Dignity First Care for Seniors

06/21/2023

05/02/2023

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04/25/2023

The evoke studies are evaluating an investigational medicine option for adults with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s disease. You or a loved one may be able to participate in the evoke studies if: You may have early Alzheimer’s disease (you may not know if you have early Alzheimer....

04/24/2023

Read this CPR guide now so you know what to do if someone is ever experiencing a life-threatening emergency—it could easily save them.

02/20/2023

Enjoy life and be kind.

02/18/2023

06/01/2022

After being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, artist William Utermohlen decided to create a self portrait each year until he was no longer able to draw. 💜

05/05/2022

❤️❤️
(Pinterest)

05/01/2022

Age is just a number.

04/24/2022

❤️~Terri

03/24/2022

There have been several articles posted on our page talking about the mechanical pets. I’d like to share my moms experience.
In June 2019 the facility had one floating around. My mom had commented on it so I bought her one that looked just like her cat from years ago. In the beginning my mom knew it was like a doll but as the days rolled on the cat took on a life of its own. His name was Butterscotch. My mom would tell stories of how this cat talked to her In March of 2020 the facility went into lock down due to Covid. Her dementia progressed fast during the lock down. On a FaceTime call she told me that her cat had been shot in the eye and needed veterinary care. I told her that I would have the cat brought to the door and I’d take the cat for help. Activities took the cat for a time and gave it back to her letting her know the vet said all was well. In September when I was able to go in my mom was still upset about the cats eye. I purchased a new one and told her we would swop and I’d care for Butterscotch. That lasted just a few days, she didn’t like the new cats eyes. She clung to her Butterscotch until she passed. The other cat would come and go for visits with Butterscotch. The cat helped my mom through her loneliness, she showed the cat to all her friends and interacted with the cat increasing her social engagement, it gave her comfort as she hugged, loved and cared for the cat.

03/24/2022

In 2010 my mom was diagnosed with dementia. As the siblings went MIA I had to rearrange my work, I went to 4 10 hour days, so I could spend the 3 days a week cooking, cleaning, food prep for the couple days I worked, moms shower, nail and hair care along with dr appointments and grocery shopping. We had in home health come the days I worked. In time I would be called out of work for one emergency or another. Eventually this would overwhelm me. In 2013 my fathers health failed and he needed more care so he was going to a facility, my mom demanded to be with him where they spent the next 8 years together in the same room. I was at the facility at least once a day but many times 2-4 times a day. During Covid I continued to advocate for them and was granted a visit here and there. In September 2020 I was granted 2 hour a day visits and would go in during her sundowning episodes. I was able to be with them both as they passed. I miss them so very much, they’ve been gone a few months over a year. I would do all of this again, even having missed grandchildren’s events, family parties, vacations and some regular life events.
❤️~Terri

03/10/2022

Showering

Initially I was able to coax my husband into the shower wearing my bathing suit as a lure, (hubba, hubba, not) using a lot of fiblets, and showering with him. I believed he was now afraid of the water or perhaps it hurt his skin...I will never know for sure. Eventually I could not manage alone anymore. I found a wonderful carer that, in time, my husband grew to love.
When our caregiver, Michelle, would try to help Red with his shower, he would grab the nozzle and spray her with water. After Michelle got soaked several times, we installed a cheap waterproof radio in his shower. We turned on the radio when he got in the shower and followed the music to the best of our ability. Who knows why he would spray Michelle with water? It could have been that he did not know what to do when he was in the shower, a fear of water, or that he liked to see Michelle react. In any case, the radio prevented him from doing it again, and this simple solution became a very useful tool in our house.
This is a photograph depicting anger and agitation, as Red (middle-stage) turns the shower nozzle on our caregiver, Michelle. She did a bit of play-acting to make the photo interesting. 😂

03/06/2022

You never know when a helping hand will change another person's entire life

03/05/2022

03/04/2022

"On my 43rd birthday, the card and the call never came. I was starting to fade from her mind."

02/08/2022

Composed and lived by our ole friend, Michele.

02/04/2022

This is so true!
❤️~Terri

01/11/2022

Today I painted a new residents nails at work and as we were going over colors, she mentioned she wanted clear. The only thought that came to my mind was "CLEAR?! That's no fun." I asked her why she wanted clear and she said, "My hands are ugly, I don't want to draw attention to them." I then carefully responded with, "Your hands tell the story of your life. They tell the story of love, of care and adventure. These hands have touched and held things that most people can only wish to one day." And with that, she went with the color pink for her nails.
Sometimes what we are so insecure with, others find beauty in.
Credit: Brandalyn Mae Porter