Welcome!

This is a journal of our lives with my mom, affectionately known as Little Mama. In her 90's, she is a sweet, spunky, spirited, sometimes exasperating, tiny little lady that now lives with moderate dementia and macular degeneration. These journal entries show the good times and the not-so-good times.

Little Mama's type of dementia is age-related and is not hereditary. Sometimes, she appears to be perfectly normal. Other times, it is obvious that something is amiss. It is her desire to remain in our home rather than live out her days in an assisted living facility. It is my prayer that we will be able to honor her in this way. We feel blessed...and challenged...that she lives in our home. This is not easy, and important things rarely are easy. It takes an emotional and physical toll on the caregivers. I've been through the 7 stages of grief at least once if not more! If you are in a similar situation, you understand what I mean! Fortunately, our family helps a lot both physically and emotionally. It takes a team.

The fourth commandment tells us to honor our parents. That is done in many different ways. If you are struggling with a decision, please pray and ask for guidance and wisdom. Our Lord will let you know how He wants you to honor them. Regardless of the way you honor your loved ones, you will need support. So build your team, whether it is from members of your family or a support group.

I am finally learning that: I can't fix it. I can't change it. All I can do is accept it, trust God, and roll with it. (My condensed version of the Serenity Prayer.) We are learning to relax, laugh, and savor every moment we have with my mom on this side of Heaven.

So, scroll down.... read the entries...laugh and cry with us.

Blessings!
Lisa

















Saturday, April 20, 2013

September 2012: SOAPBOX


September 28, 2012

Every now and again, I get on a soapbox when I think about how near death my mom was before we moved her back in with us:

Do you have a loved one with dementia? 

BEFORE you make a decision to place him/her in a facility, EDUCATE yourself about dementia and RESEARCH all the facilities in your area. 
Show up unannounced and ask for a tour. 
Ask about the activities. Are they meaningful activities and not just Tiddly Winks? 
Watch the interaction between the staff and the residents. Are the residents hugged? Are they
told that they are loved? 
What is on television? What kind of music is playing? 
If you can, go during a meal. Are the caregivers sitting with the residents and assisting/encouraging them to eat? Dementia patients often do not feel hunger or thirst. They must be prompted to eat and drink. Do they make adjustments to the meals as the dementia progresses? Do they assist with cutting the food? Do they puree the food when the time comes and feed the resident? 
Is the area well-lit? Is there a lot of natural light? 
Do the residents have an opportunity to go outside? 

These are just a few of the questions that should be answered BEFORE you make a decision.
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