A collage of family pictures provides a glimpse of Anne McKeown’s history. Jean Fields, McKeown’s daughter and caregiver, said, “Life is more than what you see. And my mom is much more than her dementia”.

David McKeown helps his mother, Anne McKeown, to steady her hands while drinking a cup of hot chocolate. He frequently assists in caring for his mother because “We’re family and we help each other”.

Anne McKeown sits in her bedroom. “When she gets that far-off look,” says McKeown’s daughter Jean Fields, “you sometimes just have to wonder what’s going on in there.” McKeown’s dementia has diminished her ability to communicate. “Sometimes she can tell us exactly what she’s thinking, with or without words, especially if she’s mad,” Fields adds laughing. “But it’s got to be frustrating for her when the words just can’t make their way out.”

Anne McKeown gets a thumbs up from physical therapist Dawn Lombardi after a productive physical therapy session.

Physical therapists Dawn Lombardi (right) and Susan Mann (left) help Anne McKeown (center) get into bed after a physical therapy session. McKeown is recovering from partial hip replacement after a recent hip fracture. In order avoid recovery time in a rehabilitation center, McKeown receives physical therapy sessions twice a week in her home.

Anne McKeown works with physical therapists Dawn Lombardi and Susan Mann during one of her biweekly sessions. McKeown is recovering from surgery due to a fractured hip.

Anne McKeown eats a cornbread muffin. Her daughter, Jean Fields, said McKeown rarely passes up cornbread and sometimes “I have to move the plate out of her reach, or she’ll eat them all.” Dementia has not, for the most part, diminished McKeown’s appetite or ability to feed herself, according to Fields.

Coloring pictures is a regular pastime for Anne McKeown. Even though McKeown’s progressing dementia has lessened her ability to color more intricate pictures, she still seems to enjoy the activity, according to her caregivers.