Author: nurtureyrheart

Mom, Wife, Grandma, Multi-media Artist, Word-Smith, former elder caregiver

choose your focus

Choose your lens for the day and focus in!

CAREGIVER NOTE:

It has been so much easier to hone into the “I need” moments recently. When he’s anxious about something, his voice becomes a little snippy and he does a “wringing of the hands” motion. We’ve prepared a basic list of things and run through those to see if he can zone into what it is he needs to take care of or needs help with. Yesterday, it was a little more exercise to clear his head. So we were able to go outside and take a walk. He enjoyed that and the “I need” moment was resolved easily and without a lot of extra angst in now being able to identify the problem he needed help with.

Some things on our list include:
I need to exercise – go outside for a walk or some fresh air
I need to check my finances
I need to make a call
I need to get something to eat
I need to rest

through you

Be a miracle maker….

CAREGIVER NOTE:

Choices. Provide the safety net when needed and be there in all aspects. They still need that sense of independence at times. It’s really difficult when you have to respond with a firm “no” to certain things. Search for other things that they can do that shows them they still have some independence and can still be successful at accomplishing tasks in a safe manner. When they feel frustrated or at a loss, acknowledge their efforts to stay safe when they were unsure and try to find a way to accommodate the activity that still leaves them mostly in charge and being successful in the moment.


you

Don’t let the world define who you are. Be your unique you.

CAREGIVER NOTE:
Acknowledge the memories of conversations that seem so vivid that they happened moments ago, yesterday or last week. These are happening more frequently and it’s been interesting to hear about the experience that happened more than 20 years ago that he refers to so often.