The Mother Who Changed: A Story of Dementia

Predatory “professional guardians” are taking over the guardianship of the elderly or impaired and bleeding them dry of their assets.

In Being Mortal, surgeon Atul Gawande considers our experience of aging and dying in the 21st century. In his view, the modern approach to these stages of life undermines our ability to live well up to the end—to do better, we need to accept death as a natural part of the human experience and prioritize the well-being of the dying.

Critics praised Being Mortal and considered it one of the best books of 2014. It’s since been adapted into a TV documentary and a feature film.

We’ve divided our guide into two main sections to explore Gawande’s theme. The first section examines some of the ways we approach aging and death in our modern era, and the second explores Gawande’s ideas about how we might improve our experience of these profoundly important aspects of life.

In our commentary, we’ve contextualized Gawande’s ideas by citing relevant statistics about end-of-life care in the modern healthcare system and by exploring psychological insights on how we experience our mortality.

Media are rife with haunting stories of true crime, but some accounts are more chilling than others—particularly those that involve torture and murder. In If You Tell, Gregg Olsen recounts the story of notorious abuser and murderer Shelly Knotek, who, along with her husband Dave, abused and tortured their daughters, nephew, and two boarders—resulting in three deaths. Olsen is a best-selling true crime author and novelist who was asked to write this story by the Knotek daughters themselves.

In our guide, we'll discuss the ways in which Shelly abused her victims along with Dave’s help. We’ll also look specifically at how she lured two friends to become boarders at her home and then killed them, and we’ll look at the events leading up to Shelly and Dave’s arrests and convictions. Additionally, we’ll add information about the psychology of abuse and psychopathy, compare it to similar stories of child abuse, and add context about the legal system and its responsibilities in cases like these.

Finding Me, Viola Davis’s memoir published in 2022, recounts her extraordinary journey from the depths of poverty to the heights of Hollywood stardom. In this deeply personal account, Davis shares how acting became a beacon of hope and a path toward self-discovery in the midst of poverty, abuse, and racial discrimination.

Davis, celebrated for her roles in The Help, Doubt, How To Get Away With Murder, and Fences, has distinguished herself in film, television, and theater, achieving the historic "Triple Crown of Acting." Beyond her acting career, she co-runs JuVee Productions, aiming to produce diverse storytelling across various media.

This guide provides a detailed overview of Davis's life, enriched with historical context and additional information not found in the memoir, while also exploring Davis’ impact on the discussions about the importance of diverse storytelling in the media.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone is a memoir by psychotherapist and author Lori Gottlieb. She discusses a difficult time in her life following a sudden breakup with her long-term boyfriend. The incident upset her so badly that it drove her to seek therapy herself.

This book is the story of Lori’s time in therapy, interwoven with stories about Lori’s own patients. Though each of their situations is different, their shared struggles and how they overcome them reflect common experiences that all people share—in fact, Lori says that the reason therapists can be effective is precisely because they have those same struggles. As Lori and her patients work together toward health and understanding, they reflect on their pasts—how they got to be where they are now—and the futures they’d like to have.

In Being Mortal, surgeon Atul Gawande considers our experience of aging and dying in the 21st century. In his view, the modern approach to these stages of life undermines our ability to live well up to the end—to do better, we need to accept death as a natural part of the human experience and prioritize the well-being of the dying.

Critics praised Being Mortal and considered it one of the best books of 2014. It’s since been adapted into a TV documentary and a feature film.

We’ve divided our guide into two main sections to explore Gawande’s theme. The first section examines some of the ways we approach aging and death in our modern era, and the second explores Gawande’s ideas about how we might improve our experience of these profoundly important aspects of life.

In our commentary, we’ve contextualized Gawande’s ideas by citing relevant statistics about end-of-life care in the modern healthcare system and by exploring psychological insights on how we experience our mortality.

