The Purple Nest LLC

04/28/2026

I saw this on another FB post. It's a great illustration of meeting someone where they are - which is the best way to treat a person living with dementia.

Lovely post thought I’d share…. ………….If I get dementia or Alzheimer’s try to remember to hang this wish list up on the wall where I live. I want them to remember these things.
1a. Every time you enter the room announce yourself. “Hi Mama/Daddy- it’s ………...”
NEVER ask- Do you know who I am??? That causes anxiety.
1. If I get dementia, I want my friends and family to embrace my reality. 🌸
2. If I think my spouse is still alive, or if I think we’re visiting my parents for dinner, let me believe those things. I’ll be much happier for it.❤️
3. If I get dementia, don’t argue with me about what is true for me versus what is true for you.👍🏽❤️👍🏽
4. If I get dementia, and I am not sure who you are, do not take it personally. My timeline is confusing to me.👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
5. If I get dementia and can no longer use utensils, do not start feeding me. Instead, switch me to a finger-food diet, and see if I can still feed myself.❤️🥰❤️🥰
6. If I get dementia, and I am sad or anxious, hold my hand and listen. Do not tell me that my feelings are unfounded.
7. If I get dementia, I don’t want to be treated like a child. Talk to me like the adult that I am. ❤️
8. If I get dementia, I still want to enjoy the things that I’ve always enjoyed. Help me find a way to exercise, read, and visit with friends. ❤️
9. If I get dementia, ask me to tell you a story from my past.
10. If I get dementia, and I become agitated, take the time to figure out what is bothering me. ❤️
11. If I get dementia, treat me the way that you would want to be treated. ❤️
12. If I get dementia, make sure that there are plenty of snacks for me in the house. Even now if I don’t eat I get angry, and if I have dementia, I may have trouble explaining what I need.❤️
13. If I get dementia, don’t talk about me as if I’m not in the room.👍🏽
14. If I get dementia, don’t feel guilty if you cannot care for me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s not your fault, and you’ve done your best. Find someone who can help you, or choose a great new place for me to live.👍🏽
15. If I get dementia, and I live in a dementia care community, please visit me often.❤️
16. If I get dementia, don’t act frustrated if I mix up names, events, or places. Take a deep breath. It’s not my fault.👍🏽
17. If I get dementia, make sure I always have my favorite music playing within earshot.❤️❤️❤️
18. If I get dementia, and I like to pick up items and carry them around, help me return those items to their original place.👍🏽
19. If I get dementia, don’t exclude me from parties and family gatherings.❤️
20. If I get dementia, know that I still like receiving hugs and plenty of laughing ❤️🥰❤️
21. If I get dementia, remember that I am still the person you know and love.”🌼❤️
In honor of someone you know or knew who has dementia. In Honor of all those I know and love and lost who are fighting Dementia/Alzheimer’s.
Someone once said if you take care of someone with dementia, you lose them more and more every day. When they get the diagnosis, when they go through different stages, when they need treatment, and when they pass away.
This is called "the longest goodbye ". As the brain slowly dies, they change physically and eventually forget who their loved ones are. They could end up lying in bed, not moving and not eating or drinking.
There will be people who will scroll past this post because
dementia has not touched them. They may not know what it's like to have a loved one who has battled or is still battling dementia.
To raise awareness of this cruel disease, I would like my friends to put this on their page today.
Hold your finger on the post to copy and paste to your timeline.
A special thank you to anyone willing to put this on their timeline for Dementia Awareness Week.
💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

03/09/2026

GREAT NEWS! I just received this email from Jenna App the Oregon Government Relations Director, Alzheimer's Association: Dear Advocates,
Thanks to YOU, the legislature did not cut funding for Oregon Care Partners! As you'll recall if you attended our (Alzheimer's) Advocacy Day last month, OCP was slated for a 50% reduction -- a cut that would have had serious impacts on caregiver training for both professional and family caregivers who are caring for someone living with dementia.

02/13/2026

Lori volunteered with the Alzheimer's Association for the annual Alzheimer's Advocacy Day at the capital in Salem on February 11th. Over 50 volunteers showed up and had one-on-one meetings with their representatives and senators. We were recognized on the floor of the senate during the afternoon session. Our assignment was to advocate for maintaining the funding for the important work being done in Alzheimer's research and support for caregivers, most of them family members. Also, for early detection and Medicaid for people needing memory care in a facility when they can no longer be cared for at home. Cuts to Medicaid threatens all of these programs! First lady Aimee Kotek Wilson spoke with us and listened as people in the room told their stories. Some of the attendees/volunteers were currently living with dementia, but most have had a loved one with the disease. One unsettling statistic that we were sharing is that in the state of Oregon 27% of the population is over 60 and now outnumber children under 18! On the bright side, the Alzheimer's Association has MANY resources and TONS of information to help elders and their caregivers. Please visit them on their website: https://www.alz.org/orswwa

01/15/2026

A few pics from our book reading at BOLD Coffee and Books on January 9th. It was a great first experience for us, particularly with the warm support of Ali Shaw co-owner of BOLD! Videos will be posted on our website soon!

01/04/2026

Purple Nest co-authors Lori Kunkel, Brynne Hicks, LCSW, and Judy Schiller, MA, will be in conversation with Niki Tucker, LMSW. Together the four authors will explore what it means to honor personhood, choice, and quality of life as we age.

Event details:
What: Book reading & conversation
When: Friday, January 9th | Doors at 6:30 PM · Reading begins at 7:00 PM
Where: BOLD Coffee & Books, 1755 SW Jefferson St., Portland

12/24/2025

12/18/2025

💜 The Purple Gals Celebrate One Amazing Year! 💜

As we reflect on the goals we set back in January 2025, we’re proud to say we achieved many of them—and even exceeded a few. In what we consider our first true year of business, we successfully implemented our care model with several elders, delivered three public presentations, joined multiple networking groups, and moved the company into the black!

Along the way, we’ve learned so much, grown stronger as a team, and gained clarity and confidence in our mission. We are incredibly grateful for the amazing people we’ve met through our networking and marketing events—your support, encouragement, and connections have meant the world to us.

With deep gratitude and excitement, we look ahead to 2026 and continued growth for The Purple Nest. The best is yet to come! 💜✨

11/24/2025

Traveling can be particularly difficult for someone living with dementia. We've often heard from folks that their loved one experienced a lot of anxiety during the trip. Here are a few traveling tips if you're planning on taking your elder out-of-town, though they can apply to staying at home as well, especially if attending dinner with a larger group.

10/08/2025

The Purple Nest team at the 2025 Age Better! event.
Judy was one of the special speakers and gave a talk called,
"So, You Don’t Want to be a Burden?
How to Prepare Your Finances, Documents and “Stuff”'
The feedback was very positive! It was a presentation for all ages as she boldly spoke on preparing for ones death. It's a subject Americans do not like to deal with very much, but Judy's experience with helping families clean up the mess often left behind after a loved ones death clearly resonated with several people in the audience. Judy's main point - take care of your "stuff" so your loved ones can just grieve when you pass!