soon.

Keep love and kisses in your life. Helene

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My secret journal, Behind The Mask

May 8, 2008 By 1 Comment

Behind The Mask is the story of my caregiving life for the seven years my husband’s Alzheimer’s was kept a secret. This very personal, heartfelt journal contains the hopes and fears of my secret.

When my husband Howard finally read the journal years later, he said it needed to be published.

It wasn’t until I did self publish Behind The Mask that I realized the book had a purpose. It was to show what the caregiver is feeling and to alert everyone that Alzheimer’s is not contagious, and the caregiver is eventually abandoned.

I would like to change that. I would like everyone to adopt a caregiver.

It’s really easy. As simple as listening to see if anyone in your own neighborhood is a caregiver, then email or call, and stay that person’s friend throughout her entire ordeal.

If you have easy ways to adopt a caregiver, be sure to write me and we can share ideas. If you are a caregiver, please write and we can share ideas also.

I’ve been busy knitting for underprivileged children, and knitting a scarf for breast cancer.

I’ll be with my family in California from Friday, tomorrow until Tuesday of next week.

Talk to you when I get home.

Keep love and kisses in your life. Helene

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Behind The Mask

May 6, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Behind The Mask, a caregiver’s secret journal explains how a new caregiver feels.

My book was writen when my husband Howard was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 1993 and the Alzheimer’s Association insisted we keep it a secret, since Howard was on the Board of Directors of Toys R Us and consulting with major toy companies like Mattel.

Howard never saw my journal until long after the doctor changed the diagnosis to AAMI (age associated memory impairment) and finally took him off Aricept after seven years.

When I finally showed him my journal, he was astonished. First that I could keep it a secret, and that the words were beautiful, from my gut, heartfelt and loving.

With tears in his eyes he said, “This book should be published, it’s beautiful.”

It took me a few years to have the courage to go forward. I self published Behind The Mask this year. If you would like a copy please let me know. It’s $15.00 and I will pay the shipping and handling.

After the book was in my hands, I realized it had a purpose. Everyone should read the book, know what a caregiver is feeling and to give something back.

Alzheimer’s Disease is not contagious, and there are two victims.

adopt a caregiver

Give something back and feel good about it. It’s so easy to do.

Please feel free to add your comments and questions.

Keep love and kisses in your life. Helene

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Nobody adopted me

May 3, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Where were you when I had no one to talk to, when I needed to vent, when I needed a shoulder to cry on?

Where were you when I tried to smile and couldn’t?

Where were you when I was too depressed to function?

I needed you but you were off with friends and your clubs, too immersed in your activities to think of mine.

I never asked you to grocery shop, or baby sit so I could get out, I never called you or bothered you. I never wanted to bother anyone.

Where were you when I needed you and everyone else deserted us?

This is how caregivers feel.

That is what I want to change, and why I want everyone to adopt a caregiver.

Keep love and kisses in your life. Helene

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