I never thought, at my age, I’d become an advocate for caregivers and Veterans. How’d it happen? My personal experience that saw me felled by a disease that affects or will affect millions in the future—Alzheimer’s. Now–understand: I’m not even the person who has the disease. As wife and sole caregiver to my husband diagnosed…
It’ll be my first really big speaking venue. Masonicare, a 245 unit senior living community in that lovely seaside town of Mystic, Connecticut, has commissioned me to speak before their residents who range from independent living, to assisted living and memory care. How’d they hear about the woman (me) who tells how to survive and…
Paul and Colleen at Colt Park, Bristol
ProJo Columnist and Long-Time Caregiver Gives Inspiring Talks: “Many Have Called Theirs ‘A Love Story:‘ “ Colleen Kelly Mellor was sole Caregiver to her husband, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s for 13+ years, but when she knew she could no longer do his 24/7 care, she sought out a residential place for him with which he–and she–could…
“Many Have Called Theirs ‘A Love Story:’ 10 Reasons You’ll Want to Hear Colleen Kelly Mellor’s Talk? 10.Readers love her book as seen on Amazon Customer reviews. ***In 2025, Colleen plans to share important tips she learned over her 10+ years as sole Caregiver to her husband, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s: she weaves together anecdotes of…
I needed my hair done for a major book presentation and sought my long time hair stylist who’s seen me through many events (weddings, etc.) Problem? Donna Simonelli (her photo’s on the right) would be on vacation in Costa Rica. So, she offered her friend/stylist Christine Corio DiBenedetto, whom I also knew, to stand in…
One fairly long (over a year) Caregiver stint for a loved one and the family assets could all go….
It’s a rapacious predator who has taken far too many of my family. Just in the past 9 months, my two brothers passed, due to this illness. John Jr., at the age of 79, passed last August and Peter, 82, died more recently. John was buried on the Cape one month ago and Pete is…
When one is younger, she (I give the preference to “she” because I can’t speak for men) doesn’t really consider memory, because she doesn’t have many memories in her cognitive vault. She’ll build them over a lifetime, with some being wonderful and some (hopefully not too many) painful. My friend, Jackie Damian, once spoke about…
It was as still as could be in Berry Cemetery (yes, someone knew that name would get a reaction), off a dirt road in Denmark, Maine, where I’d gone this past Saturday, in June, to be part of the funeral assembly for my latest cousin who’d gone the route of Alzheimer’s. The sound of the…
