The Wall Street Journal today ran an article on family caregivers who post videos with a loved one who is suffering from dementia. It profiled Dan Salinger, who posted a video of his dad, who has dementia, trying to start his car. The video went viral with the two men arguing while 875K people watched. Dementia-related hashtags have amassed 2.8 billion views on TikTok, and are part of a growing category of posts related to medical conditions and disorders. I personally value my privacy and have warned friends and family members not to post about me on Social Media without my permission. Unfortunately, those with Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia can’t give informed consent. Think twice about posting about someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia on Social Media, particularly photos and videos. Regular readers of my blog know that both my father and my grandmother had this terrible disease when they passed away. There are some great folks at the Alzheimer’s Association in Ryan Ranch that can help you deal with this devastating disease. They also have a 24-hour hotline at 800-272-3900. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
