Posted 11-12-19 I had a great childhood. The American Dream was alive and well Ball games, family trips, collecting arrowheads, laughter and tears The Booming Eighties had the best of times and the worst of times Prosperity yet a rough divorce, but never alone Two Homes, Two Families: finding a brand new normal I was…
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Back to the Foxhole: Alzheimer’s Puts Veterans on the Front Lines Again
Posted 11-11-19 If there are two things I want you to gobble up from this article, it is simply: I love and appreciate veterans. I hate Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias. First things first. I am sorry if this seems cliche, but if it does it is only because most share my sentiment: Thank you…
F.A.C.E.T.
Posted 11-8-19 (Note: I like dates that are covert math problems… 11+8=19. I know…I am a tad odd…) In the multi-faceted mess of dementia, it is easy to completely miss anything good in the situation and just sit by and be sad. I get it, I really do. I tend that direction all of the…
Cut Yourself Some S.L.A.C.K.
Posted 11-7-19 I had a great visit with mom yesterday. She was in good spirits and was even a bit more verbal than normal. We visited a while, watched some Andy Griffith, laughed some, then I had to go. She squeezed my hand and tried to get me to stay a little harder than normal….
Mom: The Self-Taught
Posted 11-6-19 Preface: I am as far from Mom’s boss than I could ever be…even now. Mom worked outside of the home off and on, but more steadily when her kiddos required less supervision in our teen years. As I have mentioned in previous articles, she also worked for temp agencies so she would have…
It is the Little Things…Like Syrup
Posted 11-5-19 Mom had another great day yesterday. I hung out for a couple hours over supper. She was happy, smiled and said several strings of words. Sometimes it is the little things that we miss that are the best, or the worst. I was just thinking again how much I missed her homemade pancake…
10 Things We Can Learn About Dementia From Daylight Savings Time
Posted 11-4-19 Happy Monday, fellow digital cornbread consumers. 🙂 I had a wonderful Anniversary trip with my bride of 29 years this weekend just outside of Branson, Missouri. It was a welcome unplugging from the digital world we live in, replaced with a crackling fireplace and squirrels gathering nuts outside of our dreamy cabin. (Note:…
Happy Halloween!
Posted Halloween 2019 I hope you have a wonderful Halloween and/or Reformation Day today! Mom had a nice day yesterday. I got to spend a couple hours with her and, while she wasn’t as happy as she usually is, she wasn’t sad and ate well. Today I meet with her care team for an update….
Ten Trick-free Tips for Caregivers on Halloween
Posted 10-30-19 Halloween, like all holidays, has the potential to be a wonderful experience for patients who struggle with dementia, but there are certainly pitfalls to consider. Keep these things in mind as you navigate this spooky season to keep your loved one happy and safe: I won’t go so far to say that you…
Germs are Little Brats
Posted 10-29-19 We are officially in that time of year again! You know the one…where you walk into the school, the movie theater or the nursing home and immediately you feel the onslaught of germs from the multitude of sneezers, hackers, coughers, snorters, throat clearers, and otherwise phlegmy types. Mom has been pretty good at…