Jolene Brackey - Creating Moments of Joy for the Person with Alzheimers or Dementia: A Journal for Caregivers

creating
moments
of
JOY

for the Person with
Alzheimers or Dementia

by
Jolene Brackey

4th Edition

Purdue University Press
West Lafayette, Indiana

Copyright 2007 by Jolene A. Brackey. All rights reserved.

The paper used in this book meets the minimum requirements of American National Standards for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992.

Printed in the United States of America.

I would like to gratefully acknowledge all of the writers who I have quoted for their wisdom and inspirational words. If there is an error concerning permission to reprint, I apologize and a correction will be made in subsequent editions.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Brackey, Jolene.

Creating moments of joy for the person with Alzheimers or dementia / by Jolene Brackey. -- 4th ed.

p. ; cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-1-55753-462-0 (alk. paper)

1. Alzheimers disease--Patients--Care. 2. Dementia--Patients--Care. 3. Caregivers. 4. Quality of life. I. Title.

[DNLM: 1. Alzheimer Disease--nursing. 2. Alzheimer Disease--psychology. 3. Caregivers. 4. Dementia--nursing. 5. Dementia--psychology. 6. Patient Care--methods.

WT 155 B797c 2007]

RC523.2.B73 2007

362.196831--dc22

2007021673

This book is sold with the understanding that neither the author nor the publisher is engaged in tendering legal, accounting, medical, or other professional advice. If such advice or other assistance is required, the personal services of a competent professional should be sought.

To the people with Alzheimers diseasefor giving me treasures for a lifetime.

To the CNAs and Activity Directorsfor passing on all your wonderful ideas. You have it.

To Debfor being my guiding light.

To my close friendsfor believing in me and giving me fond memories filled with joy.

To Ron Kittermanfor your understanding of spiritual well-being. It is the glue that holds my words together.

To Lorifor your words of wisdom and encouragement.

To Julie, Paula, Dave and Helenefor not only editing my book, but feeling my emotions.

To Heidifor patiently offering insights on how to wrap up my thoughts.

To Terryfor capturing my thoughts into drawings.

To Davidfor the opportunity to fulfill my dreams.

To Renaefor patiently and diligently putting up with me.

To Teresafor sharing this adventure with me.

To my familytogether we are a foundation as solid as a rock.

To Troy, Sidney, Taylor and KeeganYou are my treasures!

To my mom and dad
for your love,
faithfulness and
for giving me
wings to fly.

I, ____________________________________,

am the primary care person and I live at

my phone number is: ( )

If you want to know more about us, just look inside this book. You will open the window to our hearts.

Create a Moment of Joy!

I have a vision. A vision that we will soon look beyond the challenges of Alzheimers disease and focus more of our energy on creating moments of joy. When a person has short-term memory loss, his life is made up of moments. We are not able to create a perfectly wonderful day with those who have dementia, but it is absolutely attainable to create perfectly wonderful momentsmoments that put smiles on their faces, a twinkle in their eyes, or trigger memories. Five minutes later, they wont remember what you did or said, but the feeling you left them with will linger.

I have broken down the learning process into five sections. Within those sections are smaller steps. At the end of each step is a place where you can journal your thoughts, solutions, and treasures to help you achieve the overall goal of creating many moments of joy for the person with dementia, and for YOU!

Understand the person with Alzheimers This is your foundation. You need to understand where the person believes he is living in his mind before you can respond with acceptance and patience.

Powerful Tools That Create Positive Outcomes Heres where you begin to understand what people with dementia are communicating through their daily patterns of actions and words.

Lets Talk Communication Learn more about your loved ones by changing the way you communicate. Once you find the treasures they hold, you will enhance their lives by reminding them who they are.

Memory Enhanced Environments In this section, you will discover what triggers a sense of comfort in their surroundings. When they are comfortable, they will find peace in their environment.

Enhanced Moments Discover what will bring back joy to the person, and to YOU!

If you take just one thing with you after reading this book, I hope you gain the courage to try everything once.

You will make mistakes. Mistakes are treasures too, because they teach you what not to do. As long as you keep trying, you and your loved one still have hope. When you find the treasure, write it down and practice, practice, practice. Let go of all your expectations. Savor the simple surprises you receive along the way.

Scribble notes everywhere about anything at all, so wants and wishes are not lost, but are bound together in this personal journal. When the time comes, pass on this journal filled with your solutions and treasures.

It is 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 humorhoping that you will remember, cry, laugh, and love.

When we learn with pleasure, we never forget.

Alfred Mercier

Prelude

Bob was an avid fly fisherman, and loved fishing the streams of Oregon. I met Bob when he moved into our community after being diagnosed with Alzheimers.

He had a wonderful relationship with his wife. I asked her to bring me one of Bobs 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 easeand 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.