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

As I was preparing writing lessons for a group of homeschoolers, I pulled out some childhood photos for inspiration.  I’ll have the young writers use photos of events in their lives.  However, as an example, I’ll take photos from my childhood and incorporate them in similar projects.
I looked at a photo of my family (Father, Mother, my sister, brothers and me) seated on a rock with the Cape Neddick “Nubble Lighthouse” in the background.  This brought back memories of trips from our home in New York State to visit relatives in Maine and our picnic suppers at the lighthouse view.
So, in addition to …read more

I discovered that Mother liked to look at pictures in magazines.  Turning the pages and commenting on the photos often kept her occupied for quite some time, both when she was living with me and during her early years at the nursing home.  Often the pictures would stimulate memories.
Here’s an interesting article, Art Cuts Through the Fog of Alzheimer’s, about museum programs, particularly one at the Amon Carter Museum gallery in Fort Worth, Texas.  I think you’ll find it interesting and inspiring.  It may give you some ideas for helping your Alzheimer’s patient.

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

In response to my post, Helping Your Alzheimer’s Patient Create Memories, Kaye, of SandwichINK, shared her thoughts on this topic.
What a great idea to spend time reminiscing and writing it down to share with the grandchildren. I did get a book for grandparents to record their memories and filled in some of it with my dad. I just wish I’d started it sooner.
 Yes, Kaye, those grandparents’ memory books are great.  They’re a good way to start in recording memories.  Often they’re all that you need. 
And most of us, I think, wish we’d jotted down or recorded more of the …read more

After I wrote last week’s Thursday Thirteen  about 13 Birds Creating Memories in my mother’s life, Krista at Alzheimer’s Team, left me a comment, “My dad remembers he had horses but he can’t go in to detail about it. Maybe if we talked with him more about it he might remember more.”
Yes, often if you talk with your Alzheimer’s family member about places, persons, things and events, they will remember more. These may be bits and pieces of memories that you’ll enjoy jotting down or recording for family history, too.  Sometimes they will be lengthy stories.  You also may find …read more

THURSDAY THIRTEEN
It may seen strange when I say there are 13 birds I connect with my Mother, or which bring back memories related to her, either during her Alzheimer’s days or before.  It may seem I’m “going to the birds” this week, since I wrote the post on National Bird Day.  But when I began writing about Mother’s memories of birds or of her in connection with those on our farm (particularly the ducklings), I realized there were humorous ones and nostalgic ones that our family might enjoy, too.
So here are 13:

Ducks and ducklings – We raised a few of …read more

I hope you all are having a joyous holiday with family and friends.  Sometimes it can be stressful if you’re caring for an Alzheimer’s patient.  They’re always doing the unexpected so your plans may go astray.
All my Christmases with Mother were memorable, from the time she lived in her home in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s to the last Christmas in the nursing home.  Mother lived 275 miles from Jim and me, so we were staying with her for a few days during the holidays.  I tried to make this Christmas as normal and festive as possible for her.
Friends and …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.
(Amazon image)