D is for Death. Death is inevitable. There are few experiences in our lives which we absolutely know we will experience. Death is one of these. The problem is, we don’t know when and no matter what our age or physical frailty, we always think we have more time to think about this. I’ve often

C is for communication. Communication is complicated. Communication with the person with dementia. Communication with other professionals involved in care: nurses, doctors and other specialists and professional care partners. Communication with family.Each of these requires a special set of skills, and probably, their own blog. For today, we’re going to look at communication with the

B is for Boundaries and boundaries are hard. Jody receives multiple phone calls in the night from her mother, who is living in a retirement home. Mom has an anxiety disorder and although Jody knows she is getting excellent care that extends to her emotional needs as well as the physical, the calls continue. Mom

“Who would pay extra just for something to wipe your bum?” We were walking the aisled of the grocery story for a weekly shopping trip. When we were first married almost three years ago, I was charmed when my new husband would come shopping with me. How sweet. He even carried in the groceries and

A is for Anxiety. If we are being real here (and we are) there is a lot of anxiety involved in having someone in your family with dementia.  Anxiety about the future, long term and immediate. Am I handling this right? Will I make the right decision at the right time? There are certain decisions

                 This incredible lady announced her retirement today. “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” Maya Angelo I began my career at Christie Gardens because of Grace Sweatman. For the previous 15 years, I ran a daycare in my

                                                                                                             Alzheimer

It was the find of a lifetime. A grandfather clock in oak which exactly matched my furniture, fit into a corner of my living room perfectly, and was available for garage sale prices. I hovered around it, afraid someone else would snap it up. My son was working for a company where he had access

It was not a good day. An incredibly perceptive person, Ida attended a fitness class she usually loved in the morning. The instructor wasn’t feeling well, and left immediately after the class was over, but in her mind, it had something to do with her. Maybe there was some kind of conspiracy, or maybe he

You’re sitting in the doctor’s office beside your mother. Your heart is pounding. There were months of suspicions and worry, weeks of tests, days of reassuring yourself and having conversations in your mind. Finally, it comes to this.The doctor turns to your mother and says, “You have Alzheimer’s” Time stops. You were almost certain this