Supporting caregivers with love ones diagnosed with Dementia
06/03/2021
Music & dancing 🕺🏾
My dad loves soca music 🇹🇹 & when we visit him, we play it for him.
This is him showing me his moves, he still got it! 😁
He taps his foot & sings each song. He loves the Mighty Sparrow's song.
Music is therapeutic & puts a smile on his face.
What music puts you into your happy place?
05/28/2021
Hello, it has been a while.. I hope everyone is doing well!
Sometimes you need to unplug for a sec to catch your breath.
According to Healthline, keeping your brain active can lower (not prevent but lower) the risk of developing Alzheimers.
My dad enjoyed doing his word searches, practicing his math skills, watching and reading National Geographic. Even now when I visit him in the long term care home, I "quiz" him with math equations & he still is quick with his answers. He also giggles & let's me know, he still got it🤭
What are some activities you do to help exercise your brain?
03/03/2021
Simple💕
03/03/2021
It is okay to not always be your best! If you're not feeling better or feel down over along period of time; seek support & see how you feel. Xo
02/01/2021
The funny reality 🤭
Isn't this the truth.
I have done this with my dad and with my children.
I even went out with my shirt inside out 🙈
Sometimes the battle isn't worth the small stuff like matching socks, right?!
I am learning to choose which battles to pick and when I need to fold and just flow with it.
What are some of the lessons you have learned on your caregiving journey?
Credit: pinterest
10/15/2020
Laughter is needed.
Sometimes, it's the little silly things that helps brighten a day.
I hope this joke puts a smile on your face or even gives you a chuckle today.
10/08/2020
The Journey 💫.
Honestly, when we started caring for dad, we didn't realize how much things would change.
This was our first time in this position; first caring for our parent at this capacity & then dealing with Dementia.
It has shifted my relationship with my sister & not in a healthy way. We are working on repairing it & it will take some time.
The strain & stress has altered me & there are many times, I feel alone on this road. Logically, I know I'm not but emotionally, it feels that way.
Recently, we made some hard decisions & I am still processing my feelings - I am conflicted on how I feel about it.
There are moments when I feel guilty, relieved, sad, angry, hurt about that's happened - I will do another post to go into more detail & update the situation.
What I will say, practicing is extremely important. In order to give everyone around your best, you need to give yourself the best first!!
Take care, hang in & know you're not alone!!
Please share HOW DO YOU PRACTICE SELF-CARE ⤵️.
Let's Learn from each other 👊🏽.
10/05/2020
Red Plates 🍽.
Red plates help with visibility when eating. It helps with the contrast of food.
There are research studies that suggest using a red plate can actually increase the amount of food a person with dementia eats (Look up red plate study)
I can see where using a bright colour like red can add contrast against food and drinks, making it more visible to see than white utensils.
We use red plates & dad seems to manage better as most of the food stays on his plate. I guess there is some truth to this 🤷🏾♀️.
Do think RED plates, cups & utensils work for dementia & allowing better contrast with food/drinks???
Let me know below ⤵️.
Pic from aspenseniorcare.com
09/26/2020
A Healthy Diet is important‼
⬆️ Here are some fruits & veggies that promote a healthy diet & helps nourish the brain.
It decreases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke - these conditions can increase the risk of dementia.
A healthy diet is important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
What are some of your favourite, colourful fruits & veggies??
Please share ⤵️.
I LOVE making stir- fry with various veggies like carrots, broccoli, bok choy, red peppers. Or I enjoy a mixed berry salad with strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, plums. The options are endless & 😋
🍓🍊🥦🥒🍅🌶🍆🥕🥔🍍🍑🍐
Information taking from Alzheimers Society Canada.
09/22/2020
Reducing the Risk.
According to CBC news - there ways to reduce the risk of developing dementia.
There is no guarantee, just ways to reduce the risk by following a healthier lifestyle & keeping your brain healthy.
What are some ways you're living a healthy life? Comment below ⤵️.
https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4213239
09/20/2020
That's it!!
Honestly, watching my dad not remember my name was hard, him forgetting who I am was even harder.
Dementia SUCKS‼
Love hard, enjoy each moment & cherish the memories.
How are you coping with the changes happening with your loves ones?
Please share your stories, your challenges, your triumphs, your frustration... you can even rant if you want. Comment below⤵️.
Let's build a virtual community where we can be honest about how much this disease is affecting those we love, ourselves, all our lives because you are alone on this journey.
09/16/2020
It isn't easy.
When making decisions for a loved one sometimes it can be hard.
The decision to place dad on the list for Long Term Care Nursing Home was filled with lots of emotions.
I took time to reflect on how I was feeling about it & then made the best decision for him in the long term.
Making these decisions is never easy, take care of how you are coping, sort through your feelings in order to make the best objective choice XO.
