In this post, I share what I learnt about creating a life story book with mum. After sharing encouraging experiences of some reminiscence activities, I chart six steps to creating a life story book.
Mum dies peacefully
My mum died in the early hours of this morning, peacefully in her sleep. Despite her dementia, she has remained physically strong and robust over the last four years. After each knock, scrape and illness, she has recovered completely, regaining her original strength. But not this time. Two falls and an infection less than a week ago led … Continue reading Mum dies peacefully
Finding a Good Care Home for Mum (Part 3)
I haven’t felt like writing after my last blog post ‘Finding a good care home (part 2)’. Mum’s move to a new care home has been more traumatic than I imagined. It felt at times that all the months of preparation, shortlisting, interviews and visits were a complete waste of time.
Saturday night and Sunday morning in A&E
Mum and I spent seven hours in A&E on Saturday night. Not remembering where we were or why we were there mum got increasingly agitated. I wonder if the whole experience could be made better for people with dementia and their carers.
Bridgeway’s Angels
Yesterday, we said a sad goodbye to one of our regular carers from the Council’s Bridgeway service. Today, a new carer started. We didn't get off to a great start.
Desperately Seeking a Good Care Home
A statistic haunts me as I search for a new care home in preparation for mum’s final move. On average, residents of care homes get only two minutes of social interaction with staff a day. While this statistic is based on a small sample of homes in England, I fear it sums up the quality … Continue reading Desperately Seeking a Good Care Home
Caring in the Face of Physical Distress and Overwhelming Anxieties
The last six weeks have been very difficult for mum and I. As mum wasn't well she needed more active care and psychological support. To cope I needed more time off and good sleep, but the opposite happened. I felt the strain at times.
So Long 2018 and Thanks for all the Support
2018 was quite a year for me and my mum. After over two years I brought mum back to her own home. As I look back, I am extremely grateful to all those who have supported us, particularly one doctor...
Responding Mindfully to Emotional Turmoil
Now I have adequate time off and enough sleep, the biggest issue I face is how to support mum through times of emotional turmoil. The turmoil is not only felt by her. When mum dips into despair or becomes greatly agitated, I experience a surprising range of emotions. Empathy, compassion and concern for mum are … Continue reading Responding Mindfully to Emotional Turmoil
Maintaining Routines: Nights, Mornings and Social Services
On Sunday night after I had gone to bed, mum had a fall in the care home. Going to the toilet, groggy with sleep, she tumbled forward and banged her head on the basin as she fell. The care home staff alerted me after they called an ambulance. I pulled on some clothes and drove … Continue reading Maintaining Routines: Nights, Mornings and Social Services
Julia's dementia blog 