- With Mayo Clinic health education outreach coordinator
Angela Lunde
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Angela Lunde
Angela Lunde is a dementia education specialist in the education core of Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the Abigail Van Buren Alzheimer's Disease Research Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Angela Lunde
The transfer of information about dementias, as well as understanding the need for participation in clinical trials, is an essential component of the education core.
Angela is a member of the Alzheimer's Association board of directors and co-chair of the annual Minnesota Dementia Conference. She is a member of the Dementia Behavior Assessment and Response Team (D-BART), a multidisciplinary outreach service assisting professional and family caregivers in understanding and managing difficult behaviors often present in dementia. She facilitates several support groups, including Memory Club, an early-stage education and support series, and more recently, helped to develop and now deliver Healthy Action to Benefit Independence and Thinking (HABIT), a 10-day cognitive rehab and wellness program for people with mild cognitive impairment.
Angela takes a personal interest in understanding the complex changes that take place within relationships and among families when dementia is present. She is particularly interested in providing innovative and accessible ways for people with dementia and their families to receive information and participate in valuable programs that promote well-being.
"Amid a devastating disease, there are tools, therapies, programs and ways to cope, and it is vital that families are connected to these resources," she says.
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Alzheimer's blog
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March 19, 2009
Improving life one story at a time
By Angela Lunde
A few weeks ago, I attended Ben's funeral. I met Ben about two years ago when he and his wife began attending Memory Club (a support and education series for persons with early stage dementia). Although Ben had Alzheimer's disease, it was an unfortunate accident that took his life.
Ben's funeral was one of storytelling. Family members young and old went to the podium and shared personal experiences in their life with Ben. Later, the podium was open to anyone who wished to tell a story. For nearly two hours, dozens of Ben's friends, colleagues and students shared heartfelt memories.
Ben was a hugger who made a connection with everyone he met. This story was shared over and over. I knew this personally because I always received a hug when Ben came to Memory Club. He wanted to know how I was doing, and in our groups, Ben would pay close attention to the person speaking; curious to understand the person behind the words. Ben's hugs and his connectedness to others were reflected in many stories that day.
For several decades, Ben and his wife had opened their home and hearts to numerous foreign and minority students and families. One gentleman told the story of arriving in small-town Minnesota from the inner city of Washington, D.C., in the 1970's. It was Ben and his wife who embraced him and helped him make his way through this difficult transition.
Ben was a teacher at a local college. A gentleman from the Middle East told the story of arriving in one of Ben's college classes. As they developed a relationship, Ben encouraged him to follow his dreams rather than be confined by his own limitations.
"Because of Ben, I am now a college professor at a prestigious university," the man tearfully said. Ben had received "Teacher of the Year Award" for several years running. After a while, the students decided that they would simply have to make Ben ineligible so someone else could receive the award.
Another woman shared that while living in this country, Ben became her surrogate father. He even walked her down the aisle on her wedding day.
Many more stories were told that captured similar themes about this incredible person I was blessed to have known for the last couple years of his life. I reflected on the richness of Ben's life and how little I really knew about him.
That day at Ben's funeral I realized the importance of storytelling, life review and reminiscence — not so much as a vehicle for dwelling on the past but instead as a way to see each person in all their wholeness.
Since Ben's funeral, I have encouraged the older folks in my groups to share and listen to one another's stories. Through this process, I find participants define themselves less by their losses and more by the accumulation of life's experiences, accomplishments and relationships.
A story is so much more than a story. Sharing life stories seems to offer validation, peace, forgiveness, wholeness and acceptance — accepting oneself with where they are at the present time is a profound experience. I encourage you to ask those older individuals you love to share some stories, and then really listen. I believe we can play a privileged role in improving the quality of someone's life — one story at a time.
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