Post from: Blisstree

All About Alzheimer’s Carnival…

While you’re scurrying about, remember the importance of a smile.

1. Smiling makes you feel better.  Yes, admit it…even if you don’t want to!

2.  A smile comes through in your voice.

3. A smile and “smiling” voice helps improve the mood of those around you.

4.  Smiles erupt into laughter and humor.

5. Alzheimer’s patients enjoy smiles and laughter, too.  “We don’t laugh enough,” my mom once remarked, when hubby and I were chuckling over a situation that could have been frustrating.

6.  A smile usually brings one in return.

7.  Put smiley faces on notes and correspondence.

8. Tuck little cards with smiling faces into lunch boxes, gifts, and sock drawers.

9.  Have a smiley face tea pot ready with a refreshing drink and chat.  My mom enjoyed a cup of tea and muffin long into her Alzheimer’s journey.

10.  Play cheery music, interspersed with holiday music to buoy spirits and moods.

11. Smile when answering the phone and use a lively voice.  The smile comes across as you talk, I’ve been told, and makes people answer you more pleasantly.

12. Wear clothes that make you feel cheery.  Dress the Alzheimer’s patient in clothing they enjoy (if they notice) or at least make you feel complimentary toward them.  

Again….keep a SMILE on your face, in your voice…and in your fingers  as you go about caregiving tasks. 

(c)Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

The Importance of a Smile in Your Alzheimer’s World

She discusses topics such as:

*Adjust your expectations

*Involve the person with Alzheimer’s

*Gift ideas

*Take care of yourself

What tips do you have to share to make the holidays less stressful?

Post from: Blisstree

Making Alzheimer’s Caregiving Less Stressful During the Holidays

Then there are the “used to be’s.”  These are the memories of how Mother, Father, spouse, or other family member used to be during the holiday season.  Those are memories we don’t want to forget, but they become bittersweet when viewed through the cloud of Alzheimer’s.

I’d like to hear from you, my readers, and have you share with us how you cope, how you relieve stress, and how you bring joy to the season.  For this doesn’t have to be a season of sadness.  You can learn to enjoy the small pleasures with this different person in your life.             

Post from: Blisstree

Coping Through the Holidays for Alzheimer’s Patients & Families

Also mentioned here are suggestions for preparing family members who haven’t seen the Alzheimer’s patient for some time.

Sit down and have a cup of tea…that often was a pleasure I enjoyed with Mother.  It relaxed both of us and brought back memories.                                            Do you have tips you can share that have worked  to decrease stress for you, your family member, and those who may visit?

Post from: Blisstree

Tips for Handling Holiday Stress

You can’t automatically say, “We must bring Mother (Father, Uncle Harry, Aunt Susie, etc.) home for Thanksgiving dinner.”  Also, you’re not being a terrible daughter, son, or spouse if you don’t.

Once Mother began living at the nursing home, I didn’t bring her home.  We joined her there for the holidays.  The nursing home provided special meals, parties, and festive celebrations for families.  My husband and I visited her there.  Often our daughter and grandchildren joined us once they moved nearby.

*Mother would have become too disoriented after the routine of the nursing home.  Even taking her outside and wheeling her around the garden (in warm weather) confused her.

*Eventually Mother could no longer walk.  She had to be lifted from her wheel chair to a car, a bed, a couch.  It was more than I could do physically.

*She appeared to enjoy the activities at the home and thanked us for taking her out to eat when we dined in the attractively decorated dining room.

Although the holidays weren’t the same as those we once celebrated in Mother’s home 275 miles away (which had to be sold when we moved her to our state) or when we gathered in our home, we learned to find enjoyment in the celebrations at the nursing home.

We discovered that life changes whether one has Alzheimer’s or not.  We change, children grow and leave home, parents need care…life isn’t static.  So I learned to enjoy the small joys at “this moment in time” and bring Mother joy wherever she was.  I discovered that Thanksgiving was for giving thanks that I had a mother to visit.

Post from: Blisstree

Taking Alzheimer’s Patients Home for Thanksgiving