Paint Clover Purple

06/18/2026

06/17/2026

Come join us: People Living with Cognitive Impairment. You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: every Tuesday 11:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/KcERfBQsTJiICZwMV3Omtw

06/17/2026

Clover School District Residents 💜❤️

06/15/2026

The Little Things; Living with Dementia by Laurie Waters
Episode 23 - Home, Memory Care, and the Hardest Decisions

One of the hardest conversations for any family living with dementia is this question:

"When is it time for memory care?"

The truth is, yes, there may come a time when some of us need 24/7 care. Dementia is progressive, and every journey is different. But for many people, remaining at home for as long as possible can provide something incredibly important: comfort, familiarity, and one-on-one attention.

At home, we are surrounded by the places where we built our lives. The chair where we drank our morning coffee. The kitchen where we cooked family meals. The photos on the walls. The sounds, smells, and routines that tell our brains, "You are safe. You are home."

With the right companion care, home health services, and eventually hospice, many people living with dementia can experience a slower decline, less anxiety, and a greater sense of security.

Please don't get me wrong; I am not saying memory care facilities are all bad. In fact, I know some that are absolutely wonderful, filled with loving staff who genuinely care and treat residents like family. Some are places where I would feel comfortable one day if I reached that stage of my journey.

But I also speak with families who have experienced the opposite. Loved ones left alone, not properly cared for, or treated in ways that no human being should be. There are places where, honestly, I would rather pass away than spend my final years.

This is why choosing memory care is one of the most difficult decisions a family and the person living with dementia will ever make.

My advice? Start early.

While you are still in the early stages, tour facilities. Ask questions. Speak with residents if possible. Talk with current families and families of former residents. Trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, move on.

Ask questions such as:

• What does the daily routine look like?
• Is there enough flexibility, or is everything rushed?
• Is there a safe outdoor area for residents to enjoy?
• Do they support the entire family, not just the resident?
• Will they work with families to maintain routines and preferences?
• Are family members welcome at all hours if needed?
• Are they interested in learning what comforts and calms the person?
• Do they encourage residents to maintain their normal routines and preferences?
• Do they allow room monitoring such as nanny cams if desired by the family?

The same applies to home care.

Research your home health aides. Don't simply accept whoever is sent by an agency. We have had terrible caregivers that had to be dismissed immediately, and we have had some of the most amazing, loving, and compassionate aides who went above and beyond.

Think of choosing a caregiver the same way you would choose someone to care for your newborn baby. You want someone who is kind, patient, trustworthy, and genuinely invested in the person's wellbeing.

Because at the end of the day, whether someone remains at home or lives in a memory care community, the most important things are the same:

Love. Dignity. Compassion. Safety.

The right place is not determined by the building.

It's determined by the people who care for you and whether they see the person first and the diagnosis second.

Because even with dementia…

We are still us.

❤️ Laurie Waters
"The little things: love, compassion, and feeling safe are often the biggest things of all."

06/11/2026

The Little Things; Living with Dementia – Episode 22
The Ripple Effect

Have you ever skipped a rock across a pond and watched the ripples spread across the water?

One small splash. One tiny moment. Then the circles begin to grow, reaching farther and farther from where they started.

Sometimes I think my dementia journey has been a lot like that.

The rock hit the water the day I received my diagnosis. The sound was loud. The impact was hard. Like many people, I was scared, overwhelmed, and unsure what my future would look like.

But then something unexpected happened.

The ripples started.

One ripple led me to join AIM. Another brought me to the Early Stage Advisory Board. Then came an interview with Fernando Aguzzoli-Peres. What I didn't realize at the time was that one conversation would create ripples that continue to this day.

One opportunity led to another. Peer-to-peer support groups. Media interviews. Conferences. Friendships with people living with dementia, care partners, researchers, and advocates from around the world.

Co-founding the Walking the Talk for Dementia Institute. Founding Paint Clover Purple Dementia Association. Speaking nationally and internationally. Becoming a member of the Global Dementia Expert Panel. Each ripple growing larger than the one before it.

None of those things happened all at once.
They started with one small ripple.

What I've learned is that we never really know how far our actions will reach. A conversation. A kind word. Sharing our story. Starting a support group. Speaking up when others stay silent. Each one creates another ripple.

Today, as dementia makes some things more difficult, I notice the changes. Conversations can be harder. Finding the right words takes more effort. My energy doesn't last as long, and I need more rest than I once did.

But the ripples continue.

Every week, through advocacy, support groups, speaking engagements, and simply sharing my journey, I hope to create another ripple. Not because I can change the whole world by myself, but because every ripple touches another life.

And maybe that's what The Little Things are really about.

Not grand gestures. Not fame. Not recognition.

Just ordinary people creating ripples of hope, understanding, and acceptance.

As long as God gives me the strength, I will keep throwing stones into the water.

Because somewhere, someone needs to see those ripples and know that a diagnosis is not the end of their story.

It is simply the beginning of a new one.

❤️ Laurie Waters

"We may have a diagnosis, but the diagnosis does not have us."

