Activities to Do with Your Parent Who Has Alzheimer’s/Dementia
Memories From My Life Blog
by patwhite67
3y ago
Author Judith A. Levy, EdM, OTR, has been an occupational therapist for the past 40 years, providing professional geriatric care. In more recent years she has been the caregiver for her mom, who contracted dementia at 88. Through her extensive experience both as a professional and as a caregiver daughter, Judith has created a book chock full of ideas and activities to enrich daily life for your loved one, making the time spent together more enjoyable. This book can prove to be very helpful for a first-time caregiver, as it points out medical concerns to be addressed initially for the well bein ..read more
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Throw ’em Out – Can’t Remember Who They Are!
Memories From My Life Blog
by patwhite67
3y ago
A recent article I read from “Dear Abby”, I want to share with you. I will paraphrase it as read. A caregiver had gone to live with her mom who was afflicted with dementia. One afternoon the caregiver went looking for the albums of photos from when she and her brothers were kids, family vacations, etc. After searching high and low and not finding them, the caregiver asked her mom what had happened to the albums. Turns out, her mom had thrown them out because she didn’t remember any of the people in the pictures anymore! Imagine the devastated feelings of that caregiver – The caregiver couldn’t ..read more
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Reliving the Good Times
Memories From My Life Blog
by patwhite67
3y ago
Time with a loved one restricted to window visits presents quite a challenge for most of us. Along with straining to hear through glass, our loved ones are having a time understanding the reasoning behind not being able to receive our hugs. All these complications may fill us with a bit of dread for how visits will go. Here is an idea that just might coax a happy memory from your loved one: If your love one is residing in a care facility, take a few minutes before departing from home to select a few photos that your loved one might enjoy. To scan the pictures, magnifying them a bit, might be h ..read more
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Holding On
Memories From My Life Blog
by patwhite67
3y ago
I have a friend whom I have known and respected for over the past 30 years.  He has been a highly successful entrepreneur, engaging in a number of businesses over his lifetime.  His most recent work was assisting businesses with sales liquidations.  Over time he has also survived some significant physical health challenges. Now, over the past year he has returned to the company he helped to found over 40 years ago – but this time serving as a greeter for visiting sales customers.  Unfortunately, over the past few months he has been dogged by short-term memory issues.  ..read more
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Tasteful Memories
Memories From My Life Blog
by patwhite67
3y ago
Apple growing was the main livelihood for generations in my mother’s family, whose farm was in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. My mother loved to tell about the many trips her ‘Papa’ made by horse and wagon packed to the brim with large, plump apples to sell at the city market. He would leave before daybreak in order to obtain a good spot for sales. As a four-year-old she would wait up into the night to hear the squeak of the wagon wheels as he drove through the gate to the homeplace. Now, driving a horse and wagon through the mountains after dark was not an easy thing to do. ‘Papa’ foll ..read more
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Gift Idea in Dementia
Memories From My Life Blog
by patwhite67
3y ago
To my readers, I am sharing a second article written by Dr. Cheryl Achterberg, Ph. D. I invite you to visit Dr. Achterberg’s blog: “About Caregiving and Dementia. Mostly.” which can be accessed by going to cherylachterberg.net. Her article follows: Gift ideas for loved ones with dementia are few and far between. It usually boils down to slippers, pajamas, maybe a shawl to keep warm. Gift ideas that are therapeutic are rarer. But my friend, Pat White, has something special to offer. As a carer herself and volunteer for more than 10 years in assisted living homes, Pat knows the power of pictures ..read more
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Why No Cure for Dementia?
Memories From My Life Blog
by patwhite67
3y ago
With permission from Dr. Cheryl Achterberg, Ph.D., I am sharing her informative article with you: Why is there no cure for dementia? It is a common lament, especially among family members and caregivers. There are three main reasons that I can tell. First, dementia research is underfunded. Second, the science is hard. And third, the brain does not regenerate. Let me explain. Dementia Research is Underfunded Dementia research is underfunded, receiving only 5% or less of what cancer or heart disease research receives. Even though dementia, and Alzheimer’s Disease in particular, has been identif ..read more
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The Power of Reminiscence As Therapy
Memories From My Life Blog
by patwhite67
3y ago
For my mother, her own personal identity seemed to slip away with her memory.  According to Dr. Esther Oh, an associate professor in the division of geriatric medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, people like my mother suffering from dementia tend to withdraw from social engagements, conversations, and everyday activities.  But reminiscence therapy “really draws them out of their shells, because they’re able to tap into their past and things they’re very familiar with.” My mom found a way to tap into her past by slipping a few framed pictures of herself with her fa ..read more
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Does Prevagen Do Anything?
Memories From My Life Blog
by patwhite67
3y ago
A concern of many of us family members who have a parent or blood relative with dementia is our own futures – whether we are more susceptible to contracting dementia through inheritance. I had begun paying more attention to the TV ads for Prevagen. However, I have reconsidered after reading the following article, well documented, by Dr. Cheryl Achterberg who is a caregiver. With Dr. Achterberg’s permission I am sharing it with you today: Does Prevagen Do Anything? Does Prevagen do anything? According to the company, it is the #1 brain health or memory supplement on the market today. You can’t ..read more
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Identify Your Team
Memories From My Life Blog
by patwhite67
3y ago
I have had the special privilege of sitting in with an Alzheimer’s caregiver support group for their past two monthly meetings. I thought I knew most everything there is to know about caregiving – – – well, almost everything! Last night I was blown away by a point made by one of the caregivers in our intimate group of eight: Making the best use of offers to help involves knowing your team! Each of us as caregivers, over time, have been overcome by the generosity of some friends and family. And at other times when we have been let down when others did not or could not come through has been rath ..read more
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