Whenever the topic of preventing dementia comes up, one item that seems to rise to the top of the list is rest – usually in the form of sleep. As in ‘get enough sleep each night’. While that is great advice, there are aspects of rest that need to happen in your waking hours as well. The secret is to somehow find the balance between all the responsibilities you have for your loved one, and your own well-being.
Tag: loved one
Encountering Grief and Going Forward
As I sit down to write, I look out the window and notice how gray the day seems to be. The skies are gray and a bit misty as the rain drizzles down. The birds are not active – most of them have taken shelter in trees. I can spot the red feathers of cardinals peeking out under leaves – decorating the large beach tree in our back yard. Today’s weather mirrors the topic I am planning to write about. Grief.
Be the Valentine for your Loved-One with dementia
Caring Makes a Difference
When a person has dementia, it means they are losing memories, not feelings. One of my favorite quotes from Maya Angelou is,
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Quality of life for loved one benefits everyone
Quality of life rises to a higher priority as options become more and more limited. When we first realized that Mama was beginning to display signs of dementia, our family made the decision to try to fill her life with as much joy as possible. I say ‘unconscious decision’ because, at that point, we didn’t…
Find a sense of balance in your busy life
In order to find a sense of balance in our busy lives, it is first important to define what balance actually is. One definition is a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.
Andy finished life well – but way too soon
We know that Andy had many struggles in life but over the past several years he experienced many victories and was in a good place – he finished well.
A Time to Mourn
And finally, a memorial service is also one more way to show honor to a parent. As God’s word tells us in Ecclesiastes, there is “A time to mourn.”
The Messenger
Mama was a messenger. Her life was a message that didn’t need words. This season also gave her family something else. Time. The extra time we were given allowed us the opportunity to show her honor.
Activity ideas to help when your loved-one is bored or fidgety
Once you begin to look, you will discover a whole world of items designed to help give loved ones’ fingers something to do and perhaps reduce periods of agitation.
Are you a Caregiver? Do you know one?
Remember, you can’t do it all whether you are the caregiver or friend. Sometimes the best help may be a welcome visit that provides a temporary distraction.