Moments of Joy

Just an addendum to yesterday's post. I suspect that Mom's hip did not hurt so much, but that she was upset about the changes. Yesterday went much better for everyone. Today had the potential for going sour but I left early from the Alzheimer's Symposium I was attending take Mom to the craft store. She has been waiting for me to do this for several days when I get home from work. So we went and Mom is back at "her desk" doing her thing.

The Alzheimer's Symposium was sponsored by the Area Agency on Agency and the Alzheimer's Society. I went last year also. There is always a lot of great information. This year the keynote speakers focused on Early Onset Alzheimer's - diagnosed under the age of 65. The breakout sessions were on a variety of topics including meeting the medical and safety needs of a person with dementia, focusing on vitality and capability, when mental illness and dementia meet and meeting the challenges of different types of dementia. I hope that if you every get to attend something like this, that you take advantage of it. In this case, there was no fee for caregivers.

One of the sessions I went to was called Finding Moments of Joy. It was very good - affirming and entertaining. The speaker talked about being able to go to the bathroom and close the door without someone following her or after a few minutes calling for her. There were other examples, many I could relate to. All with a touch of humor. Sometimes I do get caught up in the accommodations, fatigue, frustration and sadness of it all. But I want to assure ALL of you that this family has more than its share of Moments of Joy. One of mine was last Saturday night at mass when we prayed the Our Father and once it got started, Mom was able to say the entire thing straight through. As I stood next to her where I can coach her on these things that she has known for the past 50 years, I just had to be silent and listen to her with joy and praise in my heart. Moments of Joy!