Acting like a kid again

Boy it really was a lot of fun mud digging. For you that don't know what I am talking about, we took the 4 wheeler and went with some more couples and headed for the woods. Then we found the biggest and muddiest mud holes and had fun. Yes we were muddy. But who cared. For a few hours all we thought about was having fun. Being a kid again. Life is too short enjoy every minute, it may be your last.

Memorial Day Week End

Well, I hope eveyone had a wonderful week end. Ours was pretty quiet. Saturday, Jesse cleaned the pool and Lynn and Dennis came down. Sunday we took Chris to south LA. so he could start his training for offshore. Monday our nephew bar-be-gued and I crocheted. My kind of week end slow and quiet. We haven't started our meetings yet and I haven't gotten the library going yet. Last week was a slow one and this week is almost half way gone. I really am getting content just sitting at the house more. Days of always having a full schedule is in the past. Have a blessed day.

Get up and go-------------GONE

Hey everyone,
I am still here. Slower than normal but here. I have been so tired and sleepy lately. Taking naps and going to bed early. I haven't been in the chatroom because I am usually asleep or headed there. Today has been really bad I have not had the desire to do ANYTHING. I can't get motivated. Not much going on just lying around reading some. Have a good day.

New beginnings

Chris has graduated and Jesse and I are alone for the first time since we married. We have always had a kid to finish raising. Yesterday I started going through the house and cleaning up one room at a time. I have asked my granddaughter to come and spend a couple of weeks to help me get orgainized then we are going shopping for her new baby due in a few weeks. This is going to be a new experience for me and Jesse but one we have looked forward to. My tidbits for today continues to be from Coach Broyles, on home safety:

• Try to make their world simple
• Use plain-colored placemats, tablecloths, bath towels and sheets
• Block off stairs so they can't fall up or down them
• Have all of you house locks keyed to the same key
• Place safety latches up high and down low on doors leadin gto the outside
• Have them wear an ID bracelet if they wander, and sign them up for the Alzheimer's Safe Return Program
• Use locked cabinets for soaps, cleaners, poisons and medicines

I can understand all these being important. Designs on things make them too busy. I have seen people try to pick spots up off the tile on the floor. You just never know. Coach Broyles book is really a good guide that he developed with his wife. Have a good day. Remember to live today like it is your last, because it may be.

Weekend

Well, we spent antoher weekend camping. I know we are going to het more organized one day. Fish are never biting when we go, what's up? Anyway we had a relaxing day chilling and enjoying the outdoors. Well, my tidbit for today is also from Coach Broyles, Communication:

• Pay attentions to what they are trying to tell you
• Keep what you are telling short and simple but not child-like
• Use one-step commands when telling them what you want them to do. This will decrease their frustration level and make each activity a success for them
• Don't tell them more than they need to know at one time
• Be patient. Give them lots of time to answer your question
• Is they lose the thought, ask the same question again
• Give them lots of time to finish what they are trying to say
• Don't argue with them. It is easier to agree with them and then do what you had planned anyway
• Don't try to reason with them. You will just get angry and they won't know why. Change what you're talking about to something they like
• Don't correct or fuss at them for getting something wrong. Does it really matter? It may only make them feel bad
• Don't say "I just told you that." Just repeat the answer you have already given to them
• Don't ask Them to "remember" things that happened in the past. Talk about what you remember happening and how they were a part of it
• Don't say "You can't." Say "Do as much as you can and I will help you."
• Don't demand things from them. Always sho them what you want them to do

Funny some of these things are things I have been trying to get the girls to understand. 'Don't correct.............................' Life is too short to sweat over the little stuff. Ya'll have a good day and I hope to get back on here more on a regular basis. I get to crocheting and forget about the computer, or I get on the computer and forget about crocheting. Take care and life today like its your last, because it may be.

Late-afternoon behavior

Well, tonight I am a little excited. I went to the Alzheimers support meeting in Monroe today and Fannie our state social services director, which has her office in Monroe said she would put an ad in the paper and see if we couldn't start a support group for PWiD. Yeah! I really hope we have some good responses. The support was really depressing today and LOUD. It usually is more organized and not as loud and I feel I can input sometimes to help families understand, why moma or spouse "doesn't put everything in her cornbread she used to and it really taste bad now." I told them because sometimes I can't remember what is suppose to go in a dish that I have fixed for years. He understood then. Things like this come up and I can tell this is why I do this or that, not that everyone does it for that reason. Anyway for my tidbits today is still from Coach Frank Broyles book:

Fidgeting and acting nervous, becoming easily upset, and wanting to go "home" when she is already home are types of late-afternoon behavior. (As a nurse I was taught this is sundowners syndrome). Anyway...........

• Give her a hug
• Tell her where she is
• Tell her she is safe
• Tell her you are not leaving her
• Change the topic
• Turn on more lights
• Close the blinds or curtains
• Ask if she is hungry or if she will help you in the kitchen
• Offer an easy activity like sorting spoons or forks or ask her to wipe off the table with you

These are a few very good suggestions from his book. You can also tell her okay, put her in the car and take her for a ride and back home. If her short term memory is already bad she will have forgotten about wanting to go home. Maybe a stop for ice cream or something would be nice. Have a nice night. I am heading for the chatroom to host tonight. I am really scared so I hope I say the right thing. If it is too stressful I won't do it any more. We will be. Good night.

I'm back...........

Well, it has been a busy few days with the crawfish boil and Chris's Baccerlate service today. The boil went good. Ate lots of crawfish, yum. Chris is gone to Missy's for a week so it is just me and Jesse. It is going to be quite and I am going to like it. Quite is good. I have been reading the book by Coach Broyles. With it is a Pocket Reference of tips and strategies. I am going to be adding them to my blog as I think they are very important. Today's is: Refusing Care-

• Keep a daily routine.
• Don't ask "Do you want to... bathe, brush your teeth or get dressed?" unless "no" is an okay answer for you. Tell him/her it is time for the care activity.
• Have all supplies ready before you start an activity.
• Explain to him/her, in simple terms what you will be doing.
• Make sure him/her refusal is not because they are afraid or do not understand what you are aking them to do.
• If he/she begins to fight you, step away. Try again later.

As a retired geriatric nurse, I think these are some good tips. People are always wanting to know what to do if they refuse care. Also remember the absolute 10. You know sometimes you just have to ask yourself, is trying to get them to understand life threatening/alternating or not. If not then why upset yourself and them. If they say a wrong word or thing and it really doesn't make any difference let it go, don't correct them. If the get a date wrong as I have done with my kids birthday, unless it really matters in what you are talking about don't correct them. If it doesn't matter or going to make a difference then if I am not corrected probably I won't have to chance to feel bad because I got it wrong if I don't know I did it. Well that is my tidbit and opinion for today. Remember live everyday like it is your last, we are not promised tomorrow.