Smile In Spite Of Dementia

I have the distinct pleasure of directing seven senior citizen choirs.  Most of the participants of these choirs have dementia.  This can make things interesting, to say the least.  Many of them have lost the ability to read, some are easily agitated, and some forget from week to week their involvement in the choir.  However, they are my favorite people, and we have a great time together singing.

The next five days will be spent directing a Christmas performance with five various choirs.  You might never guess my biggest challenge with these folks.  Answer is --- getting them to smile.  They are so intent about singing, they forget to smile.  I am constantly reminding them to smile, “You are singing ‘Joy To The World’, but you are not smiling.  Come on.  SMILE!”  They will then smile, and the smile lasts about 10 seconds.  Then their heads are back down, concentration on singing has begun, and the process repeats itself.

I don’t mind reminding my singers of the need to smile.  Because of the dementia many of them experience, they are not capable of remembering the need to read, sing, and smile all at the same time.  It takes a great amount of brain activity to cause all this to happen at one time.  I think it is more important they sing.  If they smile, that is great.  If they sing, they are causing their brain to release endorphins.  This make them feel better.  So, SING!  If you can remember to smile, that is even better.  Just don’t forget to SING.  Hope that gives you Something To Ponder.

Dementia and Afghans

I could write and give you all the details regarding the thousands of things I need to accomplish (and that is just during the next 24 hours), but I am sure you are swamped with packages to wrap, house cleaning to accomplish, menus to consider, and so on.  So, I am doubtful you will feel too much sympathy for my plight.

Momma, on the other hand, is so very busy giving serious consideration as to whether she should crochet full-size afghans or baby afghans.  Oh my, what a tough decision, indeed.  Actually, I am proud of the afghans she makes.  As you can see in the picture, I have one on my office chair, and I even use one as a table covering.  However, I say with a sigh, there comes a time you just don’t need any more afghans.  All the children, grandchildren, friends, and acquaintances are proud owners of one or more of her handmade creations.

This week I had the brilliant idea of contacting my church to see if they could help with distribution.  Happy days are here again!  They want all she can make.  Oh man, they don’t know how quickly my Momma can whip up these things.

Anyway, Momma’s crocheting is so good for her.  She enjoys keeping her hands busy (that becomes important in about the third stage of dementia), she likes to be creative, and she thrills to share her work with others.  Momma’s budget is feeling the pinch of purchasing all this yarn, but the goodwill her afghans produce and the health benefits for Momma are priceless.

Way to go, Momma.  Keep on stitching!  Hope that gives you Something To Ponder.

It Looks Like A Cat

(Disclaimer - When I was in school, and a poetry assignment was given, I had my older sister write the poems for me.  I know that was a bad thing to do, but she is excellent at poetry.  After reading this blog, you will understand more fully why I made that decision.)

It isn’t a fox

He has on no sox

It looks like a cat

A cat in a box

He just wants to rest

To be at his best

It looks like a cat

Put this box to the test

He sat oh so still

Just resting until

It looks like a cat

Had quite the fill

A lesson to heed

From a cat who can’t read

It looks like a cat

Taught a lesson, indeed

Take time to rest

To be at your best

It looks like a cat

Aced that big test

Dementia - Going The Extra Mile

Ninety minutes there.  Ninety minutes back.  Sit and wait between the two events.  That is what my husband, Michael, does whenever Momma and I need a trip to our local outlet mall.  He says he doesn’t mind, especially if there is food involved somewhere in the process.  But, really, who wants to do all that driving  just to sit and wait on someone?

Michael is a sweetheart, and no one knows this better than me.  My mother would argue that statement.  She thinks he is the best thing since sliced bread, and he truly is her “son-in-love”, as a one of my reader’s referred to her son-in-law.  Michael takes extra effort to help me care for Momma.  If Momma wants it, you can bet Michael will make sure Momma gets it.  Whatever “it” is has little bearing on things.

Momma has Alzheimer’s, and Michael is determined we will enjoy our time with Momma.  If she gets to the point she doesn’t recognize us, we will know we maximized our time together.  How many son-in-laws go to this kind of effort?  I would guess there are not too many.  A son-in-love, on the other hand, would look at the situation differently.

