January 27, 2021 ongoing, compiled by jas
Alzheimer’s Awarenes Month has made me keenly aware that I still have so much to learn about the dementia diseases, especially Alzheimer’s. Since I advocate for education and promote learning from one another, it made sense for me to set up this page for sharing.
I hope it works, that we will be brave and share our knowledge! 🌞 Especially consider sharing something that makes a difference in your caregiving! I definitely know it stills helps me when others are willing to share their personal knowledge.
I find caregivers ‘learn and share’ a lot along the way. Because so many of us “learn as we go,” it seems time-saving and helpful to pass information along. In the spirit of support that we all yearn for, become part of the chain of care.
Also find our page of contributions from caregivers who share important ‘tips’ on the CAREGIVER TIPS page.
Each one who feels compelled, can add a piece to the enormous puzzle called caregiving…so that we all don’t have to ‘reinvent the wheel,’ or do our own research entirely. Share what you have learned.
WE CAN PUBLISH ANONYMOUSLY OR WITH YOUR NAME.
If your ‘share’ fits into a category of helpful information, perhaps even sharing how it was applicable to your situation, please SUBMIT IT here and we put it here on a page where we can share.
We will need your name and email before posting, but your actual public post can use your name, initials, or be anonymous!
There is a page called “CAREGIVER TIPS“ for helpful tips and if you have something to add there, please indicate that on the same contact form.
Discoveries made by caregivers as they walk their pathway can make the burdens lighter for those of us following or walking beside one another.
The biggest thing I have learned is that I must keep learning, that we all are walking our own remarkable pathways and that, while we share emotions, our situations are uniquely different. I have learned that the most important thing is to reach out to ask for help. I thought I could handle anything that came my way until caregiving entered my life. I had to change my way of thinking, of behaving, or seeing myself and in the process, I changed. Reach out for help.
~ Judy S.
Rarely do changes happen over night… our loved one’s behaviours or our acceptance and understanding of them.
When we were in a place where we could have in-home help or PSW care, it took me a long time to learn I could stay and get to the know the person before I left my loved one alone with them. I found, if I spent three or four visits together with my loved one and the scheduled PSW, who would become ‘a regular’ visitor, that my loved one was more accepting of that person in our home. It also gave me an opportunity to evaluate the ‘match’ between my loved one and the intended PSW so I could feel OK when eventually I could take time to do things outside the home that needed to be done.
The same was true when my loved one was placed in a day program. There was a significant adjustment period, in our case it was four months, before my loved on was attending the program. We began with short periods, and increased as he became familiar and comfortable with the setting and people. ~ Judy S.
Caregivers sharing their findings become lifelines for one another.
Alzheimer’s Awareness Shared (c) 2021 Judith Allen Shone
Accepting the Gift of Caregiving 