Category Archives: Caregiver Vignettes
Brain Health Cake?
What do you give a person in the final stage of Alzheimer’s everything she really needs,? I decided on baking a brain health cake for Cindy’s 66th birthday. Not having baked a cake in decades did not deter me. I … Continue reading
Posted in Brain Health, Caregiver Vignettes
Tagged Alzheimer's Love Story, brain health recipe
4 Comments
Helping Grandma
I gradually adjusted to Cindy’s condition, much like a swimmer slowly wading into cool waters rather than plunging in. For those that do not see Cindy on a daily basis their adjustment was more like a plunge, sometimes with a … Continue reading
Posted in Care Partners, Caregiver Vignettes
Tagged Caregiver Vignettes, Home Caregiver Chronicles
7 Comments
The Little Gestures that Count
After turning my alarm off in the morning I check in on a few news and social media sites and then spend a little time on one of my writing projects. About an hour later I arise to start Cindy’s … Continue reading
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 – Being Social
Three types of social conditions benefit brain health: intimacy, altruism and fellowship. “The Joy of Sex” is aptly titled, but even the intimacy of prolonged hugs can release the neurotransmitters that give you a joyful high. As long as Cindy … 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
Posted in Brain Health, Care Partners, Caregiver Vignettes
Tagged Alzheimer's Love Story, Caregiver Hacks, Caregiver Journal
4 Comments
Beyond Palliative Care – A Best Buy
The past week has been a difficult one for Cindy’s care. In the wake of her coming off hospice I had to make decisions regarding her Medicare coverage and procurement of a hospital bed. The bed we were using had … Continue reading
Posted in Care Partners, Caregiver Vignettes, True Love
Tagged Alzheimer's Love Story, Caregiver Hacks, Caregiver Journal
6 Comments
Beyond Palliative Care – Quality of Life
The VNA provided a “comfort pack” for Cindy when they placed her on hospice care. The pack included medicine deemed necessary to comfort a hospice patient during the final decline, with everything from suppositories to morphine. I only use lorazepam, … Continue reading
Posted in Care Partners, Caregiver Vignettes, True Love
Tagged Alzheimer's Love Story, Caregiver Hacks, Caregiver Journal
5 Comments
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