💜 Welcome to MAD World

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If you've found your way here, chances are Alzheimer's, dementia, or another cognitive disease has touched your life. Maybe you're a spouse, an adult child, a family member, or a friend trying to understand what someone you love is going through. However you got here, I'm glad you did.

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My name is Jessica, and I'm the wife of a man living with Early Onset Alzheimer's. This isn't the life we planned, but it's the life we're living. Like so many of you, our journey started with small changes that didn't seem to fit together—forgetfulness, anxiety, personality changes, and questions that no one seemed able to answer. Eventually, those questions became a diagnosis that changed everything.

MAD World was born from countless late nights, tears, laughter, research, doctor appointments, and the overwhelming feeling that there had to be a better place for spouses like us. I couldn't find a resource that combined practical advice, honest stories, humor, and the emotional reality of loving someone who is slowly changing. So, I decided to create one.

One thing you'll notice right away is that every post begins with a song. Music has always been a part of our lives, and somehow it continues to reach places that Alzheimer's cannot. Every song tells a story, sparks a memory, or captures an emotion that words alone sometimes can't. Whether it's Danger Zone, Wish You Were Here, The Dance, or Jesus, Take the Wheel, each post uses music to frame a real experience from our journey.

 

Everything you read here comes from real life. The good days. The heartbreaking days. The funny moments that make us laugh until we cry. The difficult conversations about driving, memory care, finances, Medicare, relationships, grief, and learning how to become a caregiver while trying not to lose yourself in the process.

While many of the stories are deeply personal, you'll also find practical tools, checklists, official resources, and research to help you navigate this complicated road. I spend countless hours learning, asking questions, and connecting with experts so I can share information that may make your journey just a little easier. I also use artificial intelligence as a writing and research assistant to help organize information, improve readability, and locate trusted resources. Every personal story and opinion shared here, however, comes directly from our family's experience.

 

DISCLAIMER:  Please remember that I am not a doctor, attorney, financial advisor, or licensed therapist. Nothing on this site should replace professional medical or legal advice. Every person living with Alzheimer's or another dementia is different, and every family's journey will look different as well.

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My hope is simple. If one story helps you feel less alone, if one checklist saves you hours of frustration, if one article gives you the courage to ask a difficult question, or if one song reminds you of a beautiful memory, then sharing our journey has been worth it.

Thank you for being here.

 

Thank you for allowing me to share our story. Most of all, thank you for reminding me that even in this MAD World, there is still love, laughter, hope, and a community of people who truly understand.

 

Welcome to MAD World.

One Song. One Story. One Day at a Time.