seniajean

My sister and I (I'm on the left) as adults, and us as children.

When it comes to dementia, Laughter truly is the best medicine

Posted on May 1, 2025 by seniajean

Caregiving for someone with dementia is neither easy nor for the faint of heart. It is certainly not a laughing matter – it’s a serious responsibility filled with many decisions and little sleep. It was almost 20 years ago when it was determined that my Mama had dementia. Back then, there were very few resources or books that offered advice about how to do day-to-day care. After our Daddy passed away, my sister, husband, and I realized we had to figure out how to navigate this journey with very few signposts along the way.

Wayne is holding a key in his non-dominant hand to unlock the door. He is also holding an upside down calendar. Both are good neurobic exercises for your brain.

Train your brain – a fun way to reduce dementia risk

Posted on April 1, 2025April 3, 2025 by seniajean

Back when we were caring for our Mama, I remember wondering if her condition might be genetic. At the time, we didn’t even know for sure if she had Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia. Mama did have a brain scan at the time, but that was almost 20 years ago, and there were not as many diagnostic resources back then. More research has been conducted, along with advances in diagnosing.
If you are caring for a loved one with dementia, especially one of your parents, it is likely that at some point, you have wondered if you may inherit it as well.

Wayne and Bambi are having a good time singing a family favorite, "When Papa Put the Paper on the Wall"

Music is good medicine for those with dementia – take as needed

Posted on March 1, 2025March 1, 2025 by seniajean

My sister and I recently had a lovely chat about music and its important role in the lives of people with dementia. She told me about the amazing story of Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga.
Tony Bennett was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2016. By then, Lady Gaga had become Tony’s devoted protégé. Even after his diagnosis, they were still singing together. In 2021, they performed two sold-out concerts “One Last Time: An Evening With Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga.” The limiting and muting effects of Alzheimer’s seemed to disappear while he was singing.

Our daughter visiting someone she loves. Background photo by Annie Spratt in Unsplash

Making Contact with Loved Ones: A Heartfelt Connection

Posted on February 1, 2025February 1, 2025 by seniajean

While having lunch and visiting with our friends at one of the senior centers we regularly attend, old Motown songs played in the background. I found myself singing along with Stevie Wonder’s hit from 1984, “I Just Called to Say I Love You”. It reminded me of the importance of connecting with our loved ones. As Valentine’s Day approaches, this song, with its simple message, serves as a lovely reminder to make contact with those we love, especially those living alone or in nursing homes.

Wayne is displaying some of our favorite books.

Reading Is Good for our Brains – Helping Reduce Dementia Risk

Posted on January 1, 2025January 1, 2025 by seniajean

I got my love for reading from my Mama. She was an avid reader. Her love of a good mystery influenced my own reading habits. I read all her Agatha Christie and Rex Stout paperbacks, and she borrowed all my alphabet and cat mysteries. We also shared a love for Erle Stanley Gardner’s Perry Mason.

When it comes to reading, this is a great time of the year. The holiday season is over, and the weather keeps us inside more. These factors give us the perfect excuse to enjoy more guilt-free periods of curling up with a new or favorite book.

Venitra White-Dean, CDP, and her brother Henrico White are standing next to a Frankie Mae Foundation banner.

Frankie Mae Foundation: A Model for Caregiving Excellence

Posted on December 1, 2024December 1, 2024 by seniajean

Our caregiving journey began when Mama was in the early stages of dementia. My dad was still alive at that time, although he had his own struggles with Parkinson’s disease. Our parents lived in a little cottage in the country. Wayne and I, and my sister, Peggy took care of everything required to care for parents whose abilities were diminishing.

Wayne is enjoying a great cup of coffee.

Hot or Cold, Coffee & Tea Help Diminish Dementia Risk

Posted on November 1, 2024November 1, 2024 by seniajean

Are you a coffee or tea drinker? The refreshing aroma of coffee is one of my favorite childhood memories – and one I still enjoy to this day. My Mama was raised in a community of Finnish friends and relatives. Among the various aspects of Finnish culture that Mama enjoyed was the love of drinking coffee. I take after her in that way. I also love tea. Over the years, I have heard that coffee and tea are both very good for you, often followed by a contradictory article declaring they are very bad for you. I have followed the back-and-forth declarations. While some may say that the jury is still out, I continue to enjoy coffee in the morning (it used to be all day until I began to experience ‘wakefulness’ at night), and tea in the evening. My favorite blend is decaf Earl Grey and Chamomile.

Amber Johnson leading us in our dance moves.

Give Chair Ballet A Whirl for Better Health

Posted on October 30, 2024October 31, 2024 by seniajean

When I was a little girl, I took ballet classes. I don’t remember much about it except that I liked my pink tights, black leotards, and pink ballet shoes. I remember having a vague idea that at some point I would be switching out my ballet flats for the pretty pointe shoes. It soon became evident that my talents might lie elsewhere, so after a year or two, I stopped attending. Truthfully, I enjoyed ballet – just not the discipline it took to practice. I tried taking classes again when I was a tween-ager. Those didn’t last too long either. Many, many years later, someone offered what my friends and I light-heartedly referred to as the Old ladies ballet. It was truly a ton of fun. The class only lasted one season, but during that time, we learned a dance and enjoyed performing in front of our family and friends.

A friend of ours sits with Wayne at a table at the end of a BINGO game.

BINGO – Great Game For Your Brain

Posted on October 1, 2024October 1, 2024 by seniajean

One of the reasons I truly enjoy being retired is that we have so many Senior Centers in our area where we can socialize, as well as enjoy all the various activities each one offers. One of our favorite places holds a Bingo game every Friday. Now to be clear, this is not high stakes gambling. In fact, there is no cost to join in the fun, and the prizes are thoughtful items that a senior citizen might appreciate such as dish soap, hand soap, cleaning products, and paper towels. Though they may not be of great value, everyone who wins is happy to take home a box of tissues or a pretty bottle of soap.

Photo by Max van den Oetelaar on Unsplash

Respite Offers Welcome Relief for Caregivers

Posted on September 1, 2024September 1, 2024 by seniajean

While caring for our Mama when she had dementia, it didn’t take too long to realize that sleeping through the night was becoming a faint memory. It was perfectly normal for Mama to get up a few times each night to use the restroom, and my husband and I took turns getting up with her to make sure she didn’t get lost in the process.
A bell hung on her door jangled each time it was opened to alert us. It wasn’t too loud, but Mama’s room was close enough to ours so one of us could hear it.
After a while, the lack of sleep began to take its toll on us. We discovered a small care home that would take in temporary clients so we could get a night or two of uninterrupted sleep and be ready to welcome Mama back. Our experience with respite care made a world of difference.