give thanks

perspectives

Seek the beauty in the world around you today. 

CAREGIVER NOTE:
It seems that he’s still hung up on a few events from his past. Another flurry of conversations regarding a document and thoughts that there’s just something that’s not quite right. He did tell another part of the longer story around the main event, and he does have all those details correct. He’s still thinking it happened just a few day ago. He can’t seem to grasp that it happened 50+ years ago and everyone associated with the event is as old or older than he is and wouldn’t have much recollection of that specific moment any longer.

We did make a quick trip to the dr’s office for a possible UTI, but that has been initially ruled out. Still waiting on the culture results. He has an ultrasound scheduled for Tuesday to check for a blockage and a referral to a urologist here in the area (this has been a problem previously). We’ve requested copies of his records from the doctor he saw last year so we can get those into his records here. The dr was really sweet with Dad and he appreciated her thoughtfulness and kindness while he was in the office.

hope

always have hope… it’s closer than you think.  

CAREGIVER NOTE:

His dementia is progressing and his frustration with mixing times and places is becoming more frequent. Reframing certain events and bringing him to “today” is becoming more difficult as his mood becomes darker over a couple of specific events that happened in the 70’s and leaving him there is truly not a good option for him or for the rest of the household.

We really hope his love of gardening will help as we are finally at the point where we can get the seeds and starts in this weekend. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate and will rain AFTER the planting is complete!

make time to pause

Find peace in the pause today.

CAREGIVER NOTE:

We used some muscles we hadn’t used in a while the other day while building that plow in the garage. He’s sore and finally admitting it! He had us both laughing pretty hard as he talked about his “sitter” being sore and his steps a little slower during our walk. He couldn’t imagine that our “hard work” was causing so much discomfort especially since it was only 5 minutes of kneeling and such…. HAHA! It was more like 90 minutes! At any rate, to see the twinkle in his eye, hear him chuckle about his “sitter” and watch him be a little more careful in his walk, made the day a little brighter.

Do it one day at a time.

CAREGIVER NOTE:

We found something he enjoys doing…. YIPPEE! Now to find a bunch of different bolts, nuts and washers he can sort again and put into the toolbox. It was interesting to watch him line things up according to size for a project we were building in the garage yesterday. He spent more than an hour sorting and lining things up… moving them around and doing it all over again or handing the bolt and nut to me so I could use it when needed. He tried to read the instructions, but said it was the worst manual he had ever seen — let alone the printing so small it was nearly unreadable.

It was a good and productive afternoon on several levels!