Gail Neustadt, also known by her pen name Dylan Weiss, has dedicated her career and creativity to supporting families navigating the complexities of dementia. A speech-language pathologist specializing in dementia care, Gail authored clinical protocols and textbooks emphasizing personalized, meaningful engagement for people living with Alzheimer’s disease.
Her personal experience with Alzheimer’s profoundly shaped her work. When her husband, David, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in the 1990s, Gail began a sixteen-year journey of caregiving filled with love, heartbreak, and perseverance. Through those years, she discovered moments of deep connection and hard-earned triumph that continue to impact her writing and advocacy today.
Inspired by a deeply moving moment with her grandson, Gail authored the children’s book Traveling Our Road to help addresses the anxiety felt by both a child and an adult when visiting a loved one with dementia. The story follows a couple on a metaphorical journey and incorporates symbols of Alzheimer’s pathology, including characters like Amy and Llyod, two hamsters named after the protein “amyloid.”
Through her writing, Gail preserved her humor, empathy, and resilience while creating a resource that speaks to both children and adults.
Her book has been featured in book clubs and is now being developed into an animated version, with a portion of proceeds dedicated to supporting Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.
Website link: https://authordylanweiss.com/
Purchase “Traveling Our Road” here.