06/04/2026

The Little Things: Living with Dementia, by Laurie Waters
Episode 21- Leaving Your Mark
One of the things I have learned since my diagnosis is that life is not measured only by how long we live, but by the impact we have on others while we are here.
This week, I will be officiating another wedding. Last year, I became an ordained minister, and I have found great joy in helping couples begin a new chapter in their lives. There is something incredibly special about standing beside two people as they promise to walk through life together.
Sometimes I think about the fact that my journey may end earlier than most because of dementia. That reality can be difficult to face. But when I perform a wedding ceremony, I feel as though I am leaving a little piece of myself behind...a small contribution to a family's story that will continue long after I am gone.
Don't get me wrong. I know I am already leaving a legacy through many things: the Peer-to-Peer Support Groups I host, my speaking engagements around the world, co-founding Walking the Talk for Dementia Institute, and founding Paint Clover Purple Association. More importantly, I hope I am leaving a legacy with my husband, children, grandchildren, family, friends, and even some of the people who may not have always agreed with me.
The truth is, every one of us is leaving a legacy.
I have several friends living with dementia around the world who are doing exactly that. Some create beautiful artwork that tells their story when words become difficult. Others have written books, cookbooks, blogs, or hosted podcasts. Some advocate on stages. Others quietly support a friend who needs encouragement.
Every single one of them is leaving a mark on this world.
The amazing thing is that changing the world doesn't always require a large audience. Sometimes it happens through a single conversation. A moment of kindness. A shared experience. A word of encouragement.
You may never know the impact you have had on another person's life.
Perhaps a conversation inspired someone to become a doctor, researcher, nurse, social worker, caregiver, or advocate. Perhaps your courage helped someone seek a diagnosis, ask for help, or simply keep going one more day.
Moments matter.
Connections matter.
People matter.
So this week, I encourage you to do something that brings you joy. Paint. Write. Garden. Sing. Volunteer. Travel. Spend time with people you love. Find something that makes your heart happy.
Because when we do the things that bring us joy, we often leave behind something much greater than we realize.
A memory.
An inspiration.
A legacy.
And that may be one of the most important little things of all.
— Laurie Waters

05/29/2026

The Little Things: Living with Dementia, by Laurie Waters
Episode 20 - Never Underestimate Laughter

People often focus so much on the sadness of dementia that they forget we still need joy.

We still laugh.
We still joke.
We still enjoy silly moments.

Some of my best days are not the “perfect memory” days — they are the days filled with laughter, kindness, and connection.

A funny story.
A shared smile.
A moment of silliness.

Those little things can carry us through very hard days.

I am so fortunate to be married to a natural comedian. Not a day goes by that Ricky and I don’t laugh together. We are constantly joking with one another. We even joke about dementia sometimes. Some people may think that is offensive, but for us, it is how we cope with this disease.

Finding joy every day helps make this battle worth fighting.

Laughter does not take away the reality of dementia, but it helps lighten the weight of it.

I thank the Lord every day for bringing Ricky into my life. Next week we celebrate our 22nd wedding anniversary, and through all the hard days, the laughter has never stopped.

Sometimes the little things that help us survive are simply love, humor, and someone willing to laugh beside us. 💜

05/24/2026

There are moments in life that remind us why awareness, understanding, and human connection matter so deeply. 💜

Living with dementia has changed my life in many ways, but it has also shown me the power of speaking openly, building community, and helping others feel less alone.

I invite you to take a few moments to watch this important video and help us continue changing the way the world sees people living with dementia. Every conversation matters. Every shared story matters. And every person deserves to be seen, heard, and valued.

Please watch, share, and help spread awareness. Together, we can continue changing perspectives and creating a world filled with more compassion, inclusion, and hope.

“Find Your People.” 💜

🎥 Watch here:
https://youtu.be/WfTyZD0EYME?si=UOEFV8z39ovOVqI9

Dementia is a condition that impacts millions of families around the world — whether personally or through someone we love. As the number of people living wi...

05/20/2026

🌿 The Little Things: Living with Dementia, by Laurie Waters

Episode 19: Destiny Beyond Diagnosis 🌍

Sometimes the “little things” are actually the biggest things of all…

learning to accept ourselves, our emotions, and finding purpose again after diagnosis.

When I was first diagnosed with Younger Onset Dementia, I truly believed it was a death sentence filled with fear, pain, uncertainty, and heartbreak. I could not imagine what my future would look like.

Yet here I am, 8 years later, helping change the way the world sees people living with dementia.

In many ways, I believe destiny has a purpose for some of us. Sometimes our greatest adversity becomes the very thing that changes not only our own lives, but the lives of others around us.

Since my diagnosis, I have traveled more than I ever did before.....speaking across the country and around the world, sharing awareness, breaking stigma, and showing people that although I may have a diagnosis, that diagnosis does not have me.

I can no longer work a traditional job, and I understand why. I have good days and difficult days. I would never want to risk making a mistake that could impact someone else. But what I can do is volunteer, advocate, and speak openly about the realities of living with dementia.

I no longer worry about speaking perfectly or following a written script. In truth, I often cannot. So instead, I speak from my heart. And maybe that is exactly why my message matters. It is real. It is honest. It is human.

There are still days when I break down crying in public. For a long time, I felt embarrassed by the emotional changes dementia has brought into my life. My emotions can go from sorrow, to rage, to laughter, to overwhelming joy in a matter of minutes. Living with dementia often feels like experiencing every emotion at full volume.

But I have finally come to understand something important:

This does not make me weak.

It makes me human.

My diagnosis has changed me, but it has also opened my eyes to deeper compassion, deeper purpose, and deeper connection with others.

If my journey has taught me anything, it is this:

Even in adversity, there can still be meaning.

Even in loss, there can still be purpose.

And even after diagnosis… there can still be a beautiful life worth living.

To anyone struggling today.....please know you are not alone.

Find your people. Speak your truth. Allow yourself grace.

And never let a diagnosis define the beauty of who you are. 💜 These are the little things.