tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post5862747603322190122..comments2024-01-04T09:23:45.843-05:00Comments on Watching the Lights Go Out: Guest Post: The Journey of CaregivingDavid Hilfiker http://www.blogger.com/profile/00479949692410414480noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-51517974728044939122013-10-25T06:53:31.759-04:002013-10-25T06:53:31.759-04:00I Still Can't Email You , So I Will Leave It H...I Still Can't Email You , So I Will Leave It Here If I May !! <br /><br />I just Wanted To Thank You For Writing Your Journey With Alzheimers !<br /><br />My Dad Is In A Later Stage Of Alzheimers , And My Mamma Is Amazing In How She Takes Care Of Him !!<br /><br />I Wanted And Did Share An Incredible Experience With Dad With You In Comment Form On The Hiatis Blog , But I decided To Delete It , Cause I Didn't Want To Seem Disrespectful For This Is YOUR Journey. I Was Hoping For Your Perspective , But . . . Anyway If You Would Like To Hear About It , I Can Send It Too You .<br /><br />I Always Try To Figure Out What Dad Is Actually Thinking , Cause Others Say They Dont Know What There Thinking Or Unaware .<br /><br />I Personally , DON'T Believe That , For Whatever Reason .<br /><br /> { Really Only The Alzheimers Patient Knows The Experience , In My Mind }<br /><br />So I Am THANKFUL For Finding This Out Through , Your Journey !!<br /><br />Thank You<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-20929852140169722013-10-07T20:23:32.247-04:002013-10-07T20:23:32.247-04:00My mom has Alzheimer's and is living in a nurs...My mom has Alzheimer's and is living in a nursing home now. I learned a long time ago the benefits of good chocolate when wooing Mom to bed, or to the shower, or out of a cranky fit. Good chocolate also has a wonderful effect of the aides... and her roommate, now that I think of it. <br /><br />Lovely post.Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02270396127498411004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-88555633939594109722013-10-07T08:10:17.182-04:002013-10-07T08:10:17.182-04:00As a Hospice volunteer, many of the people I visit...As a Hospice volunteer, many of the people I visit have dementia and I've found that music does bring a smile to their faces and the words to the songs come out clearly.....it's amazing.......but fulfilling to see them react in a positive way..........<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17065231593395610109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-1828398510190041882013-10-04T17:51:44.699-04:002013-10-04T17:51:44.699-04:00Thank you, Lois for sharing. I too am caring for ...Thank you, Lois for sharing. I too am caring for my mother as well as working full time. Yes, you have to take it as it comes & not get in any hurry that's for sure! I enjoyed reading your post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-62970734495854426772013-10-04T15:50:27.147-04:002013-10-04T15:50:27.147-04:00God bless you Lois. Believe me, you won't reg...God bless you Lois. Believe me, you won't regret a minute of this loving care.Cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-91896772245444326792013-10-04T14:54:12.119-04:002013-10-04T14:54:12.119-04:00This reflective piece provides excellent guidepost...This reflective piece provides excellent guideposts. Caregiving for my 65-year-old wife with younger onset AD, I have been learning these type of strategies, which are absolutely on target. It's a practice, this caregiving thing, and techniques like those mentioned here are so important. The emotional and psychological give-and-take is enormous, and that territory has to be navigated with gentleness and patience - the latter in enormous measure. Would I choose this, or would my wife choose this, if given an option? Probably not. But given that we can't change the diagnosis nor the progression of the disease that we've both seen over four years, we know that acceptance has to be with grace and understanding, and we try for both.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-56608187537919334342013-10-04T11:37:26.519-04:002013-10-04T11:37:26.519-04:00The relationship between the two individuals, whet...The relationship between the two individuals, whether it is husband/wife or parent/child is truly like a dance. I would recommend to readers an excellent book by Christine Bryden called Dancing with Dementia: My Story of Living Positively with Dementia (2205). It is written from the point of view of the person with memory loss, but it is helpful to both partnersAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07960305992233295304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-29230756568196086092013-10-04T11:05:13.700-04:002013-10-04T11:05:13.700-04:00I also enjoy your posts, Lee Ann. Nurses are the b...I also enjoy your posts, Lee Ann. Nurses are the backbone of the medical profession and I salute all nurses. I had two operations this past month, so I am recuperating. My son has taken over the care talking here and it has been joyful.<br /><br />Like you, I have always looked at the positive side of life, and life has been an amazing experience for me and my family.<br /><br />Gerry in LAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-25604005789250812442013-10-04T10:54:47.709-04:002013-10-04T10:54:47.709-04:00Thank you for this post, Lois. I am 75 years old, ...Thank you for this post, Lois. I am 75 years old, taking care of my husband who is 77. We are married for 54 years now and we are lucky to enjoy a passion for music which is very soothing when he has anxiety.<br /><br />My most fervent prayer is for patience with this wonderful man who has not once in 54 years ever been impatient with me.<br /><br />This blog is terrific and I am grateful for all of its recommendations.<br /><br />Gerry in LAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-1469527084240219322013-10-04T10:18:58.323-04:002013-10-04T10:18:58.323-04:00I sometimes have trouble taking care of myself and...I sometimes have trouble taking care of myself and I'm only 63. (on disability) How do you do it?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04825667371389259731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-46208152065682490852013-10-04T07:55:04.424-04:002013-10-04T07:55:04.424-04:00That's love. I hope I can be that way if and w...That's love. I hope I can be that way if and when the time comes. I always have fantasies that I am selfless, loving and kind. But then I find myself snapping at my family members for really small issues. The mental image I got when I picture a woman tucking her mother into bed melted my heart. It reminded me of a book my mother used to read to me. I think it's called "I'll Love You Forever" Anyway thank you all for sharing your life experience.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13760481621267411903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426202096598051070.post-18357847083614639122013-10-03T21:19:11.959-04:002013-10-03T21:19:11.959-04:00Lois, wonderful post. Loving routine is what I u...Lois, wonderful post. Loving routine is what I used to call it. I worked as a nurse in a special care unit for quite some time. And it was always wonderful to see a resident sit and sing along with every verse of every hymn in Church, or use my nursing notes as music to play concertos on the piano. They have such wonderful gifts that do stay with them. I've had one lady resident that continually tried to teach us Dutch songs. While I usually tried to teach another resident how to Polka . It was usually quite boisterous at times. But when you know someone so well, its so easy to show loving and caring for your loved one. Your Mom is very lucky to have you there. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02560132598266108913noreply@blogger.com