Alzheimer’s can be challenging.  Having a strong hand on your back can mean the difference between success and failure as a caregiver.  Who can you support today?  Hope that gives you Something To Ponder.

World War II Veterans Honored

World War II Veterans Honored

Nov 11, 2012

November 7th, 2012 was a day Clint Andrews will always remember.  That was the day he joined 100 World War II Veterans, flying out of Columbia, South Carolina, on an Honor Flight bound for Washington, DC.  Clint was picked up in the wee hours of the morning, driven to Columbia, and escorted the entire day.  The veterans visited the World War II Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Clint is a young 94 years old, and he was joined by veterans from age 85 to 97.  To date, over 81,000 soldiers have taken advantage of this privilege.  I am proud of Clint.  He is a man that stands above most men you will ever meet.  He is a man of honor, integrity, courage, and love.  I am sure these traits are true of most all the men who joined him on November 7^th, but, to me, Clint stands taller.

Upon returning to Columbia for each veteran to begin their trek home, the celebration continued.  This was in stark contrast to their return from war in 1945.  During those days, the brave men were met by a relative or two, but no fan fare greeted them.  However, on November 7^th, 2012, these 100 men returned to the airport in Columbia, SC to a throng of people with police escort!  Clint said, “It was like returning from the war!”

WAY TO GO, CLINT!  You so deserve the special acclaim you received that day.  By the way, you are still one more good looking solider.  Thank you for making America a place I can call home!  Hope that gives you Something To Ponder.

 

Dementia - I Don't Remember You

I love Chinese Food.  I especially enjoy sushi rolls.   Fortune cookies, on the other hand, are disgusting.  Most of the time, the fortune inside of them says something that isn' a fortune at all.  For example, it might say “You have character”.  That is NOT a fortune.  If it said, “You have character that will lead to great success,” THAT would be a fortune.

Recently, my fortune said, “You will soon be receiving some good written advice.”  I have high hopes that written advice will look something like this.  “Dear Mrs. Howell, we are pleased to announce you have won a gazillion dollars in the ‘Win A Bunch’ sweepstakes.”  Yes, oh yes!  That would be some “good written advice”.  In the meantime, I have decided to use that fortune and this blog to bring you, my reader, some good written advice.

I recently watched the movie “1,000 Words”, with Eddie Murphy.  He portrays a character who, among other things, visits his mother with dementia.  She thinks he is her husband, and he continues to insist he is Jack, her son.  This, of course, does not settle well with her, confuses her, and causes the visit to be less than what Jack had hoped it would be.

When visiting with someone who is not living in the here and now, allow them to set the tone and character of the conversation.  If they believe you to be someone other than who you are, go with the moment.  Dust off your acting skills, smile, and be whomever they seem to think you resemble.  The process may not seem like fun, at first, but watching your loved one smile, liven up, and have a few moments of happiness is really what your visit should be about, anyway.

Eddie Murphy’s character, Jack, had some education ahead of him before he figured out this technique.  You, on the other hand, have just been the beneficiary of the fortune from my recent Chinese food experience.  Please put this “good written advice” to work.  Hope that gives you Something To Ponder.

Dementia and Being Old

Moses Was An Old Dude

Oct 29, 2012

Did you know Moses was 80 when God called him to talk to Pharoah about freeing the Israelites?   Moses was an old dude, for sure.  Then God decided to give Moses a break, and He arranged for Aaron to come along and help Moses.  Guess what?  Aaron was 83!  Now I’m not so sure I would consider an 83 year old man to be much of a helper, but we all know God has a sense of humor.

Our pastor used this passage of scripture in Exodus as the text for his sermon this week.  Being someone who works with senior citizens every day, and someone who writes about senior citizens in both blog and book format, this little tidbit of information on Moses and Aaron caught my attention.

I think it is one of the ways God reminds us to recognize the benefit senior citizens have in our lives.  We are often quick to disregard their stories or ideas.  We seem to forget they have knowledge beyond anything we have experienced.  We ignore their education, both formal and informal.

God decided to call on the wisdom Moses had gained in his 80 years on Earth, and He enhanced that wisdom with Aaron and his talents garnered through 83 years of being alive.  If God looks this way on the senior citizens, shouldn’t we?  Hope that gives you Something To Ponder.