It’s sometimes hard for me to study at home. There’s always something calling my name. It might be the washing machine telling me it’s time to throw in another load of dirty laundry…or transfer the clean laundry to the dryer. Sometimes it’s the voice of dust on the coffee table (or any other flat surface in my house) saying, “Dust me! Now!” And, more often than I’d like to admit, it’s something in the refrigerator calling my name and saying, “Eat me! Eat me!”
Continue reading “Another Walk in the Park”Tag: Nature Walks
A Lovely U-Turn
Two days of putting one foot in front of another. Remember what I said in my last post?
“The local Rotary Club has created a fantastic walking trail near my workplace too. I have purposed in my heart to take a lap around that trail before work tomorrow.”
Cindie Winquist, budding walking enthusiast
Well, I did it, and here are the pictures to prove it.
The Oregon Rotary Trail has plenty of nice blacktop paths, but I decided to get off of the paved trail and follow this grassy path toward the setting sun. I walked 15 minutes in and 15 minutes out.
Loved every minute.
I should tell you that I almost skipped it. I left the house too late this morning to get a walk in before work. I know I had purposed it in my heart to walk that trail, but, after a busy day of baking, I was now tuckered out and ready to head home. As is my usual custom, I would swing by the nursing home and drop in for a quick visit with my brother (he expects me on Mondays and Thursdays and looks forward to me bringing him a fresh-baked cookie or two). The Oregon Rotary Trail is situated between my workplace and Brad’s place. I decided it was too late to get a walk in, so drove past the park. A few blocks later, I ended up making a U-turn.
I’m so glad I did.
P.S. Brad got his visit and his cookies afterward.
A-to-Z Caregiving Tips (F-G)
This is the third in a series of posts inspired by an article from Alzheimer’s TODAY called Tiny Gifts That Are TREMENDOUS, where Mary Kay Baum shared a helpful A-to-Z list of caregiving suggestions Thus far, I have given you my spin on A-B-C and my thoughts as a caregiver regarding D-E. Let me invite you to join me this week for F and G as I share how these excellent tips have played out in my own caregiving journey.
Thus far, I have given you my spin on A-B-C and my thoughts as a caregiver regarding D-E. Let me invite you to join me this week for F and G as I share how these excellent tips have played out in my own caregiving journey. [Click here to read the original article].
Fear not if I take a break from commotion.
We were celebrating a birthday at our house. Mom sat at her place at the table and enjoyed watching the festivity and seeing a few of her great-grandchildren. Though she didn’t contribute much to the conversation, my heart was warmed by her smile as she watched the birthday boy bask in the attention. After the candles were blown out and the cake was served, mom quietly stood up with the help of her walker and then scootched down the hall the short distance to her room. She was done with company. And that was okay.
On a previous occasion, when mom was living in a senior apartment, the residents were hosting Trick-or-Treat for the neighborhood kiddos. During our city’s Trick-or-Treat hours the residents gathered in their activity room and waited for the steady stream of costumed guests. I thought mom would enjoy seeing all of the kids and handing out candy with all of the other seniors in her building. She stayed for a few minutes, then went back to her apartment; it was just too much for her. I had invited a few kids from church to come to the event. When they arrived, I invited them to visit mom in her apartment. Mom enjoyed the smaller gathering so much more.
During this phase of her journey with Alzheimer’s it became my mission to keep her engaged by inviting people to see her. One or two people would join us for lunch; another day someone might come over to say hi and work a puzzle or engage with her by sitting with her at the table coloring. One family from church brought us pizza for supper one evening, then stayed for a bit so the girls could sort through a jar of buttons with mom.
Go with me and others on quiet nature walks.
Truth is, in the later stages of dementia, most days it was nearly impossible to get my mother outside of the house for a little fresh air. It was a treat when it happened.
If the weather was nice and I could coax mom outside, I’d get her seated in a wheelchair and push her to our neighborhood park.
She enjoyed watching the children play at the splash park, seeing dogs being walked along the pathways, and would occasionally engage a perfect stranger in conversation.
We didn’t stay long, as the charm of our outdoor excursion would soon be replaced by the fear of being able to find our way home. By the time I got her back in the house, she had already forgotten our little trip. Even though it was forgotten, the benefits of the fresh air and the infusion of joy would linger in her demeanor.
One day, out of the blue, mom wanted to “check the mail,” so I let her go outdoors with her walker. She enjoyed that little trek down to the curb and back.
Since she was in a good mood, dressed decently, and it was nearly dinner time, we decided to put her in the car and go for a drive to the nearest Culver’s for supper.
She thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it…especially the frozen custard.
Once my mom made the move to assisted living memory care, getting her out of the front door was even more rare. This photo shows one of those sweet occasions when her great-granddaughter Violet managed to get her outside to sit on a shaded patio.
As Alzheimer’s continued its relentless march claiming bits and pieces of my mom’s brain, it was evident that mom’s world was shrinking right along with her memory. All too soon there came a day when the world outside of Mom’s front door became too scary of a place for her to venture.
That was the day when “go with me” became “be with me.”
Barefoot Lily Lady 