A Tribute To A Mom Whom Her Daughters Adored
In this story of tribute, the story highlights the efforts of two girls, the daughters of a beloved mother who was experiencing Lewy body disease and all that this reality brought.
You see, her two daughters devoted the last several years to caring for their mom. First, living in the home of one daughter, then moving to a senior facility near the other daughter. But that senior facility, like most I have visited, proved inadequate.
This daughter learned the DAWN Method, and thus became acutely aware of the reality that the administrators and workers in the facility, while well-intended, lacked the skill, training, and care that her mom deserved.
So, she rented an apartment, and staffed it full time with caregivers whose primary purpose was tending to her mom’s emotional and physical well-being.
It was my honor to be a coach from afar. To lend the lessons I’ve learned while caring for people experiencing dementia and the lessons I’ve learned while skillfully applying the tools of the DAWN Method. To bring encouragement and perspective. To be a lifeline when the situations were acutely difficult. To bring tough truth and advocacy as her mom neared the end of life. To reach out to her caregiving team and be available. To “be there” for her daughter. To be a phone call away, a text away. To help her daughter feel like she was not alone.
I have spent most of my waking hours with families on the dementia path, and I cared for my own dad in his final years of experiencing dementia. Even I needed help. I needed people I could call and share and process. I needed a nice companion who could step in and spend some time with my dad so I could be off duty. I benefited from the support of family and friends. And it is my observation that most families need help when life is impacted by the symptoms of dementia.
The honor was mine to provide help for this daughter, to help her tend to her mom’s well-being in the most skillful, understanding, and kindest way possible. This daughter and her sister honored their mom well. And they learned important, life-impacting lessons along the way.
Well done, daughters. Your mom, thanks to you, was well cared for and loved, and now she gets to rest in peace.
