me, my dad and dementia #30 – my Auntie Lil
I sometimes think that all I really need to do for my Dad is get him to simply talk to my Auntie Lil (his older sister). She affects him deeply. What she says is law. And her positive, upbeat mood always makes him more energized and more engaged with the world. She represents and radiates […]
me, my dad and dementia #29 – how my Dad rises….or not….
We “retired” Dad on Saturday night. He was much moved by the speeches, the applause, the standing ovation, the card that everyone in the choir signed and the many people who came over to chat with him. In fact, he was energized by it all. To the point that he got up early the next […]
me, my dad and dementia #28 – my dad’s retirement from singing on Monday nights
(but he hopes to continue on Wednesday afternoons so YAY and you never know…maybe the Christmas music will inspire him to stay…still….I don’t know)This is my speech that I wrote for me to try to say on Saturday evening when we “retire” my father from over 30 years of service to the community, singing in […]
me, my dad and dementia #27 – a whirlwind week
On Monday night we had a fab rehearsal which gave us all a chance to see the video clips that “go with” the songs we’re singing. I believe people not only understood them but enjoyed them….not so for my Dad. He had a very hard time understanding what they were about. He is also still […]
me, my dad and dementia #26 – phrases my father says…over and over again
–didn’t I take them? I usually take them every morning! (in reference to us almost every morning reminding Dad to take his morning vitamins/pills)-well, she must be dead. (in reference to my Dad’s sister who lives in a care home in Winnipeg and likes to visit others in the care facility…a lot. So she doesn’t […]
me, my dad and dementia #25 – did you know….?
Did you know……(in no particular order) 1-that dementia can give you new friends…every single time you meet them again! 2-that dementia can help you discover a newfound appreciation for food you can’t remember you used to quite despise? 3-that you can wash dishes with 36 different dish cloths and yet not find a single one […]
me, my dad and dementia #24 – vikings, in the mood
AHA – got your attention with that little title right? I take my Dad to a lecture series at the West End Seniors Centre every Friday. I’ve been taking him for 4 years now. He loves it. They all seem to know his name and he cannot name a single person. Thank you NOT dementia….then […]
me, my dad and dementia #23 – in real time
Monday 1:10 Let the experiment begin. I went over to work with Dad on the 2 pieces I think cause him the most discomfort. And indeed, I guessed correctly but not for the reasons I thought initially. “Time”, our very wordy, rhythmically challenging, unaccompanied piece that starts our show is one of these songs for […]
me, my dad and dementia #22 – a new friend
My Dad has a new friend. He’s actually a wonderful volunteer for a wonderful organization that has stepped up to simply give my Dad some social interaction once a week.Dad’s friend comes to visit with him every Tuesday morning. Amazing. And my father really likes him!My father now gets up slightly earlier than he normally […]
me, my dad and dementia #21 – he’s not a worrier…
…But I am! Now that the weather has turned, my Dad went out for a walk the other day and I realized that it’s really time to get an air tag for him. Maybe that way I won’t worry about how long he’s gone or if he’s tripped somewhere. Of course, figuring out where to […]