Author, Don’t Walk Away: A Care Partner’s Journey
This week, Ira spoke with Marilyn Raichle, author of Don’t Walk Away: A Care Partner’s Journey. In this caring episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Marilyn talks about how her mother, Jean, told her and her siblings that when she got Alzheimer’s, they should just “walk away”; why Marilyn didn’t walk away; how an art class showed her that her that Jean was “still there”; how she was still living with invention, wit and joy; Jean’s new “family”; the “enduring personhood” of people who live with dementia; why she wrote the book; sharing joy; the framework of loss: care partners; how she became the family caregiver; the “ladies of assisted living”; why “sometimes your brain just gets in the way”; letting go of the person who used to be; and learning to relate by slowing down.
Marilyn Reichle, author of Don’t Walk Away, grew up in the shadow of Alzheimer’s. Nearly everyone in her father’s family and many in her mother’s had developed the disease. But Raichle became transformed in her views towards those living with dementia, inspiring the launch of a book and several non-profits that helps — and celebrates — those living with the memory-robbing disease.
Marilyn began her career in the theatre, founding the Seattle International Children’s Festival. She served for 11 years at North America’s largest international festival for children, introducing children to world culture through the performing arts.
She then became the founding executive director of American Voices for nine years, building an informed, engaged, and good-humored community.
In 2007, she received a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. She received her BA from the University of Washington.
Upon returning to Seattle, her career changed when she became the family caregiver for her parents, both of whom were developing dementia. In 2010, inspired by her mother’s newfound artistic ability, she founded The Art of Alzheimer’s, celebrating the creativity of those living with dementia and the power of the arts to enrich and empower their lives.
In 2019 she became the Executive Director of Maude’s Awards for Innovation in Alzheimer’s Care, celebrating and rewarding innovative programs and practices of care that are enhancing the lives of people living with dementia, and their care partners.
Her work with the Alzheimer’s community brought her news media attention, including interviews with KOMO-Radio inSeattle and KGNW-Radio in Seattle, and podcasts: Will Gather, The Art of Aging, and Autumn Is Here. Her mom was featured in her local paper, as well as the Alzheimer’s Reading Room and The New York Times Alzheimer’s Blog.
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