We are already midway through the first month of a new year and a new decade! How fast time flies!

It always amazes me to watch my days fill and turn one into another, seeing my time getting packed with new and exciting opportunities and knowledge. Do you feel the same in your life?

This feeling becomes more vivid to me when I pursue new skills to serve those in the arena of dementia. When working with the caregivers of elders with dementia, I notice how stress and despair causes a more rapid appearance of aging to young and healthy individuals. The impact of caring for loved ones without knowledge, skill, or personal time is destructive to one’s inner core. Many caregivers silently suffer the loss and grief as they render their loving care to their family members is profound.
The scientific community is working to understand better and treat dementia, but progress is slow. Sometimes starting as early as sixty years of age, the dementia patient experiences grief and loss of their abilities. Initially, denying mishaps and gaps in memory, they gradually succumb to the reality that something has changed, and everything is different. The human being that they were a decade ago, or a year ago, and even last month still lives within them.

The way to maintain integrity, spirit, and zest for life both as a caregiver and elder with dementia is to take care of one’s self fully—through body, mind, and spiritual practices. For the caregivers, it is important to seek understanding through knowledge and skill development, knowing when to seek outside help, realizing that your loved one is still there, and needs to be touched and loved. Understand that the elder is still the beautiful individual that you remember. You need the right approach to engage your loved one—even if a glimmer of the person comes forward for only a moment. Taking care of yourself, taking breaks, giving yourself a chance to breadth, take a bath, a walk, drink a cup of tea while listening to relaxing music, or take a nap. Your health and wellness are essential to rendering tender loving care to your loved one regardless of where they reside or their age.

Understanding the disease process, realizing that “knowledge is power,” cannot be overstated. Seek the guidance and knowledge so that you master the skills to give care and not develop resentment or frustration with mishaps—similar to how you may have learned to care for a newborn without the instruction booklet!
Your patience will increase with time as you see the beauty of your connection with your loved one make a difference in their life.

Healthy food, hydration, and tender loving care, human touch, and the rhythm of life will help the individual with dementia stay with you another day—building on the tapestry that lives in your memory.

Be kind to yourself at all times. Take time for yourself. If you need assistance, more information, or supportive care members of a professional team, reach out—there is much available and nothing to be embarrassed about seeking. As a Dementia Care Specialist and Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, I value each phase of adult development and the opportunities we have to enhance the quality of life throughout the continuum.

May you enjoy the season, the day, and this moment you have to spend with your loved ones.

Namaste.