Category Archives: Home Caregiver Chronicles

Preserving the Will to Live

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As I retire Cindy’s worn out pants I have a difficult decision to make. Do I get a replacement pair? Three years ago when my daughters bought these pants and two others the decision was easier. Based on her rate … Continue reading

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Betrayals of Fate and their Silver Linings

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I cycled family slides on the television monitor. I could cycle our hiking slides, but Cindy sees enough of those when I practice the first four movements of the American Discovery symphony. This is the time of day when I … Continue reading

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SPA Treatment

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Emotion overcomes me as I sit in our entertainment room working on a slideshow. In the chair next to me, in what I call the throne, sits Cindy looking at a different slideshow of family pictures on the television monitor. … Continue reading

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Transformation

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As I laid awake, victim of something I ate, I wondered if Cindy would also become victim to the same fate. I also wondered how I would know if she did. Her communication skills are limited to facial expressions. These … Continue reading

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A Christmas Tale

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After finishing my evening chores I entered our bedroom and found Cindy with raised head from the neck up. This is an “in between” state for her. She’s not asleep, but neither is she attentive to what is going on … Continue reading

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Thankful for Much

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Our trips down the stairs best reveals Cindy’s physical decline over time. She has gone through several stages. First her balance went, then her muscle strength. More recently her legs do not function to bend or straighten when they should. … Continue reading

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“This time it will be forever”

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I laid awake the morning after Halloween reflecting on how things have changed. Once upon a time, during these caregiver days, I would say “I love you” to Cindy when I woke up and her response would be a contented … Continue reading

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How Projects Maintain a Caregiver’s Sanity

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I had a rare evening out last week; “out” means outside on our porch, where I worked on a project board. Projects are one of my wellness strategies. I find them to be a useful distraction from both my personal … Continue reading

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Rules Broken

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Saturday was one of those gems that pop up unexpected. As often happens I came across something early in the day that set the table for what was to follow. On Facebook a friend lamented about how we have strayed … Continue reading

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Alzheimer’s: To Know or Not to Know

Should a person know whether or not they have Alzheimer’s?  My mother did not know, but this was at a time when senility was thought to be the common plight of aging folks.  There were medications back then as well, … Continue reading

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