Jolene Brackey - Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimers Journey: A Guide for Families and Caregivers

I have a vision. A vision to look beyond the challenges of Alzheimers and focus on creating moments of joy. With short-term memory loss life is made up of moments. There are not perfectly wonderful days; there are perfectly wonderful moments moments that put a smile on their face and a twinkle in their eye. Five minutes later, the person will have forgotten what was said and done; the feeling, however, lingers on. This new edition of Creating Moments of Joy is sprinkled with hope, fueled with wisdom, and lightened with humor. Our greatest teacher is the person with Alzheimers, and who we explore is Ourselves.

	Defining Moments Signs that tell you its time.
	Family Moments This section will help you understand the strain the caregiver feels and how we, together, can support those giving care.
	Challenging Moments This is a difficult journey, one you did not ask for. May this section teach you little tricks to lighten the load.
	Transitioning Moments You will encounter many transitions as the person moves through this disease. Learn how to sustain and trigger memories along the way.
	Enhanced Moments In each moment there is an opportunity to create a better moment. Discover how.
	Final Moments May we all grow spiritually and cherish the teachings along the way.

Keep it simple. Open the book to one chapter that speaks to you. You will make mistakes. Mistakes are treasures too because they teach you what not to do. With short-term memory loss you get many do-overs, and each moment is a new moment. As a family, scribble notes everywhere about anything at all; one person can write with a blue pen, another with red, and another with black. When the time comes, pass on this book filled with your struggles and solutions so wants and wishes are not lost, but bound together.

Every person with Alzheimers is completely different. Therefore, I am not your teacher; your experience with this person, in each moment, is your teacher.

Its also my true desire to create moments of joy for you, the person who holds and reads this book. I have carefully selected stories, quotes, and dashes of humor may you remember, cry, laugh, love, and find a bit of hope.

Knowledge is the foundation of Wisdom, but Wisdom means nothing unless you apply it. THE BUNNY

Bob was an avid fly fisherman and loved fishing the streams of Oregon. I met him when he moved into our community after being diagnosed with Alzheimers. Bob had a wonderful relationship with his wife, and I asked her to bring me one of his fishing poles. We were all outside enjoying the sun when his wife opened the door with a fishing pole in her hand. I gave the pole to Bob and asked if he would show us how to cast. He tossed the line out with such ease and then handed me the fishing pole. Needless to say, I didnt do very well, but he enjoyed watching me try. Then I asked him, How do you tie the lures on? He grabbed into the air for a fishing line, which wasnt really there, and he moved his hands and fingers as if he were tying the knot. He looked over at me with the imaginary knot in his hand and a smile on his face. I said, Youre amazing. And he just laughed.

T his is what I mean by creating a moment of joy. Bob relived a beloved pastime: fly-fishing. If his wife had not brought his fishing pole, this moment would not have occurred. We would have missed our opportunity to create a moment of joy. Instead, we captured it. We created a moment of joy for the people who lived in our community, for me, for Bobs wife, and, most importantly, for Bob.