Snowy days often evoke memories in Alzheimer’s patients and they’ll relate experiences and adventures from their childhood and yours.  My mom frequently repeated my grandfather’s stories about living through the Blizzard of 1888.  No, she wasn’t living then.  But my grandfather’s memories were so vivid that they became part of our family lore. These stories also fascinated me as a child, as Grandpa told them and then later my parents did.
If you’d like to learn more about this period in our history, check out my page, Books About the Blizzards of 1888 & Other Storms. (There also was an earlier severe …read more

Tonight we turn our clocks ahead…and get up an hour earlier in the morning.  I enjoy the longer evenings of daylight and somehow find I get so much more done. 
However, until the year approaches its longest day, in June, our mornings remain darker.  If we’re earlier risers, we’ll find it dark or dawn.  But…we may have the glorious adventure of watching the sunrise rather than having it fully daylight when we get up.
Sometimes the changes in time will affect Alzheimer’s patients and confuse them if they have a body pattern.  In others, who simply have a nap and awake mode, they’ll …read more

When we learn first hand what it’s like to experience Alzheimer’s, we caregivers and family members can be more understanding and helpful.  I often tried to realize where Mother and Auntie were coming from, what was motivating their behavior and thought processes.  When I put myself into their world (at least the best I could), I found it easier to cope.  Hopefully this made an increasingly difficult life easier for them.
Richard Taylor, Ph.D., who has been diagnosed with dememtia, probably of the Alzheimer’s type, maintains a web site complete with videos, provides a monthly newsletter, and has written a book,  Alzheimer’s from the …read more

As I was writing an article for my Country Kitchen blog, Food Memories in Community Cookbooks, I was swamped with memories of Mother in her pre-Alzheimer’s years.  Actually I have two cookbooks published by the church we attended when I was a child, one from my mother-in-law’s church, and another published by the nursing home where Mother resided. 
These cookbooks represent different eras in my life and those of my family.  They bring back memories of neighbors, Sunday school teachers, family members and several at the nursing home.  I recall occasions when many of the recipes were served.
If you have any …read more

Alzheimer’s Notes blogger, Mary Emma Allen has stories featured in the new release, Eternally Yours, an anthology of poetry, light essays, devotions and meditations, edited by Mary Ellen Grisham and published by Xulon Press.
 
Featuring some of the best Christian writers on the Internet, this book represents work that has appeared in the Eternal Ink E-zine since it’s inception in 1999. 
 
In addition, Mary gives presentations and teaches workshops at schools, libraries, writers’ conferences, and for other groups.  Some of her talks include topics such as Alzheimer’s and caregiving, quilt history and quiltmaking, New Hampshire history, and writing.
 
I was pleased when Ms. Grisham selected …read more

Throughout the ceremonies surrounding the Inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President, we began to hear more about Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States.  Some people may have wondered what the connection was as:

*Obama followed Lincoln’s route as he came to Washington for the weekend of festivities. 
He used  Mr. Lincoln’s Bible for his swearing in.

As we hear more about Abraham Lincoln, we may want to refresh our knowledge about the Civil War, his Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves, and his famous Gettysburg Address.  Our children may begin asking questions, and you find they might not have full …read more

Along with quilt fabrics featuring Obama, you’ll find many books these days, already published and those coming up, to enlighten us about his life and the Presidency.  Whether one agrees with the way the election went, it behoves us to keep informed and teach our children about America past and present.
Also, your Alzheimer’s family member may be able to fill you in on Presidents and related events he/she remembers.  For instance, my mother tells of my grandfather watching the train carrying President Lincoln’s body to its final resting place.  He visited his Aunt Kate, who lived in a city where the train passed.  So …read more

I mentioned National Bird Day on Monday and related how my mom enjoyed watching the birds and listening to their songs when she was in the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s.  As her illness advanced, then her recognition of birds was only fleeting.
To extend the pleasure of birdwatching for Alzheimer’s patients, children if they’re in the house, as well as yourself, I’ve researched some books for all ages and posted them on my One Book Two Book blog.  You might want to stop by to check them out, Bird Books: Stories, Information and Fun.
My mom probably would have looked at the …read more

Picture books and children’s stories often stimulate memories for Alzheimer’s patients.  Sometimes reading from a book on a particular topic will initiate conversation and communication.
I mentioned that many of today’s Alzheimer’s patients lived during the World War II/Pearl Harbor years or have relatives who did.  They may like to discuss these times, if even only intermittently.  What they have to say will give you insight into your family history.
To find some children’s and YA books that give you more information and might help stimulate memories, visit my One Book Two Book page.
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Here at Alzheimer’s Notes, we often discuss tea parties and tell about special ones with our family members. What would you think if you were invited to a tea party hosted by Harry Potter author, JK Rowling? This happened to 200 school children to celebrate the launch of her latest book, The Tales of Beedle the Bard.  Check out the details at One Book Two Book.  If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you’ll probably find this particularly interesting.
Then think about you can how you can plan special tea parties connected with the quilters and youngsters in your life.
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