It takes a village. Hillary Clinton on bringing up children but applies as well to how society runs Good neighbors. They have provided continuing support for me. My personal cavalry when, one day, Burt was so agitated about going out to the street that he rammed his walker against a wall. Down he went. AContinue reading “That village [re-blogged]”
Tag Archives: #caregiving
Help is on the way (rerun)
As a caregiver, it’s easy (and way too common) to feel alone on the journey. In many ways, we are. The idea that no one is coming to our rescue when we are in the throes of a Lewy episode; the feeling that the worst moments are the ones only we can handle is provocative.Continue reading “Help is on the way (rerun)”
Forgotten?
Early in our journey when Burt was in many ways deepest in the throes of Lewy Body, he didn’t recognize me. He’d ask me frequently who I was. I would answer with that neutrality that hides any disappointment. From my answers, he assumed that he had several wives, all named Tamara. From our care team, IContinue reading “Forgotten?”
Down from the mountain
Is that what caregiving feels like? Racing down, unsure of the brakes, one second-guess away from taking a wrong turn. It certainly might. Caregiving can take your breath away as if the journey is an adventure. It can also have you holding your breath. It’s a profound and transformative experience.
I do
While I was in the midst of caregiving, an acquaintance suggested I pursue a flirtation I had mentioned to her. “Don’t think of it as cheating,” she advised. Of course, I would. And of course, in its way, it was not. Well, yes, strictly speaking, of course it was. This is a delicate point asContinue reading “I do”
Quitting, is that really an option?
You know what, I quit Based on A Prompt From My Caregiver Writing Group In the rearview mirror when I watch my caregiving technique, I wince at this. Yes, I would throw my hands in the air in dramatic exasperation. “I can’t, I give up,” I would say, making for the bedroom door. You knowContinue reading “Quitting, is that really an option?”
What next
When that diagnosis of dementia comes, it’s natural to wonder how the future will look. Dementia is unpredictable, LBD perhaps a tad more so then Alzheimers, but all dementias are unpredictable. It’s hard to never be sure what’s in store for us. The uncertainty can be very disorienting for the caregiver. I also imagine thatContinue reading “What next”
Take care
It hadn’t occurred to me until my friend T said it. Burt chose me. He knew I would be there for him. I am always uncertain when I say that, although she assured me it was true. There were all those times his wife was missing. Did she go to Walgreens, she was always atContinue reading “Take care”
We are humble
This is not a brag Caregiving carries with it a grand responsibility. Rather than make us grandiose, it humbles us. One of my caregiver friends is as thrilled by the purple umbrella she gifted herself as a diva is by pearls, champagne and fancy chocolates. No diva, but a queen of caring. My own experienceContinue reading “We are humble”
Joy
In my post Advice, I said that I found joy during our journey with Burt’s dementia. It sounds Pollyanna-ish, so let me expound. Caring for someone you love is a gift of grace. The gift is reciprocal, so when Burt was aware enough to thank me, that thanks was my gift. When he wasn’t aware,Continue reading “Joy”
