Weekly Dinners Out

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, And he who begets a wise child will delight in him. Proverbs 23:24 NKJV

Dad lived us for a year after he moved in with us. Eventually, the doctors said Dad had to go elsewhere to get additional medical care. Dad was very fortunate to go to a group home, which was a big blessing after his experience in a nursing home while he was recuperating after pneumonia. 

 In order to make the transition from out home to the group home easier, we decided to take Dad out to dinner once a week. His favorite is Denny's or Mom's Cafe. He is a big biscuits and gravy  or chicken fried steak fan. As long as it had gravy on it, he was happy.

 We really enjoyed this weekly outings with Dad like we used to do while he still lived with us. I think they made Dad feel still loved, although he was no longer living with us. In reality, they probably helped me more than they helped Dad, because I was having a hard time adjusting to Dad not living in our home with us. I felt like I had failed my responsibility to help Dad get healthy again, although nothing I could have done would accomplish that.

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.

Caregiving Video: Dealing with Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Symptoms
By: Cas Desilva via You Tube

Asking Staff for Money

Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her who bore you rejoice. Proverbs 23:25 NKJV

Dad started asking the staff at the group home for money. I guess it's got to be difficult to not have a wad of money in the wallet that used to be in your back pocket. I think having cash on him, tells my dad that he's still a capable person. I think it also has something to do with independence, which he didn't have much of, at this point.

 All I know is that he kept asking them for money after I had told him that he's not allowed to have money there. Sometimes residents can get confused and take money, thinking it's theirs.  My discussions didn't really make sense to him, so I ended up buying Dad a safe. That way, he could keep a wallet with his money in it. It stopped Dad from asking staff for money.

I had to remember to show Dad the wallet with money periodically when he'd say he wished he had some money. He doesn't really want to spend it. He just wants to have it, because as I said, it makes him feel more capable and independent.
Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.

Caregiving Video: Kids Meet a Woman With Alzheimer's
By: Ahlzheimer's Association, Cut via You Tube

Name Calling, Oh My!

My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him who reproaches me. Proverbs 27:11 NKJV



My husband offered to some of the staff to help themselves to the goodies we had brought over for Dad. I think they were doing what he offered, but to Dad, it felt like the person was stealing from him and he used some very choice words: *!?*. I came over when I found out and tried to have Dad apologize to this person for calling them names that I'd hate to repeat. He would not do it. He felt justified, because they were stealing his things in his opinion, and he couldn't budge from there. I apologized for my dad, who hardly ever uses words like that, except for, "Shit," every now and then when he's frustrated.

 It was a very frustrating experience and I prayed my way through it. I don't know that I handled it the best way, but fortunately Christ had the following things on my mind the days after this experience that helped me better understand Dad's outburst. 

 I guess it's got to be hard to give up your home with all your possessions and move to a place where everything you value must fit into one room. My dad is very fortunate, because he was able to have his own room. Lots of people have to share rooms.

 The thing is, when you've given so much away, often not by choice, but due to medical conditions, you might become overly protective of what little possessions that you still have. Anyway, that's why I think my dad acted so harshly to someone he thought was getting into his food stash. I feel blessed that Jesus has allowed me to have this extra time with my dad. He never promised it was all going to be easy, but it is all definitely worth it!

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.

Caregiving Video: Diagnosis of Alzheimer's and What You Need to Know as a Caregiver
By: The DRs, Dr. Travis Stork, Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall, Pfzier via You Tube

A Call from the Floor???

Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son, But a companion of gluttons shames his father. Proverbs 28:7 NKJV

I got the strangest call from my dad from the floor of his group home. He would forget he had Parkinson's Disease and would try to walk, but his legs wouldn't cooperate. Dad would end up slip-sliding to the floor.

 Now, my dad could have asked one of the staff there to help him and they would have graciously done it. Not my dad. My dad has a hard time asking anyone to help him. It's like asking for help is showing he's an inadequate person. I hate for him to feel that way, so when I got the call, I jumped in the car to drive over to the group home.

 The thing is, I still had to ask staff to help me lift Dad off the floor and back into bed. I think it didn't bother Dad so much for me to ask people to help as it did for him to ask for the help. Now, when I get calls periodically that Dad's fallen on the floor. I tell them not to let him know that I'm aware of it, because he feels embarrassed about it. 
Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.

Caregiving Video: Eldery Falls-How to Get Seniors Back Up From a Fall
By: CaregiversTraining.com, Jose' Silva via You Tube


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