who could have known a brilliant person who could do anything and find the answer to any of life's questions could be reduced to someone who can hardly remember family or how to do simple daily tasks. it is a difficult disease to watch and makes me angry that it is taking my dad away from me and my family. i am thankful for medications that help slow down the process so i can enjoy laughing with him still. i am thankful for assisted living centers and the wonderful people who can help me care for him and keep dignity in his life. i pray someday they find a way to stop, prevent, detect early and see the path this disease comes from.
- Introduction
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Prevention
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Caregiving
- Coping with Emotional Changes
- Coping with Memory Loss
- Costs and Insurance
- Creating a Daily Routine
- Exercise
- Health and Wellbeing of the Caregiver
- Home Safety Adjustments
- Mental Exercises
- Respite Care
- Talking to Children about Alzheimer's
- Talking to Friends about Alzheimer's
- Telling Someone They Have Alzheimer's
- Transition to Assisted Living
- Transition to Nursing Home
- Work
- Related Conditions
- Resources
laughterheals
4/10/08 4:11pm
Dear Laughter Heals,
It is good that you found the strength to reach out to all of us who care so deeply about those who are diagnosed with this disease and those who are providing the love and care that will help sustain them. I commend you for finding the courage to admit your anger over losing the father you once knew, for finding the ability to express your gratitude to the people who provide the day-to-day care for him, and for finding moments in your lives to share laughter with your beloved father. Laughter mixed with a combination of a positive attitude, love, faith, and hope can be extremely beneficial.
4/10/08 4:41pm
thank you. it is nice to hear I am doing the 'right' things. the Assisted Living Center my dad is, recommended Alzhiemer's for Dummies and it is a difficult book to read-box of tissues mandatory-but it really does help with so many issues you and they go through. and I agree with what you said about courage and strength. It does take those to go through this. it always feels good to laugh with my dad. he has such a funny way about him and although his jokes have stopped, he can still be silly and it is refreshing to be able to laugh with him and it heals too. so much anger is released when we laugh. it's the main reason i chose the name. :) thanks again and i do appreciate this site for the ability to write about it. thank you.
4/28/08 3:40pm
Yes laughter sometimes makes you less stressed. My father-in-law has moderate Alzheimer's and it is slowly making him lose touch in reality. At time we felt it is funny because he likes to watch Animal Planet channel and he thought we could adopt hippo or elephant. It is funny at times. Sometimes my husband joked that he could walk with ladies and he laughed. He lost most of his cognition ability but it is like he is becoming a kid as an adult. We are not in the same town either and we visit at times. Right now he has home care 24 hours.
Nina
4/28/08 9:53pm
Nina,
Keep your sense of humor, it will really keep you from crying and your heart from breaking. My dad always had a sense of humor and I can see now how laughing when it hurts is so healing. Be glad he is being well taken care of and doesn't have to worry-or you either-about being hurt (falling and such). My dad has to use one of those rolling walkers because his balance is getting bad and he started falling. I had to laugh one day because he was tired of walking and had turned the thing around, sat on the seat and was scooting himself along with his feet. like you said, just like a kid but it was resourceful and so precious. make sure you take care of yourself when visiting. i learned that the hard way.
take care,
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Hello Jerri and welcome to our community of caregivers and loved ones facing this disease.
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