tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175982130888239068.post8389187128814056039..comments2019-10-28T02:13:27.971-07:00Comments on It's All Elemental: Dealing with Someone Who Has Lost Their MindUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175982130888239068.post-49806231488057600432012-08-20T15:42:57.249-07:002012-08-20T15:42:57.249-07:00Thanks everyone! Your support is very appreciated....Thanks everyone! Your support is very appreciated. Ephiphany, I'm actually working on another post that addresses you second post.Maria Aquilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01137887073796781655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175982130888239068.post-80205035062617159072012-08-20T09:38:48.731-07:002012-08-20T09:38:48.731-07:00Alzheimer's and related diseases are truly som...Alzheimer's and related diseases are truly some of the wickedest illnesses on the face of the planet. I'm so sorry you are experiencing that in your family. I have no experience with it and don't have anything helpful to offer here. Only my prayer that you and your family are given every thing you need to push through.<br /><3<br />David David Salisburyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03513352250084471941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175982130888239068.post-81669960189711798642012-08-20T08:40:28.405-07:002012-08-20T08:40:28.405-07:00It's a tough thing. I've been through this...It's a tough thing. I've been through this with my own grandmother, and during the 2 years I worked with elderly residents. <br /><br />A couple tips, if that's okay...<br /><br />The biggest thing is gentleness. As the left-brain functions decrease, a person become more sensitive to nonverbal communication, voice tone, and energy. If you put yourself in a calm frame of mind, use a really gentle tone, sit close to her level and use gentle nonverbal communication, that'll do wonders in getting through to her at least at any given moment. Of course she'll forget, but it's really about getting through the moments, moment-to-moment. It's sort of an exercise in mindfulness... if you can allow her to stay in the present moment (and not expect her to remember any particular things from other moments) then it sort of gets easier, and it can also be an opportunity to practice living in the moment, which is good by itself.<br /><br />On a similar note... when I have worked with Alzheimer's patients, I have found it helps if I try to view them as their eternal, ongoing spirit that cannot be effected by memory loss, then it's easier to be patient, and I also think it helps the person feel safer, a bit, because there aren't unreachable expectations on them. Dementia doesn't take away the entire person, it takes away access to parts of the brain. The spirit is intact. In our culture, we value the left speaking and logic part of the brain so much, but it isn't all that we are. We are so much more. Even in advanced dementia, the Spirit remains and can be sensed, and connected to, in my personal opinion. <br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11292951519717072653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175982130888239068.post-39768638563615330542012-08-20T06:58:45.994-07:002012-08-20T06:58:45.994-07:00I have no experience dealing with this, but I offe...I have no experience dealing with this, but I offer myself as someone to help you decompress and get away from it all every once in a while. I love you.Angela Raincatcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11419090110329959990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9175982130888239068.post-32192049868434271282012-08-20T06:52:56.660-07:002012-08-20T06:52:56.660-07:00My dad worked with the Alzheimer's Association...My dad worked with the Alzheimer's Association for most of my life. Just from being in the periphery I have a glimpse of how difficult dealing with dementia is for caregivers. I hope that you and your whole family are reaching out for the various support services that are available. Email me if you need a place to start.Kat of EmKatCreationshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01162943067947155558noreply@blogger.com