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 blizzard in the West in 1888.)

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Snowy Days Evoke Memories in Alzheimer’s Patients

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 writing about family trips to Nubble Light for my class, I’m relating some memories for our family legacy.  I marvel how Mother and Father had the patience to take four children in a car (no vans or SUVs in those days).  There were simply the six of us squeezed into a two seater car with small trunk for luggage.  We traveled many miles this way, often stopping to repair flat tires. 

Do you have memories of family trips in the pre-Alzheimer’s days?  Remember the adventures, the frustration, and the fun that we captured in photos and now in words.

Additional Information:

Sentinel of the Sea – Nubble Light: a History of Cape Neddick Light Station by Rose Labrie.  (Finding a listing at Amazon of this book brought back memories, too.  I knew Rose Labrie years ago when we both belonged to the Seacoast Writers Group.)

(AllPosters.com image at Amazon)

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Capture Memories of Alzheimer’s Patient’s Earlier Days & Travels

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.

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Stimulate Alzheimer’s Memories Through Art

• *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 knowledge from studies at school.

Some of this discussion might stimulate memories in the minds of your Alzheimer’s patients (as I relate in Books and Fabrics about Obama, along with Alzheimer’s Memories).

I’ve also compiled a list of Resources About Abraham Lincoln at my blog, One Book Two Book that you may find helpful.

Quilting Resources:

Barbara Brackman Designs Obama Fabric You Can Print

Obama Quilts

(Welsh image at Amazon)

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Resources About Abraham Lincoln for Alzheimer’s Caregivers

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 many mourners stood where they could see it, he related to her.  That was among the family facts I jotted down before Mother lost recall of such events as her Alzheimer’s progressed. 

Over at One Book Two Book, I’ve posted a list of books about the Obamas and the United States Presidency, Childen’s Books About Obama & the Presidency.

Perhaps you’ve discovered some you consider helpful.

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Books and Fabrics About Obama, along with Alzheimer’s Memories

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 memories while our parents or grandparents were still with us or could remember (in the case of Alzheimer’s).  Fortunately I had my dad write down some of his memories before he died.  Then I began to ask my mom about hers before Alzheimer’s became too severe.

How have you recorded family memories?

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Keeping a Grandmother’s Memory Book

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 that the Alzheimer’s patient thinks he/she is back in that memory world.

Also, pull out some pictures, either actual family photos or simply pictures in magazines. These often will jog memories and initiate conversations.

I learned to enjoy my “memory trips” with Mother and Auntie.  When Mother’s memory was still accurate, I write down much of what she was telling me so that I could share with my family and record for our family legacy.

(Incidentally….visit Krista’s Alzheimer’s Team blog.  You’ll find comfort and encouragement as she and others share with you the tears and laughter, frustrations and joys of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s.)

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Helping Your Alzheimer’s Patient Create Memories

1. Ducks and ducklings – We raised a few of these on the farm and the mother ducks hatched a number of fluffy yellow babies each spring.
2. Geese - We also had a few geese.  One old gander liked to chase us.  Mother would take a swipe at him with a pail of water and send him flying.
3. Chickens – In addition to operating a dairy farm, Mother and Father raised several hundred chickens and sold eggs.  We children were kept busy helping with both operations.  In her Alzheimer’s years, Mother thought the chickens were in the backyard of her little retirement house and “fed” them bread crusts each afternoon.
4. Baltimore Oriole - A pair built their nest and raised their young in a large tree in our back yard each year.  Mother pointed out their distinctive swinging nest and introduced us to their song.
5. Robins – These, too, were occupants of our yard.  We liked to watch them pull worms from the ground.
6. Pheasants – As a 4-H project, Mother encouraged us children to raise  the pheasants provided through the County 4-H.  The first time we hatched the pheasant eggs under brooding hens.  But the survival rate was better when we got the baby pheasants and raised them.  Then we let them go in designated areas in our fields.
7. Red-winged blackbirds – We watched these birds with the distinctive red on their black wings flying and singing in the swampy areas of the pasture.
8. Bluebirds – We looked for these in the orchard where Father raised apples to sell.  Another of the many farm projects we were involved in.
9. Road runners – Mother enjoyed seeing these when she and Father traveled West to visit Jim and me when we was stationed at an Air Force base in Texas. 
10. Bantam or banty chickens - Mother raised a few of these small hens and roosters, just for variety on our farm.  Actually I think there was one proud rooster strutting around with a number of hens.
11. Turkeys – Mother’s brother raised these for sale on his farm.  It was fascinating to visit and listen to them “Gobble, gobble, gobble.”
12. Peacocks - Another of Mother’s brothers had two peacocks and some pheasants on the farm. Watching the peacocks spread their colorful tails was an awesome sight for children.
13. Hummingbirds – They made an appearance in summer and poked their long beaks into the flowers around the house.

As I jot down the various birds and the memories they evoke, I realize this is something anyone could do with Alzheimer’s family members.  Use them as memory joggers for your own family history ramblings, too.

(Ace Trading image at Amazon)

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Thursday Thirteen – 13 Birds Creating Memories in an Alzheimer’s Life

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 family stopped by, we cooked some of the traditional foods, decorated the house and reminisced about Christmas past.  We also watched some Christmas programs on television.  Although Mother wasn’t much for TV in former years, it became her companion as she developed Alzheimer’s after my dad’s death.

I’m pleased I made an effort to have a memorable Christmas with Mother because soon after New Year’s I had to move her to our home.  She couldn’t be left alone, when I had to go home, because she wold walk out into the snow looking for her cat.

By the following Christmas, she only had momemtary recognition of the celebration even though she did seem to enjoy whenever she was aware. 

Enjoy celebrations with your Alzheimer’s family member whenever you can.  Don’t put off because there might be a better time.  Grasp the moment and enjoy that moment in time.

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Merry Christmas at Alzheimer’s Notes – Memories of Mother

Picture books and children’s stories

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)

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World War II Children’s Books to Stimulate Memories