-by Julie Fleming Most of The Purple Sherpa's activity is now on Facebook. But something has been rattling around in my head, and I figured it was time to share.
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-by Julie Fleming I recently shared this image on the Facebook page for Alzheimer’s Caregiver Minute: It is, hands down, the most popular image I’ve shared, with (as of today) over 1100 likes on the Alzheimer’s Caregiver Minute page, 33 comments, and 2435 shares. I’m not surprised, because Teepa Snow‘s quote is a direct challenge to the often-expressed belief that dementia robs a person of who they are, makes them say and do things that they’d find humiliating, and leaves them essentially as an empty shell. A secondary belief is that the way we as caregivers and bystanders react to someone with dementia can give them as much dignity as possible despite the disease. Honestly? Even typing those sentences makes me sick to my stomach. That’s how much I disbelieve those perspective. Here’s what I do believe:
As I came to realize that those and other behaviors (eating with his hands, for example) were driven by the disease, I realized that he was doing the very best that he could with his eroding brain. When he says or does things that aren’t appropriate according to our ordinary social mores, I might explain so that others can understand that we are seeing a disease in action, but I no longer apologize. My father is disabled, and his disability is not inconsistent with dignity. So, what does it mean to treat a person who has dementia with dignity?
How to help your parent deal with bad news. What to do to avoid getting stuck in the story.11/15/2015 - by Julie Fleming My dad used to get stuck in negative stories. He would hear bad news — anything from a car crash that injured a local family to global tragedy — and he would take the story in, make it personal event if it didn’t actually affect him, and be unable to move on to another topic. I dreaded his finding out anything bad, because I knew he would be anywhere from sad to distraught. After trial and error, I figured out three steps to take that would help him either move past the news or at least deal with it in a way that would cause less distress.
What works for you? Please comment below with any tips, ideas, or questions you have. And please visit the Alzheimer’s Caregiver Minute Facebook page for inspiration and tips, then join the closed ACM Exchange Facebook group to find specific answers and guidance to your caregiving questions. ![]() -by Julie Fleming I recently found an interesting article about using sensory cues to figure out what’s going on with someone who has dementia. Although this “clinical pearl” from Teepa Snow is intended for professional caregivers, the information is equally valid for family caregivers. Here’s why it matters that we learn to observe and interpret these cues: If we truly understand [that everything changes for someone who has dementia in terms of their abilities for visual and auditory processing and comprehension, as well as the sense of touch, smell and taste] and are willing to observe their abilities and stretch ourselves by looking at what’s happening through the lens of curiosity, we can further understand and choose to support and care for others in ways that make more sense. For instance, knowing that brain changes due to dementia can change the scope of someone’s visual perception allows you to make some inferences about what’s going on based on where they’re looking. It also allows you to understand that they may not be able to see you if you sit next to them, so you can instead sit directly in front of them to create a better opportunity to engagement. That makes you a much better caregiver. Read this short article to get a good grounding of how you can interpret and work with changed sensory cues. Halloween Trick or Treat? How to make Halloween enjoyable for someone who has Alzheimer's10/31/2015 -by Julie Fleming Halloween can be a fun holiday, but for someone who’s having trouble with perception and interpretation due to Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, it can be frightening. Here’s what you can do to help you loved one enjoy the holiday.
-by Julie Fleming We all have stories about Alzheimer’s, some funny, some tragic, some painful… And we need to laugh together as often as possible. For today’s Real Alzheimer’s Talk, I’m sharing one of my favorite funny stories. Please share yours as well, either in the comments below, by joining our Facebook group ACM Exchange, or by creating your own video and tagging it with #RealALZTalk. We need to share our stories, so no one affected by Alzheimer’s feels alone and so we break the silence around dementia. -by Julie Fleming Today’s tip is about how junk mail can be useful in providing productive active for your parent with Alzheimer’s. It’s quick, easy, and takes advantage of the never-ending flow of junk mail.
-by Julie Fleming You’ll probably remember the difficult moments you experience as an Alzheimer’s caregiver with no challenge. The happy moments, though, tend to fade more easily. And yet, it’s the good memories that will sustain you when you’re overwhelmed or exhausted. Keep a record of the happy moments in a journal (hardcopy or electronic) so you can remember the positive times you and your parent share. by - Julie FlemingAs an Alzheimer’s caregiver, you may find that your own self-care is the first thing to slip off your task list. It’s understandable, especially since you’re probably already feeling pressed for time. But you have to find a way to fit self-care into your schedule. Watch today’s video to find out why it’s so important (including what happened to me that made me learn this lesson) and how you can fit it in. |
Author: Julie FlemingJulie has been providing love & care for her father, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in the fall of 2011. And she's had to learn it all the hard way. Sound familiar? Archives
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