Tag Archives: Alzheimers

Trustworthy Support Groups and Online Medical Sites

Trustworthy Support Groups and Online Medical SitesTrustworthy Support Groups and Online Medical Sites.

It is imperative to find trustworthy support groups and online medical sites. Coping with changes identified in your loved ones’ home, or effectively help others cope, calls for a strong support system.

Caregiver or not, we need support. Example, which of the following has affected your family or friends: Dementia, Alzheimers, Death, Alcohol, Suicide, Chronic Pain, ADHD, Aging Parents, Depression, Narcotics, Eating Disorders, Sexual Abuse, Divorce.

Some support may come from those around you.

#1 A support group needs to be trustworthy and confidential. Having a group you have confidence in enables you to relate your true feelings and share more honestly about your unique situation.

#2 The best support will come from others who have traveled that road before. When that person holds  your hand and says, “I understand,” you can know they really do.

#3 Hearing the experiences of others in a given situation will help you better understand your circumstances. Actions and reactions which seem foreign to you right now may be normal for a person suffering or struggling with certain issues.

#4 Local support groups offer help and hope in a more personal, long term environment. If there is none available, consider starting a group.  Simply find two or three others going through the same situation and plan to meet for about an hour once or twice a month.

#5 Online support groups for family and friends are a great place to start your search. Look for blogs or discussion boards on the particular area you are dealing with.

A word of caution here-while online sites can offer ready help and suggestions, filter any changes through your medical team or reliable agency such as Mental Health America, Alzheimers Association, CAPS (Children of Aging Parents) or other appropriate group.

After searching through pages of information and online sites, I would recommend http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/find_support_group as a good place to begin your search. There you will find a lengthy list of support groups as well as helps.

Another website that may offer help depending upon your location is www.healthfinder.gov.   I researched our local hospitals on this site. I also found valuable information on several health-related issues.

Make sure the sites you are searching are updated regularly so you get the latest information.

Remember to call upon the Great Physician for wisdom and direction. We read “Call upon me and I will answer thee … ” in Jeremiah 33:3.

Hugs,

Have you purchased a copy of the 2nd edition of MY MOTHER MY CHILD? I am getting great comments from those using the discussion guide at the end of each chapter. Let me hear from you.

5 Simple Ways to Communicate in Awkward Situations

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5 simple ways to communicate in awkward situations

Caregivers and family can find it difficult to communicate in awkward situations.

The reason could be as simple as stubborn wills. More likely, it involves Alzheimer’s,  dementia or other medical issues including reactions to certain medications. When words are gone or memory fails, even for a short period of time, we must learn other ways to communicate so people will feel valued and loved.

Read John’s story: can you relate?
John quickly crossed the road to avoid an encounter with a couple. His long-time friend was suffering memory loss and would not know him. When confronted later, John admitted, “I was uncomfortable; I didn’t know how to react and didn’t want anyone to feel embarrassed.” The end result was worse than embarrassment; the couple felt rejected and hurt.

1. Always take time to acknowledge someone you meet in public.
Greeting the hurting couple above with a handshake and sincere smile would have boosted their confidence, encouraged and helped them cope in an otherwise awkward situation. Depending on the circumstances, John could have offered to carry their bags, buy them a cup of coffee, or simply promise to pray faithfully for them.

2. Acknowledge each person you meet in a home you visit.
Jenny was caring for her elderly deaf aunt. On my first visit, the aunt was in her wheelchair in the middle of the room. Before sitting down for our visit, I went to the frail, little woman whom I had not met before. With a broad smile, she took my outstretched hands and gave them a good squeeze. Jenny and I would have plenty of time for our visit; her aunt needed someone to notice she was there, too.

3. Find creative ways to communicate non-verbally.
After driving hours after work to visit us, our son would always go directly to Grandma’s chair without a word to anyone else. Her quiet little world suddenly became the queen’s palace as he smiled and hugged on her for awhile. “Would you like a candy bar, Grandma?” The excitement mounted as he slowly unwrapped a little Hershey bar for her. There are no words to describe the very real, very intense “conversation” that followed as he made sure Grandma knew she was loved.

4. Accept the situation as it is; not as you wish it were.
When Mother said to me, “I am not your mother”, I had to accept the fact that, in her mind, I was a stranger caring for her. Whether she knew me as her daughter or not was not the primary issue at the time. She needed to know the person taking care of her loved her; that she was in a safe environment. (More about this account in my book, MY MOTHER MY CHILD.)

5. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes.
If you couldn’t talk or express yourself, how would you feel. How could a visitor or family member help you feel a part of the family? How would you want to be greeted? What could someone do to show you that you had value?

A need for acceptance is built inside each of us. We long to please, to be a part of the activity in our surroundings. We need to feel loved.

Experience has taught me, when feelings surface of being lonesome, unloved, or left out, all I need do is find someone to love on a bit. Jesus said, “Love one another.” I trust you will find someone today needing a big hug and a smile and share with them. It’s contagious.

Hugs,

P.S. For more great tips and helps, you will benefit from the discussion guides in the latest edition of MY MOTHER MY CHILD. Click here for preview.

Using Music Therapy in Every Household

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Using Music Therapy in Every HouseholdHelp fight stress, loneliness, boredom with music therapy.

Caregivers, consider how long a day confined at home; alone for extended periods of time would feel. You may sit in the same chair for hours. You hear others talking though not necessarily to you. What will occupy your mind?

How about your personal life. Find yourself stressed? Troubled? Stewing over things you cannot control?

Music can play a huge part in helping you care for others.

Our minds are busy all the time. With no diversion, we are prone to dwell on the struggles we have; the mistakes we have made; the what-ifs of life’s journey. Our troubles swell up inside us and we are agitated or “down in the dumps” before we realize what is happening.

Here are some helpful tips to get you started.

1. Keep music playing softly in the background to provide a peaceful atmosphere. Music soothes the soul.
2. Consider the preferences of those in your care. If elderly, find some music from their generation; an oldies radio station; or slow paced instrumentals.
3. Play gospel music for a lively change of pace. My elderly mother would sit straight up in her chair and lean toward the television set when Gaither’s Videos were playing. Her eyes would brighten, her smile return, and she was peaceful.
4. Encourage others to sing with you or hum some favorite songs. I’ll be the first to say, “I do not sing”. However, when Mother was up to it, we “sang” together and laughed. After all, the Bible says ” … make a joyful NOISE … ” and that we did!
5. Make sure the music is happy music; stay away from melodies that sound lonely or scary. This may sound a little over-simplified but I have walked into homes and wondered how you could sit there for a long period of time without screaming! The music should help you relax and focus on the positive side of life.

Music has a healing effect on even the most difficult patient.

It is known that music can greatly help those with dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease cope with daily activities. (Note: next week I will cover some amazing results in more detail.)

Here is the thing: you work hard to keep your home in order, food prepared, schedules met. Spend a little time this week thinking about your “air quality”; could you use a little music perk-up?

Hugs,

Click here to check out my online article on   5 Tips To Ease Stress in The Home