Are you struggling with giving care to someone with a chronic illness like dementia?

Sometimes is seems as though diseases like Alzheimers test your good humor and sense of humor.  You are probably dealing with many sad things.

Yet if you look for it, you may just find unexpected laughter in as this recent post from Linda on her blog “God, Mom, Alzheimer’s, and Me” shows…

Sound Logic

The following interchange reveals why one should never argue with one’s mother, whether she has Alzheimer’s (as mine does) or not:

Mom: Would you get me a diet coke?

Linda: The dentist says that the acid in the diet coke has hurt your teeth and that you shouldn’t have any for 4 hours before you brush your teeth at bedtime.

Mom: (aggravated) How old am I?

Linda: 87

Mom: (disgusted) Exactly how much longer do you people think my teeth need to last?

 

Original Post:
Sound Logic

Did you smile or laugh?

I sure did!  Not only does it show how people with Alzheimer’s can still think logically, it is a funny story.  It also reminds me of some encounters I had with my mother’s medical and dental team…

And my sister’s response to the professionals’ dictates suggestions.

Ready for it?

“Instead of picking on a 92 year-old woman why don’t they ask what she did to keep her own teeth and be as healthy as she is at her age?”

Good question!  Maybe we all should look to the very elderly and see what they are doing right, instead of finding fault with what they “should” correct.  Still, dealing with these experts may be something you have to do…without annoying them as much as they annoy you.

Counting to 10 helps, as does holding your tongue.  I know it’s hard, especially when you’re physically, emotionally and financially stressed with caregiving.  And then there’s humor…

You’re a caregiver, so you’re dealing with stress just in giving care.  To have the professionals pick at you and the one you love just adds to your caregiver stress.  Often unnecessarily.

Do you know that humor is the antidote to stress?

Finding the humor in the situation can also greatly decrease your stress.  When you laugh deep and loud and long from your belly your muscles relax, your mood lightens and stress flees!

Humor is more than helpful…it’s an essential part of successful caregiving.  Especially if you want to emerge from caregiving whole, healthy and happy!

It’s so essential it’s part of the road map you need to successfully navigate caregiving. 

Does caregiving and caregiver stress remind you of being lost in unfamiliar territory without a map?  Or  maybe a minefield?

Now you can get help with a map for more than surviving – thriving – in caregiving!  Just click here right now to download your own road map.

And remember to smile.  As a wise man often reminded me, “Smile if for no other reason than it makes people wonder what you’re up to.”

To your healthy and happy caregiving,

Dr. Ina

Ina Gilmore, M.D. (Retired)
“The Knitting Dr.”

Bestselling Author of “What Do I Say In a Sympathy Card?”

Creator of A HEART PLAN

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com

Ambassador of Elder Care, www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com