Shawshank Re:Dementia Day 359: Prepare For the Storm BEFORE the Storm...Shotgun Edition ;)

Posted 3/5/21

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. –Proverbs 3:5-6

I and a colleague were fortunate to being on KY3 TV briefly this morning to talk about dementia and caregiving. Here is the link:

https://bit.ly/3sRtXnN

I love working with TV and radio. I am NOT particularly good at it, but knowing that thousands see it and can potentially get a nugget of help from it makes it worth the self-imposed stress.

What a Friday so far! I was fortunate to get to visit with some more legislators (See picture below), I had to scan through security camera footage to catch someone who tried to steal our catalytic converter on our company car, and I have been buried in other work. Therefore, I just have one little smidge of tips for today, in a birdshot/somewhat scatterbrained fashion. Off we go!

Since this week is severe weather preparedness week:

Tips for preparing your loved one with dementia for a storm/disaster:

Pre-plan where you will shelter! In the disaster is a bad place to plan. 🙂
Talk to the facility about having your loved one there. Visit, with your loved one, if possible
Check to verify it is accessible. Can they physically get in? Can they bring durable medical equipment? Will there be a huge crowd (not ideal)? Do they allow pets?
You may need to consider a neighbor with a basement instead. Figure it out beforehand. 🙂
Plan on needing extra time…take weather warnings/watches seriously. Your loved one with dementia will likely know things aren’t right and delays can and will happen. Be patient and calm as best you can.
Have a Go-Bag. A couple days meds, prescription copy, toileting items, fidget items, snacks, other items

If you are sheltering at home:

Follow the normal procedure. Basement if an option, an internal room with no windows such as a bathroom if there is no basement.
Have a weather radio and/or the local TV Weather App handy. Our KY3 Weather App is outstanding.
Snacks and fidget items are helpful.

I am nervous, as disaster preparedness director for 17 counties, that COVID-19 has taken our eyes off the ball a little regarding bad weather. There is sure to be a lot again this year and I really want you to be ready! If you have any further tips, drop them in the comments or email me at mark.applegate@senioragemo.org

Thank you all and I sincerely hope your weekend is great!

Update: Nothing new on mom. She was pretty awake and smiled a time or two Thursday, but she is still worn down. She sleeps 20+ hours a day. I look forward to getting to see her more in person and without the plexiglass screen, but this is much better than nothing. Two 15 minute spots max 2 visitors limits things dramatically as well. It is what it is…we will work with what we have… and keep trying.

Runnin’ Til I’m Purple (Link): My fundraiser for dementia and caregiver services is coming along nicely. My T-Shirt store is created and you can pre-order fundraiser shirts at the link below. They will be made and in stock in early June just in time for running season 🙂 . I will deliver local ones or you can have them drop shipped if you prefer. I really like them and hope you do as well.

LINK

My car wash event is the month of April at Blue Iguana Carwash on Sunshine in Springfield, Mo. They are super generously giving 25% of the proceeds of any carwash in the month of April if you use the code I will give you closer to time. It starts April 1st. Details coming…

I am working on a computer cleanout day by donation-only in May. Drop off the computer in the morning (by appointment) and I will tune it up, clean it physically, scan with some antivirus tools, and send you home with it that evening. I have many, many years of experience in technology and will make it purr. 🙂

Last little note: I am not a big fan of fundraising for things. Money is tight… I get it. I feel it. 🙂 Please know that I do not financially benefit from this at all and never will. I do physically benefit from running my stinkin’ legs off, though. 😉 I got in 8.5 miles on a treadmill this morning before work. I soooo look forward to spring so I can run outside more. Sigh… NO private jets. No limos. (I have a 1995 Tempo) No mountains of money to count…just a dude trying to raise money for a cure for this stinkin’ disease and to help caregivers exist in the meantime. 🙂

Thank you all for helping me raise money for these two great non-profits. Countless folks will benefit! 🙂

Thank you Rep. Fogle for hearing our #MoMemoryWeek2021 stories! 🙂