It’s hard for many people to believe any good can come from dementia, but those of us who have experienced transformation during the process of being a care partner to someone who lives with dementia know it to be true, and are immensely grateful for the rare gift we’ve received.
Fellow advocate Lori La Bey and I both experienced a kind of spiritual awakening during our time as care partners to our mothers. We touched on what that deep connection felt like to us when I was a guest on her popular online show AlzheimersSpeaksRadio.
Here’s a two-minute clip related to that part of our conversation:
During the hour-long show, we also talked about family dynamics, antipsychotic medications, transforming perspectives, and my BANGS model to help stop anxiety and aggression (watch the free BANGS webinar here).
More AlzheimersSpeaksRadio here, and more on Lori and her work here.
So true. Alzheimer’s, if lived with well, can present many beautiful gifts. Thanks Susan.
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Yes, many beautiful gifts indeed Michael – and I know you experienced your fair share, along with grief and sorrow of course. Life is always a mixed bag isn’t it?
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Couldn’t agree with you more, Susan. I feel like I’m listening to myself!! Thank you for spreading the message of how dementia can deepen intimacy, presence and our ability to ‘be’.
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Thanks Alice. After an enlightening conversation with one of the blogs followers, I think this kind of relationship may be more possible with parents and adult children than it is with spouses. but I’m hoping somebody can prove me wrong on that…
there is no doubt that being a care apartment to Mom enriched my life immeasurably, and while I dragged myself kicking and screaming into the role, I was glad I did in the end ❤
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