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.
LLT #204 :Are You A Family Caregiver? Oh The Rollercoaster Of Emotions😠😢🤯😰😩! Is This Normal? Are YOU?
#familycaregivers #emotionalhealth #emotionalrollercoasters #anxietyanddepression #anticpatorygrief #grief #familydynamics #dementiacare #dementiasupport #shame #brenebrown
Family Caregiving is NOT for the faint hearted and despite our best intentions, the daily grind, the fatigue, the unexpected, the loneliness, can lead to a cascade of emotions that can be difficult to understand, much less process, and leave you feeling as if "there is no way out"
The questions:
Is it ok to have these emotions? --YES!
Am I "losing it"? - NO!
What IS happening to me? - Let's talk!
So much research and even in general conversation, here are some of the most common (and normal) emotions you may have as Family Caregiver (and what you can do about it):
😠😢🤯😰😩
GUILT and SHAME; ANGER/FRUSTRATION; ANXIETY; GRIEF ; SADNESS/DEPRESSION.
Is there no way out? NO!!!
It starts with : talking - PRAY and pray again; talk to a trusted friend; make time for you; and sometimes , you just have to "BREATHE".
You got this!
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!💯
