I have a friend who is eighty-eight years old. She has advanced dementia, and she has become my good friend. Recently, her doctor changed the dosage for her medication. Because she lacks the cognitive skills that would allow her to remember the details of the medication change (she is unable to remember or bring to mind which pill was changed…
"People are not limited so much by their illness as by their attitude to it. The illness may present physical challenges, but the emotional challenge is often far more important. Our human spirit may stumble as the path ahead appears too daunting, yet with support and encouragement, our resilience can be re-enabled and used to find creative solutions. We are…
Chimney Rock, one of the most famous and recognizable landmarks for pioneer travelers on the Oregon, California, and Mormon trails. A natural geologic formation, it became a symbol of the great western migration. My Grandmother’s headstone reads, “She Loved Life”. I never got the chance to ask her why she wanted that very statement on her headstone. She died with…
My good friends and I (they happen to be 91- and 97-year-old women who do not have dementia) have agreed that we either need to learn to keep our mouths shut, or we need to invest in duct tape. Each of us are Moms of adults kids, you see, and each of us love our kids so dearly that we…
