October 29, 2013

tion

Issue No. 7

bringing awareness

The Memory People Page

We Built a Shed
by Rick Phelps

We built a shed. What? Many of you will think, so...But this feat was huge for me, and others that Phyllis June and I do together. You see, when you have this disease you slowly but surely lose the ability to do things you once could. That time has been here for me for a long time now.

one person at a time

I cannot do the simplest of things without direction from someone. It is very important that the caregiver "helps" the patient do these tasks that they no longer can do themselves. We could have called our son-in-law and he would have had our shed together in no time. But I wanted to do it, and Phyllis June knew it would be good for me. She took control, but yet allowed me to think I was doing what needed to be done. She read the directions and walked me through them slowly, step by step. When I made a mistake, she said "What do you think if you tried this?". Again, giving me the feeling that I was doing something, actually accomplishing something. As a caregiver, it's never good to just do things for your loved one. If they are in the early to mid stages. They need that sense of accomplishing something. I could have never done this on my own, and would not have attempted it. But working together, as Phyllis June put it, team work, we finished it. The directions said it could be put together in minutes. It took us three hours. I had no idea it took that long. Time means nothing to me and I was shocked when I heard her say it took that long. But the important thing here is I as a patient was given the opportunity to accomplish something. Not alone, but still made me feel I can be useful.

October 29, 2013

Issue No. 7

When you do everything for your loved one, you are indeed taking away their dignity. Every person needs to feel they are contributing. It does no one any good to be a couch potato. Those days will come soon enough. Help your loved one do things. Let them know you are there to help if they need it, but they indeed will be doing what needs to be done, for whatever project they want to accomplish. I know I could not have done this on my own. But I also know, with the help of my wife, I did get it completed. And most important she did it in a way that she was never condescending. It's the little things that mean the world to a patient. And our new shed was just what the doctor ordered...

~~~ New Website Focuses on the Reality of Alzheimers

Once you have Alzheimers nothing is the same. A shell, a husk, a hollow container. So influential is this perception that those with Alzheimers are written off as a lost cause. Discover the human side of Alzheimers at Fade to Blank: Life Inside Alzheimers
http://www.fadetoblank.org/#/?part=cause-for-concern

Would you like to share your story in our Memory People Page Newsletter? Our stories put a face and reality to dementia. If you would like to share your story with others and bring awareness, please contact Leeanne Chames on Facebook or at leeannechames@gmail.com Spring forward Fall back! Dont forget to set your clocks back one hour Sunday, November 3rd!

The Memory People Page is a publication of Memory People, an Alzheimers and memory impairment support and awareness group on Facebook. If you would like to start receiving this newsletter, please email leeannechames@gmail.com and we will be happy to include you on our email list. If you or a loved one has been touched by any memory impairment, if you are an advocate, or if you just want to know more about these diseases, please join us at Memory People. Just type Memory People in your Facebook search bar and click on Join Group.

bringing Awareness, one person at a time

October 29, 2013

Issue No. 7

bringing awareness

Back in the Day

A Collection of Treasured Memories From the Members of Memory People

one person at a time

This is Lucy and her Granna (great grandmother) Sylvia. Lucy and Sylvia both live on the Central Coast in NSW, Australia. Lucy has just turned 4 years old and Sylvia turns 91 in December! Despite the age difference they had a lovely visit at Grannas care facility at Woy Woy for nearly two hours. Lucy took along her favourite puppy, Phoebe and kept everyone entertained including the other residents in the cottage. Lucy gave out puppy pats and Lucy hugs to everyone she met. Its good to know that even at 4 years of age there are many little Lucys out there with the natural gift of caring. ~ Pam Robinson This picture was taken this past July. Since then he has steadily gone downhill. He was admitted to hospital end of August with pneumonia, then sent to rehab facility. He developed c-dif and another bout of pneumonia. His oxygen level keeps dropping. He's had two episodes this past week where he couldn't talk. Very weak. Then add the Alzheimer's going downhill also. Its been a very stressful few months. He will be 81 on November 28. Been married to my mother almost 60 years. She will be his caregiver with my siblings help of course. Facility plans on releasing him October 15. My sister Peggy Lillywhite is also an MP member. ~ Sharon Brower Zaborowski

October 29, 2013 I'm walking to support my Mom who has early onset Alzheimer's. I dream of a day when we have a cure for this terrible disease. It is destructive beyond measure and there are no survivors. Alzheimer's robs those afflicted of their future and dreams. Victims of Alzheimer's are often unable to speak for themselves, so my hope is to be the voice for my Mom and others struggling with this disease. ~ Denise Novosel

Issue No. 7

Bessie Evelyn Morgan Baldwin. 1921 Born in the hills of West Virginia, one of 11 children and the lone survivor. married Howard Lee Roy Baldwin June (1919-2000) in June 1942. She followed her military husband across the world raising 5 children along the way. She walked the Great Wall of china, strolled the grounds of the Taj Mahal, crossed the Pacific Ocean via troop ship twice, and was an editor at The Seattle Times. At 62 she went to school , became an enrolled agent for IRS and managed a tax office full-time until age 82. Alzheimer's invaded her life at about age 80 and began to hold her and us hostage. She had been through many tough situations, but this disease took she and we by surprise. Today she is lovingly cared for by family friends who knew her when she was our real mother. Her son tucks her in bed each night and to keep her safe he slept on her bed for many months. Funniest home videos of babies and animals makes her laugh out loud. We love that sound. Bless you all. ~ Diane Elinor Hoover Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Back In The Day Pics Page! We enjoyed meeting your loved ones and getting to know you better.