What is the biggest challenge you will face in the next six months? Staying positive and appreciating the opportunities that caregiving offers is the biggest challenge. It’s too easy to find the hards in the journey. Focusing on those makes it just a little harder. Looking at the love that binds us together as weContinue reading “Is it challenging?”
Category Archives: Each day, a new day
Lewy is unlike other dementias
Alzheimer’s is an orderly dementia. It progresses in stages. There is a pattern as its awful symptoms afflict your loved one over time. No dementia is easy. They are each unique. Lewy Body is unpredictable. Symptoms come and go. You and your person can be plunged into troubling situations one day, only to have aContinue reading “Lewy is unlike other dementias”
A point of pain
You get some great, amazingly fantastic news. What’s the first thing you do? This prompt [above] hits a nerve in our situation. Good news would be something to share with your spouse. As would, of course, fantastic news and alas bad. The first person I would turn to would be Burt. In his fluctuating stateContinue reading “A point of pain”
Confused
Confusion comes and goes 🎢 with “Benny Blue.” 🎢 For instance, Burt’s level had seemingly hit a high water (or maybe I should say low water) mark. Then today, the word-scramble went back to his normal. Yesterday, he didn’t recognize the term he had been using to describe his dementia; he had called it “BennyContinue reading “Confused”
Gratitude
What do you complain about the most? The caregiver’s journey is often lonely, depressing, and difficult. A recent support group seminar served as a reminder that there is a lot for which to be grateful while caregiving. The Caregiver Teleconnection program from WellMed Charitable Foundation focused on the Positive aspects of the journey. For instance,Continue reading “Gratitude”
When things change
We have a rhythm to our journey. Like the clacking of train tracks, it tends to be uneven. His mood changes, and his love, constant but as changeable as the seasons of his moods, comes under their fire. It ebbs and flows but always can be seen rippling under the changes. He returns to meContinue reading “When things change”
Pre-existing condition
It’s interesting how many spouses of folks with LBD have noted that their pwd was extremely smart. The other often reported fact is a tendency towards anxiety (before it’s a symptom of the disease) or obsessive behaviors. From the oral histories, we can see or suspect a pattern. Some of these psychological ticks and quirksContinue reading “Pre-existing condition”
While I’m on the subject
When I brought him home from rehab, I wasn’t sure if I had made the right decision for us. I was extremely concerned that I wouldn’t manage. Burt was still dependent on a wheelchair much of the time. I had limited help (it’s expensive, you know!) to weekdays for 5 hours. Except that first weekendContinue reading “While I’m on the subject”
Funny ? Story
The rehab center is also a warehouse for some of its inmates. It provides far from optimum care. I wanted Burt to be capable to move around once at home. To that end, I kept him there two and a half months. Until recently, he still complained to people that “they didn’t tell you whenContinue reading “Funny ? Story”
Getting out
The other Sunday, we prepared for an outing to pick up Saturday’s mail. Preparation included a trip to the bathroom, which involves pulling pants off and on again. Because Burt is always cold, a jacket is a requirement, as is his hat. Because Burt is always cold, the outside temperature made a real outing toContinue reading “Getting out”
this is our life 