On August 2, 2019, my Mom, Frances, gained her wings. She had spent the last 6 years of her life at Lake Forest Park, her last 5 months in Memory Care. I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the Staff. They are all truly phenomenal caregivers. From the receptionist, to the hairdresser to the laundry staff, to housekeeping, to maintenance, to the kitchen staff. They are all just such wonderful, caring people. I have to mention here the extremely kind gesture from the kitchen staff who came to mom's room to see her just before she passed. Mom passed soon after. Just after the Crisis Care nurse called me, she held the phone to Mom's ear and I got to tell her for the last time that I loved her, and my 2 sisters loved her. One half-hour into my drive over to see her, she passed but heard those last words "I Love You". Also, I want to give a big thanks to Ryan, Virginia, and Stephanie who made sure mom was taken to any activities she was able to take part in. Last, but not least, the kind, caring and loving nursing staff who treated Mom as if she was a member of their own family. All the CNA's (sorry I have forgotten names and apologize) are all exceptional people whom I've gotten to know and love. It meant the world to me and my family. Again, thanks to all. I will never forget your kindness to me. It is absolute proof that angels walk among us. I will keep you all in my prayers, and may God bless you abundantly.
Learning is Living Back
It is natural for older individuals to feel as if they are a burden to their loved ones, as they need more help with daily activities of living. One secret to ‘staying young’ if you will is to continue to learn. Keeping ones mind sharp also alleviates the feelings of being a burden. There has always been a huge emphasis on learning but the cycle must not stop due to age. Learning is a continuing process that should occur throughout every stage of life.
Many studies have been done to confirm that learning a new trade whether it is quilting, photography or even playing bridge aids in memory loss and cognitive improvement exponentially. Strengthening the connections between parts of your brain helps alleviate the effects of dementia and challenging activities strengthen entire networks in the brain.
Next time you are wondering what you can do for the day, don’t shy away from the challenge of doing something that is fun and will help you in the long run. Look around to see who is offering a quilting class or bird watching – Bird watching isn’t just about looking at different birds but learning about them, their origins and patterns. Join a book club and discuss how your perceptions have changed over time or from listening to one another in the group. Don’t be afraid to turn on a computer. The Internet has so much to offer in the learning arena.
Don’t settle for a TV show on the couch, get up and keep moving and keep learning!