Keep Laughing. We all know the importance of humor and how it helps us stay healthy. Even though dementia and Alzheimer’s represent horrid struggles of memory loss and personality change, we can still look for the humor and keep laughing. My family lives on an Oklahoma farm where the wind comes sweepin’ down the plains […]
Tip # 3 for Caregivers Read More »
We sit together in church, my mother holds her Bible – because that is what we do in church. She no longer is able to find her favorite passages nor can she comprehend the Table of Contents that would help her locate, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” Yet she is present, because this is a
The Blessing of Clarity Read More »
Here’s one of the tips Reverend G might tell her loved ones: Don’t Argue with Me. You might wonder…who would argue with Reverend G? But for caregivers who deal with Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, arguments sometimes happen. I’ve seen this in my own family. With her paranoia, Mom often makes up the most elaborate stories.
Tip #2 for Caregivers Read More »
“The Unraveling of Reverend G” is not the first book I have published. Back in 1993, my first book came out in print: “The Plain Path,” my adventures as a missionary in Honduras. Throughout the next several years, I published three curricula for teaching English to international students. Then my work appeared in eleven anthologies
Why is Reverend G Special? Read More »
If Reverend G were writing this blog—and isn’t that a bit weird, b/c she and I really are writing this blog—she would remind us of the 7 Tips for Caregivers. Tip # 1 is “Talk to Me.” When we deal with Alzheimer’s patients, it is easy to forget that a living, breathing human being is
Tip # 1 for Caregivers Read More »
The question may be ‘Why’ but the answer is ‘Who.’ From the time of Job and beyond, we have asked God, “Why?” Why do good people suffer? Why did this happen to my family? Why must I deal with this horrible situation? Even King David and King Jesus asked, “My God, my God, why have
Reverend G’s Favorite Phrase Read More »
When life unravels into Alzheimer’s or dementia, it’s important for caregivers to carry survival tools. Over the next few weeks, we’ll examine some of these tools and ways that caregivers might implement them. Today, we’ll look at 7 tips that Reverend G might offer caregivers to keep them in hope and sanity. Talk to Me
7 Tips for Caregivers Read More »
“The Unraveling of Reverend G” is scheduled for release August 6th, so you might wonder – who is this Reverend G character? Character is the correct word, because she’s unlike most ministers you might know and love. She’s a bit feisty, but clearly humble and caring. She’s not afraid to stand up for what she
Who is Reverend G? Read More »
Sometimes writers struggle to find the right titles for their books. They highlight important words, search through a dictionary or wait until inspiration knocks at the door of their creative souls. Finally, amidst weeping and gnashing of teeth – they settle on a group of words that seems to tell their story yet also invites
When Life Unravels Read More »
She devoted the major part of 15 years caring for my dad. As he slipped into the silent world of dementia, Mom sat on his lap and spoonfed him. She sipped from their joint coffee cup, then shared some of the brew with the love of her life. Every day, every 36-hour day, she fed