A Personal Caregiving Journey- Joys, Challenges, Lessons Learned- A MALE Perspective!
#dementia #familycaregivers #family #selfcare #healthyaging #bridginggaps
Welcome to this second interview with Mr. Tony Babb - one of Barbados' most successful Water Sports Specialists (he can teach almost anyone to water-ski!) and winner of many awards, not only for his talents , but his amazing patience and customer service.
He is well-known for his sparkly smile- indeed his nickname "Sparkles" fits him PERFECTLY (listen out for the story behind this!😉💗) .
💥 Did I also mention that he is my favourite big brother! (my ONLY big brother lol💥) .I admire him so much!
His first story of Caregiving his elderly grandmother ("Granny"), in his 20s, as well as his baby son, all with a fulltime job, no transportation, and starting his own business; on the edge of burnout (until he was given a "wakeup call" by a loving aunt; and then going on to care for 2 more elder family members at various times over the years.
His story will resonate with many Family Caregivers as you see your shared experiences - we , you are NOT ALONE!💗🫂💜💗
Male Caregivers are , thankfully increasing in number and expertise, but Family Make Caregivers may often feel "unseen or under appreciated , because they have to be careful with their own feelings of caring for a female relative especially, because of stigma, fears of unfounded accusations and feeling "out of their depth".
We need more males because the male-male dynamic on a social scale is different and , let's face it ladies: we have our own "talk"; men have theirs!💯
It was a joy to chat with my "big brother", and heartwarming as I heard accounts for the first time- new appreciation!
Thank you Bro!💜💜💜😊💥
Sparkles' Contact: https://www.instagram.com/radicalwatersports/
From my heart to yours💗
Dr. Lana
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Overwhelmed? Let's connect: 📧lana@lanaannemd.com
local 📧goldenpalmmedicalclinic@gmail.com
If you're a Family Caregiver or Physician at your wit's end, I am here for your free 15-minute coaching call- connect by email, or join me on www.lanaslittlethings.com
We gotta stick together!💯
LLT#227- GERI-GADGETS! From Angela with Love
SPECIAL SEPTEMBER!!! - The Month we Commemorate Alzheimer's Dementia , AND other forms of Dementia
#healthyaging #dementia #bridginggaps #familycaregivers #family
Welcome to this amazing interview with Ms. Angela Fairhurst-Founder & CEO @ Geri-Gadgets, designer of Therapeutic Products for Dementia, Career TV Producer , Executive in Charge of Production and Journalist as she takes a firm grip on Dementia in helping bridge the gaps between the affected person , their Caregivers and families!
With her creativity, ingenuity and sheer practicality, she shares with you and me the inspiration behind her unique crafting of Geri-Gadgets©️, as tools of communication, opening the mental and memory boxes that Dementia so harshly slams shut in the worlds of families and friends.
It was a joy to chat with her ; it felt like a true "heart hug" 💗🫂 knowing that using simple designs, a person with Dementia could re-unite with their favourite hobby, play with their children/grandchildren/Caregiver and have fun and maintain bonds of love!
Thank you Angela!💜💜💜😊💥
Contacts: 1/https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-fairhurst-5a69737/
2/IG: @GeriGadgets
From my heart to yours always💗
Dr. Lana
.......
Overwhelmed? Let's connect: 📧lana@lanaannemd.com
If you're a Family Caregiver or Physician at your wit's end, I am here for your free 15-minute coaching call- connect by email, or join me on www.lanaslittlethings.com
We gotta stick together!💯
LLT# 209 - "Sundowning" : Why Do Persons with Dementia "Change" When the Sun Sets?👵🏽👴🏽🌇😕
#sundowning #dementia #dementiasupport #dementiacaretipsandtricks #delirium #moodchange #alzheimerawareness #elderlycare #healthyaging #brainhealth #seniorcare #familycaregivers #mindfulness #habits
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"SUNDOWNING" : a term that can cause confusion as much as it causes distress in both the person with dementia and the entire family!
This term "sundowning" refers to a state of increasing confusion that occurs in the late afternoon and lasts into the night.
Some symptoms can be more distressing than others: as it seems that your loved one goes from baseline Dementia or Alzheimer's disease to plain bizarre behaviour - almost everyday at sunset!
🌇😕Is THIS your reality?
🌇😕Why does it happen?
🌇😕What can you do?
The good news, if you can call it such, is that - SUNDOWNING is NOT a disease, and although it has no known cause/source, there ARE ways to recognise signs and mitigate the daily disruption.
Some causes:
🌇😕Suddenly changing environments, such as the doctor's office or visiting relatives , or transitioning to another care facility
🌇😕Low lighting in the day, can increase shadows, which may cause the person to become confused by what they see and what time of day it actually is. This can be harsh enough to cause hallucinations and increased agitation
🌇😕Trouble separating reality from dreams
🌇😕infection, such as a urinary tract infection , pneumonia
A mixed-up "internal body clock." Often the person living with Alzheimer's may feel tired during the day and awake at night.
🌇😕Pain or boredom
Common SYMPTOMS:
🌇😕Confusion aggression
🌇😕Anxiety
🌇😕Aggression or
🌇😕Ignoring directions.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
😊🌇✅Keep a predictable routine for bedtime, waking, meals and activities --HABITS
😊🌇✅Limit daytime napping
😊🌇✅When /if possible, spend time outside in the sunlight during the day, or open the curtains to let sunlight in : reduces day/night confusion
😊🌇✅Listening to calming music and looking at older photographs (TV is generally a distraction)
😊🌇✅Talk to the person's doctor about the best times of day for taking medication.; some calming teas or natural herbs or traditional medication may help - (THIS CHANNEL DOES NOT ENDORSE ANY SPECIFIC MEDIACL THERAPY)
Observe, Seek help, Ask questions!
One day/hour at a time
From my heart to yours always💗
Dr. Lana
