Tomorrow evening, July 24th, I’ll be stepping way outside my comfort zone to share something deeply personal with our community. As someone who identifies as an introvert with a genuine fear of public speaking, you might wonder what could possibly compel me to stand in front of a room full of people. The answer is simple: the urgent need to build our eldercare community and connect resources that can truly make a difference in people’s lives.
At 4:30 PM tomorrow at Mill on Main (95 S. Main Street, Oberlin, OH), we’ll be screening “The Nurse” short film, followed by a reading from my novel of the same name. But this isn’t just about storytelling—it’s about changing the narrative around dementia and creating meaningful connections within our community.
When I sat down to write “The Nurse,” I carried a haunting question: *What if the person you love most is slowly slipping away, and you feel powerless to stop it? More than that, I carried a frustration with how dementia is typically portrayed in the movies—as a two-hour tragedy of diagnosis, family destruction, and bitter end. While this journey is undeniably challenging, that narrative felt incomplete. It ignored something crucial: the years of connection that can still exist. The smiles. The laughter. The moments of profound love that persist even as memory fades.
“The Nurse” tells the story of Jill and Jim—a devoted wife who refuses to abandon her husband even when dementia makes her a stranger in their own home. Through their journey, I wanted to show that while this path isn’t easy, there can still be beauty in the midst of loss. There can still be joy alongside the grief. In a twist that speaks to love’s deepest truths, Jim may forget that Jill is his wife, but he falls in love with her all over again.
This isn’t just a love story, though. “The Nurse” is also a caregiver’s manual wrapped in fiction. The novel follows Jill and Jim as they discover and benefit from resources like memory cafés—real programs that exist in our communities today.
## Building Our Village
We often say it takes a village to raise a child. Tomorrow night, I want to remind us that it also takes a village to grow old with dignity, surrounded by love and support. When dementia enters our lives—whether as caregivers or as those experiencing cognitive changes—we cannot walk this path alone.
That’s why I’m so excited about the community resources that will be present tomorrow evening. Multiple eldercare vendors will be there to share support and information. Most notably, Carole Klingler of Dementia Friendly Life, creators of Memory Cafés, will lead a Q&A session after I read a chapter from the novel. The chapter I’ve chosen is the perfect segue to Carole’s discussion, as my fictional characters grow and learn from attending a memory café in the story.
## A Message of Hope
If you’re reading this and you’re either on the path of discovery with a dementia diagnosis or know someone who is, I wrote “The Nurse” to provide a ray of hope in what may feel like dark days. I believe that when we embrace the help available to us, when we lean into community rather than isolation, the dementia journey can include years of meaningful connection. Memory may fade, but the heart never forgets how to love.
To the care partners out there: You are heroes, but even heroes need rest. Self-care isn’t selfish—it’s essential. You cannot pour from an empty cup.
To those living with cognitive changes: Your voice matters. Your needs matter. You deserve care that honors your dignity and recognizes that while memory may fade, your humanity remains bright and whole.
## Join Us Tomorrow
The event is free, though seating is limited, so please RSVP if you can join us (thenurseshort2023@gmail.com). We’ll have light refreshments and what I hope will be warm fellowship as we come together to support one another.
Even though public speaking terrifies me, some things are more important than our fears. Growing old embraced by those around us isn’t just a hope—it’s what we create together, one story, one connection, one act of care at a time.
That’s the story I needed to tell. That’s the hope I want to share tomorrow night—even if it means stepping way outside my comfort zone to do it.
If you’re in the area, please consider joining us. Let’s build this village together.
**Event Details:**
– **Date:** July 24th
– **Time:** Doors open at 4 PM, film begins at 4:30 PM
– **Location:** Mill on Main, 95 S. Main Street, Oberlin, OH
– **Cost:** Free admission
– **RSVP:** thenurseshort2023@gmail.com
When memory fades, love finds a way—and community makes all the difference.
Pages For The Soul 