I like to keep my home office filled with pretty things and objects that radiate peace, love and incentive.  In my line of work I especially need all of the inspiration I can find. I have  project for you that takes pennies to make and will offer you a world of inspiration.
Here is what you will need to get started:

Transparent glass paint (blue and green)
Dry air enamel paint (white)
Stencils (inspirational words)
Sponges
A paper plate
A couple of old jars with lids or small glass cups
½ inch brush
scissors
A craft knife (xacto knife)

Remove any labels from the jars and wash in hot soapy …read more

Parents aren’t the only teachers in the family. We can learn from the kids in our household too.
Little Billy moving his upside-down water back and forth across his high-chair’s table? Yep, the table’s quite a mess with drops of water here and there. But look at his face! The joy of discovering how a cup smoothly slides across a flat surface is thrilling him. Such a little thing for us, but a big discovery for him. What are the little things we’ve ignored lately? Perhaps there are big discoveries we’re missing out on.
Tamara’s on the phone again. She talks …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

Journaling
As a writer, I usually can write down my thoughts in my journal regularly. This also is something often recommended when people are going through difficult times, as well as joyful ones.  Sometimes, too, you simply want to chronicle events in your life so you can recall them later.
However, as I look back, I find that sometimes during challenging times, I’ve found it difficult to write my thoughts immediately about the events.  My journal goes through a dry spell. This happened when my brother committed suicide, my mother died, and our daughter went through a grave illness.  Perhaps I’m too involved, my emotions too …read more

Often caregivers feel isolated and think they’re alone in facing the challenges of caring for a family member, especially one with Alzheimer’s or some form of dementia.  Even if there is a caregivers’ support group in their community, it’s not always easy to get away to attend meetings.
Online communities have become a boon to caregivers, where they can meet with others online who are having similar challenges.
Forgetful Not Forgotten is a community that’s evolving out of the film of the same name, by Chris Wynn about his father’s experience.  In this community you’ll be able to share your experiences and gain …read more

LAUGHTER
In reviewing my post at Thursday Thirteen, 13 Words that Explain Alzheimer’s Caregiving, “laughter” caught my eye. I realized I had come to the point where I could remember the funny things, the joyful things, the rewards rather than dwelling on the sadness and frustration of caring for Mother during her Alzheimer’s years.
Laughter at unusual antics became a way to survive the situation wrought with frustration.  Concerned at first that others would think I was laughing at Mother, not with her, I was admonished, in a way, by her.
“We don’t laugh enough,” Mother remarked when my husband and I were …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
In my Alzheimer’s Word of the Week post last week, I wrote about nursing homes and mentioned some people didn’t like to mention the word.  Alicia, blogger at Mental Health Notes, wrote a very enlightening comment, which I think gives insight into the varying reactions to this term.
The term “nursing home” always strikes different emotions from different people, doesn’t it? I think it’s due to a variety of reasons (the poor reputations some nursing homes have, the idea that putting your loved ones in a nursing home is neglectful and selfish, the sad fact that some people actually do “dump” their loved …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com

Art often is as an activity for Alzheimer’s patients.  This might include acrylic or water color painting, shaping with clay, coloring with crayons or markers, quiltmaking, sketching, and mixed media.  It depends on the stage of the patient whether they can do much or even comprehend.
However, many patients in the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s find enjoyment and relaxation in this form of creativity.   Many do amazingly well with assistance.
Are you preserving this art?
But it’s not good, you think.  It doesn’t have value.
However, it has memories and leaves a legacy.    My mother-in-law didn’t have Alzheimer’s but was nearly blind.  We didn’t …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
We all need something to uplift us when we’re discouraged in life and with the frustrations of caring for an Alzheimer’s patient.  One of the places I’ve found for “feel good” or thought provoking moments is Nancy Kirk’s The Monday Minute.  You have the choice of listening to it or reading it. 
Nancy is a quilter who specializes in quilt and fabric dating as well as quilt restoration.  However, her inspiration and philosophy will uplift anyone. 
I subscribe to her e-mail newsletter, so each Monday receive her tidbit of inspiration… often when I’m struggling to keep inspired.  This week she mentions Pretty …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
“NO WAY!” you say.  “I don’t want to remember them with Alzheimer’s.”
I might have thought this, if I’d taken time to think about it.  However, now I’m glad I did take those photos, not necessarily of Mother and Auntie alone, but with other family members on special occasions.
As I’ve had time to reflect, over the six years since Mother died and even more since Auntie’s death, I realize this period of Mother’s life is the only one in which my grandchildren (her great grands) knew her.  They enoyed visiting her at the nursing home and interacting with this elderly lady.
When they …read more