Garvin, my brother-in-law had been suffering from dementia for approximately 7 years. With each year, we saw a diminishing of the person we knew and loved. He died this past July, and I wrote his wife, Barbara, the...
Do we sometimes forget that older people have ears and feelings? Please remember that even though an elderly person may be experiencing some dementia, they still have ears and can hear. They still have feelings, and...
Dear Karen:
I have been a caregiver for 15 years. I recently had to assist in reporting a case of elder abuse. It was not physical abuse, but my patient’s grand children were taking money from her without her permission. My patient has dementia. Someone else reported the stealing, I just verified the facts, and the family blamed me. They assumed I made the initial call. I told them that I spoke to the agency involved—legally I had to reveal the facts as I saw them. I’ve been treated terribly. I had to resign. My heart is broken. How do you cope with the sudden separation? I acted out of concern for my patient. Now she will be placed in assisted living—a far cry from the life she is accustomed to. Her husband will remain in a long term rehab center and will not be able to join his wife. She will wither and die because her children are not active in her life. I am asking God to show me how to understand.
I am longing for something beautiful, meaningful and joyous to happen this Christmas season. Maybe you are, too! I believe one way to find this beauty and meaning is to focus some of our attention outward to those...
