A good night's sleep, chocolate, the happiness and satisfaction of sharing on AgingCare forum. Does anyone have some favorite things to think about? Yes, this phrase is from the song in the movie "The sound of Music". My husband and I often resort to using movie lines and song to improve communication. We were the only two in a gathering of people who heard the background music playing. We both had the same (cassette tape/CD). A connection bringing two people together. To this day, we crack up when one uses a simple movie line to make a serious point.
SO, What is one of your favorite movie line, some of your favorite things?
I'm reminded of a story related in one of the James Herriot novels about his life as a vet in North Yorkshire, memorialized in his novels (of which All Creatures Great and Small was one).
He described a situation in which an animal, a sheep I believe, had an undiagnosable illness which he was unable to cure. For reasons I don't recall, he used sleep inducing medicine to allow the sheep to just sleep, and just rest. for a few days (I don't exactly remember how long).
On waking, the sheep was much better. I don't recall that there ever was a medical diagnosis, but just allowing the sheep to be excluded from the normal daily activity of eating, wandering around a pasture, interacting with other sheep, and of course being somewhat ill....that exclusion allowed the sheep to heal.
If this were the situation today, it would probably be more likely that the sheep's ailment could be determined with more specificity, but in those days, sleep helped the sheep recover (no pun intended).
I still believe that was an excellent example of the benefit of rest and sleep.
Sometimes the neighbor's Tortoiseshell cat wanders over, cautiously hiding herself in the low growing bushes so she can scope out the yard, then visibly sauntering down the center path as she inspects the yard for anything of interest. I think she's also establishing that she's Queen of the Garden.
Even if we have to help it happen, peace & quiet are wonderful anyway we can get it!
I admit I sometimes help to create the right circumstances, too. And everyone is better off for us getting that refresher.
I've been known to turn my phone off for days and pretend all is well in the world :)
No one else around. No noise, no phone calls. No questions! I'm free for the moment to have my own thoughts without interruption!!! Yay! However many minutes it lasts...I'm grateful!
There was a photo of Queen Elizabeth doing purple proud, looking regal wearing purple. Then, a photo of The Red Hat Society having high tea, wearing their red hats, but not all were wearing purple. Thanks, Booksrme.
I just happened to catch Joyce Myers on t.v., and her topic was saying thank you to God, and trusting Him.
This poem is not in it's entirety, but it is one of my favorites.
When I am an old woman I shall wear purple.
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on thd pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go ouf in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit.
Thanks Jude! and what a great job you did there to help others.
I know some of us don't take compliments well, .....well. there you are!
In those days many had never used a computer so that was an additional challenge but that doesn't apply now. When we put a board up and started to list all the things they did and then put that into employment language you could see the change in their self perception gradually emerging as they began to realise just how many skills they had that were transferrable and current. Every single one of them went into work and not one of them was under 55. We were absolutely over the moon for them. I can't remember all the jobs they went into but I know among them were Health Care Assistant (which quite frankly I would have avoided at all costs) One became a PA and she was brilliant at it. One employer came back to us and asked if we had any more ex carers because he couldn't believe their willingness to go the extra mile. Well ladies and gents that is what we do every day of the week so put it in your cv
I am going to start a post called CV tips for carers so all in put welcome
Favorite thing: smiling at my grandson!
favorite food: ice cream (mint chip or coffee or butter pecan) and gluten free pretzel sticks - Salty sweet heaven!
Another favorite movie was: The Never Ending Story, movie line:
Atreyu: But why is Fantasia dying, then?
G'mork: Because people have begun to lose their hopes and forget their dreams. So the Nothing grows stronger.
Atreyu: What is The Nothing?
G'mork: It's the emptiness that's left. It's like a despair, destroying this world.
And I have been trying to help it.
Atreyu: But why?
G'mork: Because people who have no hopes are easy to control; and whoever has the control...has the POWER!
This thread is great because someone who's feeling down can find some things to lift their spirit and help them to feel better, maybe closer to how they normally would feel if not shouldering the care of a loved one with memory problems or in bad health. Caregivers need to be uplifted often and be participants in life! Otherwise the illness claims 2 lives instead of one. I like this thread a lot because it's very needed.
Six weeks later, when I was very happy I just got a car, someone at that meeting offered me a ride home! I remember that because it was one of my favorite Ah Ha moments. When you are happy and confident, people are drawn to you. Sorry that I don't know how to get there when I am not happy or confident. Maybe buy yourself a car?
I love my gardens but my health doesn't allow for me to be in them very long. I make sure the entry areas have my favorite things as much as possible.
I'm still in the process of getting all of my decorating with art up on the walls and fine-tuning the pieces that need it. So many different pieces and different styles and sizes and shapes.
How I love etsy dot com!!! It's an art site for everyone! For those of us who are limited due to health and those who aren't: it's like your own art gallery online! I have multiple collections there. I've bought many things from my collections. For those who don't know the site, it's a global handmade village of all types of art. If you're an artist or art lover, you have to keep seeing and exploring art...your mind craves this...etsy brings it to your fingertips.
I love a good book, a good mystery. I read mostly Christian mysteries which seem to have romances. That way I avoid offensive writing. There are so many good writers, it's amazing!
I do crave a very good friend to share with. I find my health and that of my husband, 1 of my sons and parents has pushed me into more isolation that I'd choose on my own. I ask the Lord to provide that good friend. I wait on Him & He will provide at the right time! ;o) I wish everyone happiness, peace and contentment, no matter the circumstances.
And I am proud that I was able to provide the care, would I have done anything differently? Hmmm, maybe not, but I reserve the right to change my mind. Ask me again after I find employment.
Besides, that advice came from stuff I've read online. But wearing the right clothes has helped me in the past.
Ever watch the Animal Planet channel puppies and kittens programs? They are soooo adorable!
NO NO NO NO NO
You can either say - I took a break from xyz (if that sounds super duper) to devote time to care for my terminally ill mother (we are all terminal - in that we will all die) and to ensure she received optimum care.
Or for the last 4 years I have been the sole care-giver for xxyz who had multiple health issue AND dementia
My duties involved
Keeping financial records of all transactions (as her POA that is a requirement)
Liaising with a range of professional bodies at all levels: legal, financial, health, medical inter alia (means among others but sounds posher)
Explaining in simple terms the results of the professional meetings to my mother in a manner than allowed her to understand
Conducting due diligence with regard to care provision and monitoring same
Reporting any diversion from agreed and standard practices
Keeping records of care provision and medication
General house keeping duties
Manual handling and lifting
Organising and coordinating visits and holidays that would accommodate very specific needs
Ensuring her rights were enabled at all times
Making numerous phone recalls and recording and diarising results of same
Attending to personal needs including but not limited to personal hygiene, welfare, religious needs, financial needs, health, medical and nutritional needs
Completing various complex forms on behalf of xxyz to access abcdefgh
In the final months I conducted an analysis of the most appropriate care for xxyz which involved taking up references conducting due diligence on the care homes, reading a variety of report to ensure that my mother received the best care possible.
In addition to this I also ran my own household blah blah blah yada yada yada
This is your application for you have been a care-giver and you should be proud to stand up and tell the world what you have done
You are not a 1 or 2 line person
returning to work after retirement, seeking a new career.
Or, you could say you have a general life experience which would qualify you for on the job training or you are willing to have a specific short trial period.
Bad girls!!!!!!!! But I love you both just the same xxxxxx