Blogging Round-Up July/August 2023
It’s been a busy couple of weeks (you can tell I’ve a lot to get off my chest - 13 years into my mum’s dementia journey, that’s kind of inevitable).
I’ve had a bit of a rant, about technology in care homes with “Technology in Care Homes is not Resident Centred”, talked about the different places, in my head and heart, that buying gifts for my mum comes from with “Gifts For People Living With Dementia”, created some tips for people for care home visits, because we all have those ‘nothing to say days, and written about who ‘Words Without Stories’ is for (ie, not just my mum!).
Amongst all of that, there’s a list of “7 Moments of Joy With My Mum” - there have been plenty more since then!
Finally, there was a collection of quotations, poking fun at ageing in “An Irreverent Look at Ageing”.
Those last two I mentioned are by far my favourites. There’s a lot of doom and gloom, when it comes to ageing, Alzheimer’s and dementia and, realistically, I don’t want to dwell in it.
I hope you enjoy them.
Much love,
Anna
xx
If we can face a situation with humour, we are winning, so I thought I’d compile a few quotations about ageing (everyone’s favourite thing to have a laugh about…).
I created Words Without Stories specfically for people living with advanced dementia. If your loved one can still read a story, and follow a narrative, it’s not for them. It would be far too basic.
There are times when I am buying my mum gifts where I invest a lot of ‘hope’ into them. What I mean by that is, I am hoping to get a reaction, from my mum. Recognition, interaction, something. As her dementia advances, this becomes less and less likely. It is my choice, therefore, if I want to actually set myself up for disappointment.
Technology in Care Homes is not Resident Centred
1 Aug
Written By Anna Smart
…or residents’ families. Or even staff.
Following a (routine) conversation with social services today, I thought I would both
- get this off my chest
- see if other people have the same issues.
If you are new to visiting someone who is living with dementia in a care home, it can feel quite disorientating for you. You’re used to being with your loved one in their (or your joint) home environment, where nothing is scheduled, and everything just feels easy. If they want a nap, it’s no problem, because you can just spend time with them later, or tomorrow
When I talk about my mum’s dementia with people, I will often talk about how lucky we are.
I realise that sounds odd, but, you have to judge a situation on its own merits, right?