Browsing the headlines and blog posts related to those topics we find relevant and interesting, including aging, assisted living, senior health, and dementia, among others, we noticed an amazing blog post reflecting on spending Father's Day with a memory-impaired dad, written by a life coach named Laurie.
The writer has watched her father's mental decline over the past few years, and while thankful for the basic blessing of having him survive to experience another Father's Day, despite being in hospice care, the stronger message of thanks centered on how one handles the ongoing problem of finding meaning in the day to day activities of a loved one clearly affected by dementia. 
Laurie did not give up, and continued to explore her father's world, at one point asking him, "what means the most to you, Dad?"
The answer might have seemed like just another nonsensical statement to many, but to the listening, patient daughter, it turned into something different.
"Steak," her father replied.
"Hmmm," she thought, that may have to do with his quality of life, but is there real meaning in the answer?
She asked him again, and again he replied, "steak."
"Why does steak mean so much to you, Dad?"
His answer caused her to lose her breath.
"Because it reminds me of home," he said.
Recalling that her father grew up on a cattle ranch, the writer was overcome with the significance of the answer, and on this Father's Day she chose to share the experience as a symbol of what can happen, on any day of the year, when a loved one is really listened to, particularly during a time when it is very challenging to do so in normal fashion, given the deep condition of dementia.
Sure, you can browse a few clicks ahead and find a story of people climbing Mt. Everest to bring awareness to Alzheimer's, which is a fantastic story, of course. But in the simple answer to a simple question, posed during what would be a very everyday situation, between a daughter and a father, perhaps the meaning is just as powerful as summiting the highest peak.
Take some time and browse all the great stories posted this weekend, paying tribute to fathers, especially those who are now suffering from memory impairment. From numerous Alzheimer-related remembrance articles on Patch.com, to New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi's more mainstream ESPN piece on his father, who was struck with the disease some 13 years ago.
We think it's terrific to see the attention being paid to the matter, and whether its on Father's Day or just another Sunday later in the summer, or the year, we appreciate the great stories.
(Image Courtesy of Jerry on Flickr)
