Caregiving – How To Hold On While Letting Go
What do you do when your mom hand washes your paper plates and tosses your good silverware in the trash? Seem hard to believe? Not if you are a caregiver for a loved one with some form of Dementia. Unusual behavior becomes a fact of life. Learning how to deal with it is essential to your well being.
Every 66 seconds, someone is diagnosed with Dementia, so the odds are good that you are related to, or at least know, someone who suffers from it. It may be labeled as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's Disease, Dementia or one of the many other forms cognitive impairment can take, but the results are much the same. The brain is no longer functioning normally. We are faced with a person we no longer recognize and we struggle to find ways to deal with, or at least minimize bizarre behavior along with keeping them safe and maintaining their dignity. It requires continual adjustment on our part because they are no longer in control.
Journey with me as we laugh, cry and find encouragement from the Bible that applies to our lives today. You'll find lists of what to expect on the journey ahead, and idea's to solve many of your most common difficulties. Included are projects to keep your loved one busy, inventions we created to keep your loved one safe, that you can easily duplicate, and general tips to make your life as a caregiver more joyful. You'll learn ways to deflect anger, encourage bathing, prevent wandering, locate helpful resources, deal with repetitiveness, safety proof your home, reduce hallucinations, accept help, get more sleep, make dressing less stressful, and much more. This is an excellent resource for any caregiver!
About Debbie Compton (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Author)
Debbie was born just outside Oklahoma City and grew up in small towns in Oklahoma and Arkansas before living in Japan for three years. She returned and raised her kids on a 40-acre farm in Arkansas before moving them to Metro Canada for three years. (The kids enjoyed the cold much more than she did!)
Debbie went from traveling nationwide, teaching, leading and problem-solving in retail, to becoming a full-time caregiver for her mother-in-law with Alzheimer's. Her father passed away from Parkinson's Disease, and her mother developed dementia. Debbie used her problem-solving skills to develop new ways to make life more manageable while maintaining dignity for the memory challenged brain.
She is honest and open. She believes it's okay to get knocked down, but it's not okay to stay there. Her faith in God helps her get through life's challenges. She has experienced sorrow, laughter, and unexpected blessings while walking the path of a Caregiver. Her desire is to make life easier for others by sharing information, inspiration, and ideas she and her husband Bob created, that can be replicated in your home.