Someone asked me why I am qualified to help caregivers. I’ve loved and lost many to Alzheimer’s and Frontal Temporal disease. I tried redirection skills that worked, and some didn’t. I’ve failed, laid on my bed and cried in despair. I’ve made decisions that I’ve regretted and wish I could change. As a family, we picked the wrong nursing home 1st time and my mama paid the price. We chose wisely the 2nd time, and rejoiced when she felt loved again. We’ve had my teenage niece come after school and stay with Mama, only to see a failed effort when mama was unkind and demeaning at times to her. But we were there, we were in the trenches. For better or worse we got it done. I love caregivers because we get in there and try everything we can to be effective even when we are tired, sad, frustrated and lacking tools.
After 20 years of teaching caregiver classes, answering calls on the helpline, educating professionals and continuing to educate myself, working with people with the diagnosis, I am still in the trenches. I want to support people who are scared to do this type of work and tell me so, at the beginning of a class, and when the class is over they are excited and energized to work in this field or with a family member. I loved it when people in my classes say they feel my passion about loving what I do. For me it’s about this – I want to celebrate the awesome people who take care of their loved ones, and those they are charged to care for people with dementia, and are amazing people.
I want to give ideas, strategies and techniques and everything I have so that these awesome people in #CaregiverNation feel like SUPERHEROES, because they are! And if you don’t feel like a superhero, let me help you get there! You are one, you just don’t know it yet. Maybe you feel unappreciated. Let me tell you – I APPRECIATE YOU! Feel my virtual HUG!
On my radio show (Dementia Resilience with Jill Lorentz) this week, I gave probably 50 ideas or more to work with people with dementia in this day and age. Social media communication ideas, games and entertainment ideas to get people engaged who are lazy, scared, thoughtless or just not with the program we’re on. Or that will just spark our creative minds in activities that will help us get through every day and keep our loved one with Alzheimer’s or FTD stay engaged. The show (podcast) is only 30 minutes. Please give a listen and empower yourselves!
Click on this link to listen:
https://www.cruisin1430.com/media/audio-channel/dementia-resilience-8617
Why am I qualified to help caregiver’s? Because I care. Because I have experience and training. I have done well and I have failed. I am RESILIENT. I want you to be resilient too. I want to walk this road with you. #CaregiverNation – You Rock! You Inspire me. Let me inspire you!
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