Remember. When I grit my teeth, because I’ve told her seven times, “Put in your hearing aid” – remember how she reminded me to wash my hair and brush my teeth. When I have to help her get dressed – remember all the times she dressed me and plaited my hair into braids. When I […]
Tip # 4 for Caregivers Read More »
On a beautiful evening in August, we launched “The Unraveling of Reverend G.” Some writers don’t like to mess with a book launch—too much work when they’d rather be in front of the keyboard, creating fascinating plots and characters. My incredible marketing team helped put the evening together. Genie, Melissa, Tricia and Patti. Then at
Book Launch Benefits Read More »
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
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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.
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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
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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
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“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
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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