A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
— Anonymous
We like to be in control. Even the illusion of control can make us feel less stressed and more comfortable than knowing that we’re not in control. Stress reduces both our brain health and our physical health unless we take positive steps to counteract its effects. When a loved one has dementia, we are definitely not in control of anything associated with their life and often we lose control over some of our lives as well.
If you’re a frequent reader of this blog, you know that both of my parents have suffered from some form of dementia. My mother died of Alzheimer’s disease and her sister has been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia. My father has also been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease as well as bipolar disorder.
One of the things that I’ve discovered as we’ve traveled the journey through various forms of dementia is that Continue reading » How Not to Be Crazy
Do not tell secrets to those whose faith and silence you have not already tested.
— Elizabeth I
If we’re lucky, aging is a learning process. We all age, but we don’t all learn. Sometimes our ability to learn is determined by our willingness to see things in a new light.
All of us eventually face the decline and death of our parents. My mother died of Alzheimer’s in 2005. As you are probably aware if you are a frequent reader of this blog, my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in December of last year. In addition to Alzheimer’s, Dad has also been diagnosed with bipolar disease. The health care professionals involved in his care reached this diagnosis partially based on Continue reading » The Consequences of Keeping Secrets
- Sometimes our hearts get tangled
- And our souls a little off-kilter
- Friends and family can set us right
- And help guide us back to the light.
— Sera Christann
If you’ve been reading here lately, you probably know that my nuclear family (and nuclear is exactly the right term) has been facing a bit of a crisis. By nuclear I mean me, my siblings and my father. There’s nothing quite like a dance with dementia to get the juices flowing.
As you may recall, the Friday before Christmas Dad chose to drive the wrong way down a divided highway. This resulted in a short hospital stay, a tentative diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and a statement by the medical personnel involved that it was no longer safe for Dad to live alone. The advantage/disadvantage of Alzheimer’s is that Dad doesn’t Continue reading » Bouncing Back Through Family and Friends
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