LLT #206: Can You Still PRAY In The Face of Dementia? 🙏🏽👴🏽👵🏽🗝️
#prayer #prayerworks #dementiasupport #alzheimer #alzheimerawareness #elderlycare #healthyaging #brainhealth #seniorcare #familycaregivers
Tonight we explore PRAYER..... In the face of Dementia or Alzheimer's.
Prayer is loosely defined as communication with a Superior Being, Source, Power for comfort, guidance, and protection.
No matter the denomination, or no denomination; even if one describes themselves as "spiritual", mankind has recognised the need for "help from above".
The difficulty comes when life changes forever as it does if there is a new diagnosis of Dementia or Alzheimer's.
The questions: Who am I now? Will I change? How can I live any sort of normal life? How do we take care of someone who does not even recognise family members any longer?
Prayer requires concentration: that is lost in dementia, so many ask: does it even make sense to continue praying to someone who isn't there?
The answers may surprise, and hopefully encourage you.
Yes it still makes sense- studies and experiences of caregivers conclude that , especially if the affected person was very spiritually active, they have favourite songs, passages of scripture or mantras which calm and soothe them
THEY ARE STILL THEM . They may not process everything, so some ways to keep continuity and reassure them (and yourself):
Pray on mornings; before meals, and at bedtime; keep it short: "Thank you" may be all you can do sometimes.
Play their songs etc, during the day and especially at night- it works!
Finally- pray for yourself; for courage to face the diagnosis, remember that they are still "in there"; pray for the heart to face the loss that things are not the same.
The "new normal" can be terrifying- it's ok to ask for "help from Above"!
From my heart to yours💗
Dr. Lana
Overwhelmed? Let's connect: 📧lana@lanaannemd.com, for more insights and connect for a FREE face-to-Face 15 minute Zoom call.
Lanaslittlethings#202 - The 7 Stages of Alzheimer's Disease - What to Expect? 👴🏽👵🏽💓
#alzheimer #alzheimerawareness #elderlycare #healthyaging #brainhealth #seniorcare #familycaregivers #thelonggoodbye #ronaldreagan
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Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological brain disorder that causes impairment with memory, thinking skills, and behaviour.
The reality, which is so very distressing, is its progression, its unpredictability and , personally, a sense of loss.
It sure does feel, as the late FLOTUS Nancy Reagan wrote: 'THE LONG GOODBYE"😞
What may help is knowing that there is some reference point that may open dialogue and provide some clarity to families.
Developed by Dr. Barry Reisberg, and also called :
"The Global Deterioration".
Here we go:
👴🏽👵🏽Stage 1- Normal; no impairment
👴🏽👵🏽Stage 2 - Subjective Memory Loss- mainly "where are my keys?", and considered age-related forgetfulness
👴🏽👵🏽Stage 3 - Mild Cognitive Impairment - repeating oneself
👴🏽👵🏽Stage 4 - Moderate Cognitive Decline- considered mild dementia and the "start " of defining Alzheimer’s Disease - more assistance; less recall
👴🏽👵🏽Stage 5 - Moderately Severe Cognitive Decline - more dependence
👴🏽👵🏽Stage 6- a to e - Severe Cognitive Decline ; also known as Moderately Severe Dementia
👴🏽👵🏽Stage 7 - a to f - Very Severe Cognitive Decline; also referred to as Severe Dementia - complete dependence ; either non verbal or just one word at a time. Limbs are stiff and feel almost immobile.
Daunting? Yes!
And yet, it does provide a place to begin dialogue with your healthcare team.
There are no words; and yet, communication , LOVE, respect and sometimes, just a few minutes to be alone (as Caregiver) help our mental health.
Let us embrace these fundamentals; see each other in an atmosphere of acceptance, understanding, empathy and love .
Research(main) :
https://www.alzinfo.org/understand-alzheimers/clinical-stages-of-alzheimers/
One day/hour at a time
From my heart to yours💗
Dr. Lana.........................................................
Overwhelmed? Let's connect: 📧lana@lanaannemd.com
For more insights and connect for a FREE face-to-Face 15 minute Zoom call, and a place where we can connect as physicians on my website:
lanaslittlethings.com
If you're a Family Caregiver at your wit's end, needing a different perspective, set up your free 15-minute coaching call-also by email -lana@lanaannemd.com - or on www.lanaslittlethings.com
I always look forward to meeting Fellow Family Caregivers- we gotta stick together!💯
