Unlocking the Silent Prison

I found this article in Sunday's paper about caregivers learning a better way to communicate with Alzheimer's patients.  'We tend to treat people with dementia as though they're not the persons they were.  But they're still here.' 

The article gave the example of a daughter visiting her mother and telling her, "You're not my daughter."  The next week the daughter had gotten some help.  She said, "Mom, I have a gift for you" and gave her two photos.  Under one she'd written, "This is my daughter Sara at age three"; under the other picture was "This is my daughter Sara now."  Her mother studied the photos, then looked at her daughter and said, "As beautiful as ever."

There were some other great tips in the article that was part of the Parade section, I can bring it to the next family council.  But Mom suggested putting photo's together in his treasure box, that would go with him as he visits us.  I think we should work on a book (maybe seperate family books) with a picture of us as children, teenagers, and adults then add our spouses (maybe a wedding pict and now photo) and children (10 - 12 years ago and a current picture). 

We all need to keep an eye out for the air mattress we talked about purchasing for Christmas

Bed Bath & Beyond

Aero Bed raised Mattress Pillowtop {page 17}
• Hands free inflation and firmness control with “Smart Settings”
• 22” bed height
• Fast inflate/deflate
• $199.99 Twin, $259.99 Full, $299.99 Queen
       o If anyone has a 20% off coupon the full would only cost $207.99 +tax
       o Approximately $30 per person if everyone went in on it for Dad
• Receive a $25 Bed, Bath & Beyond Gift Card with the purchase of any aero bed

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Waiting For

I finally got these pictures today from Wendy. I kept forgetting to bring my flash drive or was running late and didn't have time. We got together at a park in Layton last September before my nephew Ben left on his mission. I wasn't to happy about the way the huge shot turned out or the way my own little families pictures turned out. That could have something to do with me hating pictures of myself!

But I love these next five pictures and they are priceless to me:

I've been told, over and over, that I have my dad's sense of humor. I'm so glad that's not all I got from him! It seems as each day passes, he is slipping farther and farther away. I am having such a hard time envisioning this Giant of a Man, so meek and lost inside himself.

Laura forgot to remind everyone at FHE but we want to add to Dad's personal history. I am typing up the version he completed 20+ years ago, and we need some memories to share with each other. We want at least one from every man, woman and child but we will accept drawings. Please get these to me ASAP, his birthday is next month and we would like to share what we can before we to forget...

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