In Being Mortal, surgeon Atul Gawande considers our experience of aging and dying in the 21st century. In his view, the modern approach to these stages of life undermines our ability to live well up to the end—to do better, we need to accept death as a natural part of the human experience and prioritize the well-being of the dying.

Critics praised Being Mortal and considered it one of the best books of 2014. It’s since been adapted into a TV documentary and a feature film.

We’ve divided our guide into two main sections to explore Gawande’s theme. The first section examines some of the ways we approach aging and death in our modern era, and the second explores Gawande’s ideas about how we might improve our experience of these profoundly important aspects of life.

In our commentary, we’ve contextualized Gawande’s ideas by citing relevant statistics about end-of-life care in the modern healthcare system and by exploring psychological insights on how we experience our mortality.

Join Dr. Andrew Huberman in his enlightening podcast, "Huberman Lab," as he explores the habit of caffeine use, the toll of decision fatigue, the impacts of social isolation, and the benefits of premium podcast subscriptions. Gain invaluable insights into the mechanisms of caffeine in our bodies and ways to mitigate the risks of overconsumption. Uncover pertinent advice from Dr. Huberman on caffeine consumption according to different age groups and grasp the potential hazards of everyday energy drinks.

Step into the realm of mental health as Dr. Huberman delves into the complexities of decision fatigue and social isolation. Learn efficient ways to counteract decision-making burnout and understand the psychological and physiological impact of chronic loneliness. Plus, get a taste of the advantages offered by a premium subscription model for this podcast aimed at supporting free content while enabling research into human wellbeing. This episode of Huberman Lab is an essential listen for anyone aiming to improve mental and physical health and enhance performance.

The Glass Castle is the harrowing tale of Jeannette Wall’s life growing up in poverty with wayward parents. Jeannette and her siblings were often left to fend for themselves as their parents engaged in alcoholic binges or flights of fancy. The siblings ultimately resented their parents’ neglect and became independent, moving far away.

Following the Walls family through the desert to the coal-mining region of West Virginia to the fast-paced life of New York City, this memoir explores the nature of family, loyalty, and tragedy and what it takes to survive together and apart.

Get set for an engaging, intimate conversation in the podcast 'Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus'. Dive deep into this episode as Julia invites her mother, Judith Bowles, and acclaimed author, Amy Tan, to share candid conversations and sincere insights. Starting with a mutual memory from a momentous White House event, they traverse through multi-faceted dialogues about family connections, societal expectations around aging, personal trauma, and the journey of personal development.

In their shared exploration, the world of renowned author Amy Tan unfolds before the listeners' eyes. The acclaimed creator of 'The Joy Luck Club' opens up herself to the sensitivity of Louis-Dreyfus’s audience, sharing her life’s highs and lows, personal trauma, the solace she finds in writing, and the wisdom she would advise her younger self. Wrapped in conversational humor and the genuine warmth of mother-daughter bonds, this podcast discusses everything from literature to family secrets, providing an engaging rapport that leaves the listener eager for more.

Join Julia Louis-Dreyfus in an enthralling episode of her podcast, "Wiser Than Me." In an enlightening dialogue with fashion icon Diane von Furstenberg, they challenge the traditional view of fashion, exploring how it encompasses not just clothing but acts as a medium that reflects and bolsters personalities. The pair reflect on aging, with Diane proposing a refreshing perspective that sees age as evidence of life's experiences. A deeper dive into societal judgments of appearance and plastic surgeries makes way for the acceptance of individual choices, with Diane infusing her belief for natural appearances reflecting life's journey.

Moving out of the personal realm into the professional, the episode delves deep into Diane's awe-inspiring career in fashion along with anecdotes from Julia's mother, Judith Bowles. The audience get an intimate window into the life of the fashion legend, unveiling her journey from idea to reality, her visionary plans for a Venice-based intellectual hub, and the conception of her emblematic wrap dress. The podcast roundly emphasizes Diane's and Julia's resilient mindsets shaped by life's adversities, making it a truly influential and empowering episode.