Time with Joy

STUFF We all have stuff. Stuff we accumulate on a daily, weekly, monthly, annual basis. Stuff none the less that fills our homes and lives. I am not going to use the word clutter because it comes with such a negative connotation and I want to share with you today what I feel I’ve learned about our stuff. When we are young and starting out on our independent lives there are things that we each in our individual way feel we need to function successfully in our day to day live...Continue reading

They have all lived a life. One of the many challenges I face with dimentia or Alzheimer's patients is not knowing who they were before they became ill. I am genuinely interested in each client I spend time with and try to gain background from the family or the client's themselves.... I have learned that the woman who can't remember who she is talking to on the phone once had a photo taken in front of the leaning tower of Pisa. She stood with Diplomats at her husband's side. She was beautiful, well read and the picture of class. Her life matters to me. I've learned that the lady whose hand I hold in and out of my car oh so slowly while running errands, for years held the hands of scared and dying patients at Ross Memorial Hospital as an RN. She is someone I would have wanted for my nurse. Her life matters to me. I am genuinely interested in how my one client remembers her children and life as a mom before her accident left her short on some memories. Her laugh and the sparkle in her eyes is contagious and warms my heart. Her life matters to me. When the repetition comes and the forgetfulness comes and the physical body needs my arm for steadiness I am glad to be able to calm and comfort. The very least I can do is respect the life before me as a life well lived and be thankful to be able to assist in my own small way in the autumn of their lives. Their lives matter to me. Joy