Some guys want to be cowboys. This guy was a cowboy. A real-life, cattle-raising, horse-riding, lover-of-the-land kind of cowboy. He dressed like a cowboy, and it was clear he had worked hard all of his life. But it took just a few moments to witness the twinkle in his eye, the good humor, and the happy man that added a…
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…
“We are all just doing our best, and that’s the best we can do. If that’s not good enough for someone, they can just go down the road.” - Wise words from my companion experiencing advanced dementia. When people experiencing dementia are in a companionable, dementia-supportive situation, where they can express themselves without judgment or correction, they will share…
The last time I spent time with her, we read her devotions, just like we always did. We enjoyed the flower catalog and one of her scrapbooks, just like usual. We pulled up the hymn "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" and read the lyrics while we sang along. It was getting harder for her to walk. It was harder…
The world thinks so much of what people experiencing dementia can't do. But in my world, we focus on what they CAN do! They often just need a companion who understands how to leverage the skills they keep to continue to meet their emotional needs. Our companions are living wonderful lives because of the skills we've learned through the DAWN…
Loss isn't the whole story. Sometimes we can get stuck focusing on the loss in Dementia (the loss of cognitive function), but there are so many strengths we should notice too! The DAWN Method taught me how to switch that perspective to lean into the strengths of our friends experiencing Dementia. https://www.instagram.com/p/DRSaHFlCa8S/
We called him Mr. Charming. Even in his last days, he would have moments where he would stop and compliment someone on their pretty sweater or nice shirt, with his sideways smile and attentive eyes. He loved to share stories about his days as a Colorado A&M University football player and his time with the National Forest Service. He was…
His was a true Horatio Alger story. From the wilds of Wyoming as a child and youth, to the opportunities available in Northern Colorado, he embraced hard work and built something impressive. And yet, he was humble and kind. He became a leader and a man of service, donating time and resources to community causes he believed in. When we…
I have had the flu twice in the six weeks since my dad drew his last breath. I rarely get sick. In both of these cases, I was really sick. I suspect my body is decompressing from the time I spent pouring myself into managing my dad’s care and caring for him. It seems that much of society would look…
To the outside world, I appear A-OK. And I really am okay. But what is going on inside is a sort of confusion, an unsettled frustration, as I try to reconcile the loss of my dad. In one regard, I fear grief because it is unpredictable and hits at random times. But most of me is just trying to relax…
