Friday, April 22, 2011

Holiday Celebrating Changes for Caregivers

With now beginning the Easter long weekend, I am reminded how such holidays can be very different and challenging for family caregivers. Mom and/or Dad may not be able to partake in usual family celebrations and traditions may have to be changed. If you are planning a festive Easter dinner in your own home, you can still have Mom or Dad participate. You just have to remain mindful of a few issues.

Start Earlier: An aging parent will not have the same energy as younger members of the family. Therefore, set your table to begin an hour sooner ... there is no reason why you can't eat at 5:00 pm, rather than 6:00 pm. If you are worried about not being hungry, just eat a lighter lunch. By scheduling your dinner earlier, you will have more quality family time to follow - before Mom or Dad starts drifting off.

Clear the Pathways: When having an aging senior visit your home, it's crucial to clean up any clutter. Watch out specifically for any potential tripping hazards on the floor - these could include clothes, extension cords and/or toys. If Mom or Dad falls while visiting you, this could easily turn a family celebration into a family emergency.

Watch Out for Pets: While pets can provide unconditional love to a person, a smaller puppy (for example) can be overly exuberant. The animal's excessive jumping, playing and barking could easily startle or alarm a senior. As above, a small pet may also not recognize the need to move out of the way and could become another tripping hazard.

Supply a Change of Clothes for Mom/Dad: Whether being spilled food or something more serious, accidents can - and do - happen. By having some extra clothes on-hand (whether from Mom or Dad's closet or your own), you can better ensure that your parent remains as comfortable as possible.

By all means, please continue to involve Mom or Dad in your own holidays but consider various adaptations. Happy Holidays!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

#2 On the Local Book Bestseller List!

Out of sheer curiosity recently, I "Google" searched my name and book title. Among the numerous listings was a website link to a recently-published local newspaper article. This listed our city's local bestselling books for both fiction and non-fiction categories (as compiled by two local bookstores). Imagine my absolute surprise to spot my own name and book title as #2 under the "Non-Fiction" selections.

I am completely humbled to learn this and can only graciously thank the many readers interested in my work as well as the bookstores which have stocked it. Writing this was a challenge unto itself (for many reasons) and I am delighted to know that my book is helping so many people.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Dementia Strikes Former Alberta Premier

A man well-known for speaking his mind will soon speak no more. Former Alberta premier, Ralph Klein, has been diagnosed with fronto-temporal dementia. This common type of dementia robs an individual of his/her ability to talk. It can be a slow process; however, an individual first can be seen fishing the "right" word(s) more often; this is followed by a complete loss of verbal ability. Whether you loved or hated the folksy "King Ralph", this diagnosis is tragic.

Having undergone a similar diagnosis with my own father (Dad had Alzheimer's disease), I know how emotionally heart-wrenching it can be for a family to watch the imminent decline ... not to mention the individual affected. I sympathize, completely, with Ralph Klein's wife. Dad, as a former English professor, had a strong command of the language at one time; however, this was reduced to nothing more than incoherent mumbles and, sometimes, not even those. Scientists are still searching for a cure, so there is nothing one can do but watch from the sidelines, remain patient plus continue to love and support an aging family member to the best of his/her own abilities.

Ralph Klein, now 68, remains quite young. The typical survival time for those with this condition is seven years.

While I didn't always agree with what Ralph Klein said or acted like, I can't deny he was certainly an outspoken politician who had both drive and spunk plus never hesitated to speak his mind. One has to admire these traits.
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