Tag Archives: Alzheimer’s Love Story
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
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 – 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
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 – 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
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
Beyond Palliative Care – Feeding
Patients admitted into a hospice program have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Palliative care to make the patient comfortable then replaces curative treatment. As we neared the time for Cindy to come off hospice, my efforts to maximize her … 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
Posted in Brain Health Needs, Home Care Journal, Lasting Love
Tagged Alzheimer's Love Story, Caregiver Journal, Live Fully
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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
