Kathy Zengolewicz

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 water. Let the jars dry thoroughly. Decide which colors to paint which jar, it is always wise to plan ahead. Place the lid of the jar on a paper plate. The lid will be smaller than the jar and that will allow the paint to run off onto the paper plate.

Open, or cut the tip off of the paint bottle nozzle. Just make a small snip in the nozzle so that the paint does not run too freely. Start at the top of the jar, let the pain drip down, moving around the perimeter of the jar. The paint should now be dripping down the entire jar from top to bottom. You can pick up any access paint with your sponge and fill in any area with the excess paint. Do this to all of the jars that you intend to paint.

Let the jars sit for at least 8 hours. When the jar is dry to the touch use your craft knife to remove any drips. Let the jars sit overnight to make sure they are completely dry.

Position the stencil on the jar where you want your words to be and dip the end of a sponge into the white paint. Dab the sponge on the paper plate to remove any excess paint. When stenciling you need very little paint. Any excess paint will drip down behind the stenciled letters. Less is always better when using paint with stencils. Let the jar dry for another day to make sure that the paint cures on the glass.  Enjoy!

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Inspiration Jars

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.

Image credit: Savannah Grandfather

Tamara’s on the phone again. She talks for hours with her friend Jana, who she goes to school with. They ride the bus to school together, share most of their classes together, and after school, talk on the phone. You wonder what more they could talk about when they’ve been together the whole day. When was the last time you reconnected with your best friend? Perhaps you can take inspiration from Tamara and have a long chat with her too.

Patricia’s savoring her peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She’s eating her snack so slowly, as if she’s examining every crumb and flavor in her mouth. She declares it to be “the best sandwich ever!” and resumes playtime. When was the last time you savored a snack at home and not in a five-star restaurant? Perhaps you can find gourmet goodness in even the simplest of sandwiches at home.

There are a lot of things that we can learn from our kids. They often don’t come in thunderous announcements, just in the little things your kids do. So open your eyes and see — what has your child taught you lately?

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What has your child taught you lately?

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 Inside Out.  His purpose now is writing and speaking to inform, help and encourage others.

I wish there was something like Richard’s web site, blog, newsletters and videos to help me when Mother and Auntie were ill.

(Amazon image)

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Insight from Richard Taylor, a Dementia/Alzheimer’s Victim

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 sensitive, my life too busy.

“I’m a writer,” I’d think.  “Why can’t I write about these things…at least jot notes in my journal?”

Then after the pattern repeated, I realized perhaps I needed to step away from writing for a period of time so I could eventually write about these situations to help others.  (I kept up with my professional writing commitments during these times, but not the extremely personal.)

Do you find you can write about crisis situations when you’re going through them?  Or do you need to step back and gather your emotions before you can put pen to paper?

Writing and sharing your experiences often helps others to cope and realize they’re not alone.  However, don’t feel badly if you can’t write immediately…or don’t even want to write/journal your experiences.  Even though I wrote later about my journey with Mother and Auntie as they experienced Alzheimer’s, I sometimes didn’t have the time nor inclination to do so at the time.

Are you journaling about your experiences…either in a notebook or in a blog, perhaps even a newspaper column?

(Basic Living image at Amazon)

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Writing Your Alzheimer’s Thoughts

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 encouragement from others.

The movie, Forgetful Not Forgotten, premieres January 11 on TVO.  You also can see excerpts of the film at the Forgetful Not Forgotten site (link above).

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Canadian Community for Caregivers

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 chuckling at something she had done.  I knew then that Mother was pleased we were laughing rather than scolding her.

What situuations have you experienced that gave you, your family and your Alzheimer’s patient an opportunity to laugh together?

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Laughter at Unusual Alzheimer’s Antics

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 ones in nursing homes and fail to visit them, etc.). It’s sad that, because of these things, those of us who’ve solicited the help of experienced, round-the-clock care are frowned upon by some people. When really, nursing homes are the only responsible options many people have.

The media, in their reports, often focus on the neagative aspects of nursing homes and mention those that may not measure up.  Many nursing homes do a great job, as I found with Mother and Auntie.  These ladies were well cared for in their respective nursing homes, a fact that  gave me peace of mind when I could no longer care for them adequately.  Then when I visited Mother and Auntie, I could relax and enjoy them, bringing them joy, too, I hope.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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The Positive Side of Nursing Homes for Alzheimer’s Patients

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 realize until after her death how many water color paintings she had done during group activities at the assisted living home.  And how lovely they are.

One a grandson framed.  Another my daughter used as a design for a quilt hanging.  Others we’re copying so family members can have their own.  Also, we’re considering making notepaper and postcards of all of them. 

These will give her children, grandchildren, and great grands something of her artistic legacy.  Mum had never done any painting before.  So we’ve seen a facet of her through this that we wouldn’t have.

So…preserve the legacies that come as serendipities.

(Amazon image)

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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Preserving Alzheimer’s Patients’ Art

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 Good Observations and the idea of jotting them down in a notebook.

This is something I’d been doing, along with jotting down fun and inspirational quotes, then I slacked off.  Nancy has me thinking about it again.  Even just rereading favorite quotes and observations uplifts one’s thoughts and mood.  I must find my notebook!

What do you do to sustain you during “down times” in life?

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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When Caregivers Are “Down,” What Do They Do?

“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 reminisce about these times, it’s not with sadness, but with joy and laughter.  I have no right to take these memories away from them because I might not like to see photos of these occasions.  So I’ve put them into an album, Mother With Love, so we all can reminisce.

In most of the photos Mother was smiling, surrounded by family and friends.  Even though she progressively grew older (d0n’t we all?!), she was still Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother to us and held a special place in our lives, one we don’t want to forget.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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Do You Take Photos of Your Alzheimer’s Family Member?