Five Sources of Hope for the Deeply Forgetful, Dementia in the 21st Century
Five Sources of Hope for the Deeply Forgetful, Dementia in the 21st Century.
I’ve found the Alzheimer’s Reading Room to be very helpful in my efforts to continually improve my understanding of Alzheimer’s and other dementia. The good news? Subscribing to the Reading Room is free! I hope all benefit from this attached article about dementia in the 21st century.
Living: the ultimate team sport 
March 5, 2012 at 5:29 am
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March 5, 2012 at 2:16 pm
I feel your pain. I strongly suggest that anyone struggling with their caregiver status find a local support group specializing in Alzheimer’s and other dementia. If you go to http://www.alz.org, you’ll be able to type in your zip code and find the closest caregiver group to you. If the Alzheimer’s Association does not have a nearby group, senior centers and even hospitals provide community support groups for various caregiver groups: dementia, cancer, AA, etc. I sincerely hope you find somewhere to land so that you can rant, rave, scream, and complain in a group that won’t judge you or be surprised by your feelings. As an Alzheimer’s support group facilitator in my own local area, I’ve found that the caregivers can finally let themselves go in the midst of other people going through similar experiences. My best to you.
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February 28, 2012 at 8:47 am
This article by Stephen Post is incredible, insightful, and life affirming. The section on “Compassionate Care” speaks eloquently to the value in being present and caring to those with dementia and cognitive impairment. “The Enduring Self” captures what I try to do every moment of every day I spend with my wife who has Early Onset Dementia – engage her, search for where she is in this moment, support her “being” and delight in the many occasions – as referenced by Mr. Post – when she connects with me or otherwise shows awareness or recognition.
This quote from the article says it best: “If those around the person with dementia see the glass as half empty and make no efforts to relate to the person in ways that enhance his or her experience, then quality of life is minimal.”
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February 28, 2012 at 9:25 am
Your comments ring very true and I honor your personal efforts to provide your wife with the best quality of life this disease allows. In the attached article I posted late last year, https://babyboomersandmore.com/2011/12/13/visiting-a-loved-one-at-a-long-term-care-facility/ visiting issues are addressed from my own experiences but I think you’ve hit the nail on the head, so to speak, regarding the value of just being with a loved one and celebrating every ounce of connection with her. Congratulations.
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