Carer Mentor's September Roundup

Another year around the sun

Sep 27, 2025

Hello, Dear Readers and a warm ‘Welcome!’ to new readers. It’s great to have you with us. I can’t believe we’re approaching my birthday month!

You can read about me in Who Started Carer Mentor and Why?

Another year around the sun.

September is always a busy month because I like to take a respite break for my birthday and spoil Mum on hers. I hadn’t planned on several client meetings or writing two letters as part of the new collaboration, but it’s all felt SO worth it—a busy but fulfilling month, living my definition of thriving.

A personal highlight was having an amazing foodie dinner as a birthday treat. I was taking memory snapshots throughout the evening: small sensory moments to savour the time.

Many thanks to all of those who are sharing their reflections and comments on ‘Letters from a Caregiver.’ The conversations feel deeply meaningful, embracing the diversity and resonance we all experience as caregivers. And, of course, many thanks to Mary Beth Kaplan🪶 , Dr Rachel Molloy , and the rest of the team who have agreed to share their letters in October.

Fresh invitations for letters will be sent out soon. I hope more of my writer-caregiver friends will accept the invite.

The Carer Mentor September Roundup:

1. September Carer Mentor Articles

World Alzheimer’s Month Ask about dementia. Ask about Alzheimer’s #WorldAlzMonth
UK National Playlist Day 19 September 2025 - a note:
“This National Playlist Day, we’d love you to create the unique soundtrack of your life with music that is meaningful. We want to encourage everyone in the UK to make their own personal playlists while raising awareness of how much music is benefitting thousands of people living with dementia in the UK.
Music and dementia
Decades of scientific research has shown that music can be a lifeline for people living with dementia. And listening to our all-time favourite songs has psychological benefits for us all. Take part in National Playlist Day and help us raise awareness of the power of personally meaningful music”
In May, during Dementia Action Week, I highlighted the ‘Playlist For Life’ charity and the resources they’ve put together for Dementia sufferers and their caregivers/families in this article:
Mindfully Using Music with Dementia, and ‘A Playlist for Life.’ Dementia Action Week (UK) 2025. Engaging, Creating and Empowering with Music, an evidence-based tool in Dementia.
The monthly: #10 This Caregiver’s Watchlist: ‘Genius Talent and Laughter’ Brain distractions and mood shifters.
September is always super-busy, so I’ve tapped into some brain distractions and mood shifters to help me switch focus.

2. A New Collaboration: ‘Letters from a Caregiver’

3. Caregiving Hacks & Tips.

This article is a rolling list of ideas that provides a reference of Tips, Hacks, and ideas to help us daily. It’s become a popular reference for many readers. Thanks to everyone for sharing your insights and ideas.

This month, I dropped a tip into the list about necessary checks when you’re given a paper prescription. One letter difference can mean the difference between an anti-inflammatory drug and a hormone treatment for cancer. Of course, there are checks at the pharmacy and ‘in the system’. My mantra since 2015, ‘Never assume. Ask. Check.’

4 Giving and Receiving Care Anthology.

Learning from each other’s Personal Experiences.

I’m not based in the US, but I know several readers are. I’ve added these to the Anthology - important information and insights.

Your Health Insurance 101 Resource Guide Terminology we should have been taught in high school. By Taylor Coffman
The long term care insurance puzzle And how to identify the pitfalls before you buy by Kerri I shared this article with a few friends in our network to see what advice if anyone they could share you can see the note here.

5. Bereavement and Grief Anthology

I added this article Ultimate Grief Gift Guide Created FOR Grievers BY Grievers By Dana Frost to the Bereavement and Grief Anthology because there are so many great ideas! Thanks, Dana, it’s such a beautiful, thoughtful resource.

6 The Dementia Anthology

I highly recommend reading this long text note: My New Role As Her Husband By Sammie Marsalli

Thank you, Sammie. You share your experiences so openly, lovingly and authentically. I appreciate your generosity and kindness. You don’t have to use your precious energy to do this, but you do, so that we can read and learn from it. Thank you.
I’m walking alongside you and your wife, with warm wishes.
Every experience is different—No ‘caresplaining’ or judgment here!

7. This Caregiver’s Continuous Learning.

I think I’ve found a book that will displace one of my Top Ten Annual ReReads. I’ve appreciated Russ Harris’ “The Happiness Trap” for a while now—it’s SO insightful. It’s number 9 on my top ten. I’ve been listening to ‘The Reality Slap 2nd Edition: How to survive and thrive when life hits hard’ as an audiobook as part of my Spotify list and bought the book for reference.

I recommend listening to the audiobook first because it has guided exercises narrated by Russ Harris. This book is for anyone going through a life-altering event, transition, or anyone who has been through emotional rollercoasters.

I finished the audiobook today and will be delving back into the Kindle version to review some of the insights again. So, of course, I’m recommending this to my Carer Mentor friends.

The Carer Mentor Website and Newsletter

The last week of every month, you’ll receive a Carer Mentor Roundup via email, to ensure you’ve not missed any of my articles or additions to the iCARE Anthologies

The Carer Mentor Website (desktop version) is our main hub, and I hope you’ll use it as a dynamic reference and also a portal to connect with other subscribers/publications within our community support network.

The desktop web version is the best way to experience all the resources, tools, anthologies and connect to other readers via the directories.

You can also keep up to date with new articles via the app1 if you scan the QR code:

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