Category Archives: Brain Health
Beyond Terminal Care – Being Positive
A few biochemicals produced by our bodies enhance brain health. Neurotransmitters send messages within our central nervous system, while hormones circulate throughout the larger, peripheral nervous system. Sometimes the same biochemical serves both functions. Rather than producing them on a … Continue reading
Beyond Terminal Care – Being Active
Being active takes different forms. Much of being social requires being active, and we all know the importance of exercise. As for that, this year I resumed regular stair workouts this year. With the expanded coverage I had for 2023 … Continue reading
Beyond Terminal Care – Becoming a Superager
Caregivers for spouses with dementia are six times more likely to get dementia themselves. Such caregivers have higher levels of stress and depression, and lower levels of subjective well-being. My contrarian nature causes me to view that as a challenge … Continue reading
Resolutions, Routines and Resources
On New Years I went for my traditional long hike. The hike allows me to reflect on the past year and make resolutions for the upcoming one. Since New Years follows a month worth of holiday feasting and leftovers, the … Continue reading
Beyond Palliative Care – The Difficult Choice
Shortly before Cindy was removed from hospice they asked me whether beating the odds for keeping her alive was really what she would have wanted. They were questioning whether choosing quality of life measures over palliative care actually gave Cindy … Continue reading
Beyond Palliative Care – Physical Therapy
Once Cindy struggled to walk, I requested that the VNA provide me instruction for physical therapy exercises to do with her. She receives these exercises to preserve the range of motion in her limbs 4-5 times a day, mostly from … Continue reading
A Change is Gonna Come
“There have been times that I thought I couldn’t last for longBut now I think I’m able to carry onIt’s been a long, a long time comingBut I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will.” A Change … Continue reading
Emotional Decline – The Triumphs
Stages of Decline Outline: Final Installment Cindy and I agreed after her diagnosis to make our experiences public, hoping that our efforts to live well in the face of tragic adversity will benefit others. With that intention I conclude this … Continue reading
Emotional Decline – The Tribulations
Stages of Decline Outline: Eleventh Installment The totality of Cindy’s physical decline created some health and comfort problems for her care. Without any emotional or verbal feedback these Tribulations required guesswork that added to the Trials of her emotional decline. … Continue reading
Emotional Decline – The Trials
Stages of Decline Outline: Tenth Installment All previous stages of decline overlapped gradually with each other, not so with the final stage of emotional decline. In March of 2019 Cindy had her first ever and still most severe seizure. From … Continue reading