So Cara, our assigned hospice nurse came over yesterday. A wonderful friend who runs a board and care facility and facilitates an early onset Alzheimer’s support group I belong to, recommended Cara and after one phone call, I could already see why. Finally there is someone speaking my language. She asked what our goals and …
When I first noticed something wrong with Rob, it was like trying to catch mist. It was there and then it wasn’t and he denied so vehemently, that I doubted my own perception. As things progressed, I looked for every excuse and all the while pursued the diagnosis with the tenacity of a bulldog. Confirmation …
I sit across from him and he is completely absorbed in his cameras. He opens and closes the bag, jumps up and “photographs” the dog and goes back to fiddle some more. The camera has no battery but it doesn’t seem to matter. He will look up and gaze into the distance; I have no …
We used to call Rob, “McGyver” because he could always make a plan. If I wanted to go on a trip, Rob would sell a bunch of scrap metal and off we would go. If something needed fixing, Rob was your man. His superpower was figuring out problems at which others had failed. I …
Tea in the morning and walks on the Greenbelt, Yoga and phone calls and chocolate with sea salt, Laughter, prayers answered and yoga some more, These are the things that I simply adore. Boba and mangoes and Jake on a Tuesday, Friends that helped tidy and Ben on Wednesday, Sushi and snuggles and problems no …
Imagine waking up and finding a stranger in your bed…. There are many stories that have perhaps ended this way, but today’s starts with said offender not only in his bed, but draped over him and insisting he stay for just a few more minutes pleeeease. Finally he’s had enough and gets up horrified …
It is said that God is in the details. Most of you know about the major roof leak we had that destroyed so much of our home. We had to move out for remediation and the subsequent repairs, and our master bathroom was half destroyed. By scrimping and saving, using a more cost effective laminate …
As dementia progresses, a person may put things that aren’t food into their mouth, such as napkins or soap. There could be a number of reasons for this. For example, the person may no longer recognise the item or what it’s for, or they may be hungry and mistake the item for food. Just when …
Our bodies are complex, designed with mechanisms that have warnings and failsafes. For example, when we are lacking our energy source, the body reminds us to eat, when we need hydration, we get thirsty, and when it’s time to remove waste there are a bunch of signals for that too. We have become pretty adept …
As I walk you home I feel you pull away Exclude me You don’t look back I want to run after you And I want to let you go I cannot go where you are going And when I stand in front of you You look through me As if I don’t exist As if …