Because I am the Long Distance Caregiver in our family, I see Mom only on major holidays or when I manage a few days of extra vacation. The hard part is that I rarely see my family and miss them all the time. Yet the positive aspect is that I easily observe the changes in … Continue reading
As our loved ones journey through Alzheimers and/or dementia, it’s important that we keep in regular contact with the rest of the family. Even though we live hundreds of miles away, we still have a significant role to play. I call my sister each week and my brother about every other week. My sister is … Continue reading
A friend recently encouraged me to define my role as a long-distance caregiver. How would a defined role help me deal with my guilt and anxiety whenever I drive away from Mom? But the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. Define my role and maybe even give myself a job … Continue reading
She accidentally became a nurse. Her life’s ambition and the prophecy from her high school yearbook stated that she would someday become a famous writer, weaving thousands of words into paragraphs and books. But World War II interrupted everyone’s plans, so she signed up to become an army nurse. The only way she could afford … Continue reading
We’re at the conclusion of our series on the lessons that Alzheimer’s Disease can teach us. A review includes: patience, each day counts, make positive memories and strongholds endure. Finally, we come to Part 5. Eternity Matters. We tend to live so intensely in the present, in our busy lives on earth that we sometimes … Continue reading
We know that Alzheimer’s Disease can teach us several things: patience, the importance of each day and how we should make memories while we can. But another, rather negative lesson also surfaces. Strongholds endure. A stronghold is any type of behavior or attitude that has a strong hold on us. Sometimes, it is the result … Continue reading
Part 1 of this series encouraged us to be patient. Part 2 reminded us that each day counts. What is another lesson that Alzheimer’s Disease can teach us? Make Positive Memories. When our memories begin to deteriorate, we’ll want our children and other family members to remember good times we’ve shared together. Life is so … Continue reading
