It is hard enough having to care for a loved one with dementia, but often, the resources and support system are hard to come by. This resource guide aims to answer readers questions about dementia and gives personal experience accounts and coping tips, all in easy to understand language.

Angie Swetland graduated from Luther College with a degree in Sociology and Religion. Her first job was as Activity Director in a small-town nursing home. Forty years later, she retired as Corporate Director of Customer Relations at Presbyterian Homes and Services (PHS), one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit providers of senior housing and services. During her time at PHS, Angie developed curricula for Dementia Care services and worked with care teams to ensure care protocols were in place. Angie also assisted in developing a Dementia Care Specialist certification program offered jointly by the Alzheimer’s Association of Minnesota and North Dakota and served on its faculty. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors of Our Lady of Peace Hospice and Home. Angie facilitates a Dementia Caregiver Support Group at Easter Lutheran Church and enjoys public speaking to area churches and other organizations about Dementia Care. Her book “I Know You By Heart: Navigating the Dementia Journey” gives answers to some of their commonly asked questions about dementia as well as coping strategies for the future. (Angie Swetland, 2023)

“I Know You By Heart: Navigating the Dementia Journey” – In the U.S. today, over 5.8 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s Disease or related dementia. Each of these individuals has a story and each one has caregivers with stories of their own. You have questions – so many questions about what is happening now, and what is to come. How do I cope with this new manifestation of the disease? How do I prepare for an uncertain future? This is especially true when just navigating your way through each day can be overwhelming. In navigating this journey, it is important to remember two essential truths. The first is that the body may fail, and the mind may wander, but the spirit – the person inside – remains intact. The caregiver’s role is to maximize the remaining strengths of the person they care for. The second is that you are not alone. Caregiving is often an isolating experience. Stories from the lives of others let us know that our experiences are not unique. Be assured that many have gone before, and others are walking the same road today.

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