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 […]
Long Distance Caregiving – Regular Contact Read More »
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
Long Distance Caregiving Read More »
Roxie, the stressed-out activities director at Cove Creek Assisted Living, wonders how to address a challenge in her life. She asks the only person she can really trust, one of her beloved residents – Reverend G. Reverend G was on her third trip around the hallways of Cove Creek, as she walked in her turquoise
“Wear your walkin’ shoes,” Chris spoke over the phone line. “I’ll be there in about 15.” How was I so lucky to have a friend like Chris who recently graduated into a boyfriend? Was it appropriate to call a man in his early sixties a “boy”friend? I suppose I wasn’t a “girl”friend either, with my
A Valentine for Reverend G Read More »
Most writers do the work because we can’t help ourselves. We can’t NOT write. And when the words morph into sentences, then paragraphs and chapters – we feel an adrenaline rush that keeps us coming back to the computer for more. We want our words to carry a message, and we long for readers to
In my latest research, I’ve discovered several health professionals who suggest that the best food plan to prevent Alzheimer’s is the Mediterranean Diet. What does this diet include? Olive oil Nuts Fish Poultry Fruits Vegetables Basically, the idea is to eat real food, the food that God created – not the junk that man has
The Diet that Fights Alzheimer’s Read More »
As my siblings and I checked out the room in assisted living, we talked about the various pieces of furniture that best fit the space. We wanted to bring Mom’s furniture and accessories that would help her feel most comfortable in her new surroundings. Family pictures—of course, artfully displayed on the corner cabinet that belonged
Choices for One Room Read More »
Use the Life Story. Each of us has a life story and while we’re living it, we often don’t realize how important it is. The life story defines us, leaves a legacy and tells our loved ones who we were and how we dealt with each day and each situation. For caregivers, the life story
Tip # 7 for Caregivers Read More »
Forgive Me. Several times throughout the book, Reverend G tells her son, “Please forgive me.” As I wrote “The Unraveling of Reverend G” and researched more about this horrid disease, I told my son, “If I get dementia or Alzheimer’s and act weird, I apologize already. Please forgive me. I didn’t want this to happen.”
Tip #6 for Caregivers Read More »
Healthcare professionals emphasize the importance of caregivers taking care of themselves. Reverend G would agree. We can’t sit beside the bed day after day without a respite. We’ll go crazy. We need to take a break. We need to utilize the daycare centers for Alzheimer’s patients and share our struggles with support groups. We may
Tip # 5 for Caregivers Read More »