caregiver

today’s gifts

Look for the “gifts” in everyday moments.

ElderCare Part II:

New Beginnings in another journey with Dementia/Alzheimers —

Day 3: Settling in a little more. Last night was much better and T’s dad seems much more at ease.

Intake done by the Home Health group yesterday morning. Nurse returning today to give one of the two remaining shots on the prescription list (and that’s another story altogether). We have a few additional questions to have answered as well. This journey is definitely a bit different. His dementia isn’t quite as far along as Mom’s was when we came into the picture. He is verbal and while there are times he has to reach deeper for words, he can for the most part let us know what he wants. Choices and a bit of control over some things are still very important to him and especially some of the “why” he has to do things at a certain time or in a certain way — medications are a big one for him. So far, the answers we have been sharing are sufficient.

One of dad’s requests yesterday was for a shave and haircut. Mission accomplished. We weren’t sure whether he would ask for a full shave or just a trim of the beard. He came home clean shaven and was very happy. We’ll have to purchase a shaving kit for him this week. He’s never used an electric razor and one of us will be giving him a shave on a regular basis. He told us he prefers shaving cream and a razor. Hmmm….

The calendar for the week is beginning to fill up with follow -up appointments (grateful for video calls with physicians) and an intake for PT and possible OT needs to be done here at the house.

floods

See the good that is all around you and take a moment to share kindness today.

Today is the anniversary date of Mom’s stroke and her last 10 days of earthly life. Lots of memories are flooding in and thankfully, most of them good ones. (https://greatitudes.com/2021/05/23/the-end-isnt-too-far-off/)

Alzheimer’s took so much away from her and during those early years, she had the foresight to take some time and write down a few things that we have discovered recently. I’m very grateful we have those letters as they give us a more personal insight into how she felt as things slipped away from her memory.

Reflections of Covid-19

2020 took a definite turn for crazy in March.  What was the norm was no longer the norm in the outside world, but magically we had already sort of been prepared for that, and while things in the community, state, country and world were tossed into turmoil… life inside the walls of our home stayed the course and mostly to our normal routine.  I guess you could say we’ve been practicing “self-isolating” of some fashion for the last 5 years!  So it wasn’t all that out of the “normal” for Mom or me.

Mom, of course, doesn’t really remember the day to day stuff with COVID-19. She has missed the regular weekly visits from family members the last 3 months, though.  Her 88th birthday  and Mother’s Day came and passed without the celebration and hoopla that usually comes with a gathering of any size.  However, we were able to use technology to get most of the clan together for a brief celebratory call on Zoom and grab a screenshot or two. She was thrilled and loved hearing everyone sing Happy Birthday to her.

She’s also getting a little sassy this year.  There have been a few changes in the last few months that indicate some additional losses in cognitive behavior — she still enjoys her music and loves keeping time to the rhythms and movements she sees in the audiences as she views the videos.  We’ve noticed that much of the head-picking ceases when she is watching and listening.  We’ll keep playing those DVDs.

Lesson learned from our experience with COVID-19 will definitely have some impact now and in the future on how we interact with those outside the walls of our home, however, we have been blessed with our basic needs being met.  A caring community of family, friends and health professionals.  We are grateful for every one of these individuals and the roles they play and the support they offer in our behalf when needed.