Life often seems to move fast. First, you blink, and you wonder where the time has gone. Then, you reflect, and it feels like you haven’t taken enough time to appreciate the little things in life. The definition of gratitude, according to Merriam-Webster, is the state of being grateful: THANKFULNESS.

A common misconception of gratitude is that people only practice it during good times, like getting a promotion or a new car. But everyone should practice gratitude daily; it has proven effects of increasing happiness and can help lessen depression (NAMI, The Impact of Gratitude on Mental Health).

In fact, it’s easy to practice gratitude; just a few simple strategies can change your outlook on life. And, if you can learn to show appreciation in good and bad times, you will be grateful throughout all aspects of your life.

Write it Down

Grab a notebook or piece of paper, even a napkin will do, and write three things you are grateful for each day. Try not to overthink this. It can be as specific or broad as you’d like, from family and friends to the delicious pancakes you had for breakfast to your favorite sweater.

When writing down what you are grateful for, remember there is no wrong answer, and it should be personal. Writing things down will help you connect with what you are thankful for. Then, be sure to take a minute and reflect on it. For example, your loved one is in a facility, and they’re happy because they don’t feel as lonely anymore.

Say Thank You At Least Once a Day

Many of us say thank you quite a bit in our everyday lives. Such as when someone holds the door for you, you’ve finished ordering at a drive-thru, or you give “the wave” to someone in traffic who lets you through. But have you ever taken the time to really think about what that thank you means? Why are you saying thank you?

Understanding the why not only helps you know what the thank you is for but also helps the other person feel good about what they did for you. For example, a friend calls you without knowing you are struggling with something. You say, “I have been feeling lonely lately, and your call just made my day. I appreciate you and thank you”. You can make someone else’s day while bringing gratitude into your life. Thank you is a beautiful way to elevate your spirit and someone else’s.

Reminder Signs

Visual representations of what you want to accomplish will help you succeed when practicing gratitude. It can be little like a coffee mug that says, “Filled with Gratitude” or a sign in your office or bedroom reminding you to “Be Grateful.” Or maybe it’s a post-it on your mirror that says, “Be Thankful Today.”

These “visual cues” can help you to remember to practice gratitude. Because we all know when we are busy, it’s easy to forget. So, when you read the phrase or see the sign, take time to stop and focus on how it pertains to the specific moment or event in your life.

The Art of Gratitude

Practicing gratitude helps strengthen relationships, improves memory, and builds self-esteem. Try to incorporate gratitude daily and see how it can change your perspective, mood, or outlook. Feeling, showing, or expressing gratitude for the things and people in your life can make a difference. Choose gratitude.

If you think we are the right fit for a loved one or friend, book a tour here. We would love to meet you.

Being a caregiver can bring stress, worry, exhaustion, and guilt. Taking care of someone suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia can mentally drain a person as much as they may deny it. This disease takes a powerful tole not only on the diagnosed but the people surrounding them, in different ways.

As a caregiver, it is important to feel supported and not alone in the process of taking care of a loved one. We are lucky today there are many care options for loved ones suffering with Alzheimer’s or dementia, and options for caregivers. Let’s talk about the importance of support groups in caregivers’ journeys…

While caregivers are usually never alone, it’s easy to feel alone and isolated. Caregivers spend most of their time caring for someone else in every way possible, it’s difficult to remember to take care of themselves. It can also be difficult to accept memory care for your loved one as you’re so used to it, but sometimes it’s what it needs to turn too.

Support groups help you develop relationships with people who have similar stories to you whether that be with their parents, spouse, sibling, or a friend. In these discussions, you would be exchanging information between other caregivers like yourself, it could even turn into finding solutions to the problems you’re having. Advice from others can go a long way.

A support group gives you access to other people’s experiences, they can relate to you through their own challenges with their loved one. You as a caregiver can discuss what you have gone through and seek advice from others in the same position. You can share your true feelings in a safe space meant for venting and coping with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

There are many resources out there to caregivers and family members of loved ones with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Click here to find support groups in your area.

Book a tour here to see if we’re the right fit.

More Support Group Resources:

Eldercare Locator – https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Resources/Topic/Caregiver.aspx

Family Caregiver Alliance  (FCA) – http://lists.caregiver.org/mailman/listinfo/caregiver-online_lists.caregiver.org

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, over 6 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s and 1 in 3 of elderly people will die with dementia or Alzheimer’s. This disease slowly takes memories and cognitive skills away from its host, and it is devastating.

Someone you love was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. It feels surreal and you’re unable to predict how this will play out. Your mind is going to a million different places, and you’re scared. You’ve never quite been told news like this before, or you have, and you know what’s coming.

You wonder how this will affect your relationship with your loved one as well as the future. Will they suffer? Will they forget everything, including me? I hope you find comfort in knowing there are millions of other families going through the same experience. As unfair as an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is, there are ways to try to cope with the diagnosis and resources to help. Let’s discuss 5 ways to help cope when a loved one is diagnosed, including: allowing yourself to feel, providing comfort, finding the right fit for care, patience with your loved one, and dealing with guilt.

1. Allow Yourself to Feel Your Emotions

As humans, emotions play a large role in how we tackle situations, feel the feelings you need too. Go scream at the top of your lungs, break something, whatever your mind needs to process the news so that you can be your best self for your loved one in need.

Remember, you have family and friends you can discuss your emotions with and start talking about a plan. It’s important to research Alzheimer’s to become more familiar with the disease. A diagnosis such as Alzheimer’s will always be scary but remember you’re not alone. There are multiple support groups for families of the diagnosed, here’s a few:

Alzheimer’s Association

Hilarity For Charity (HFC)

Memory People

Caring Bridge

As scary as it is for someone you love to be diagnosed with an incurable disease, imagine how scared they must be. Both sides are terrified to know how this will progress so it’s crucial to communicate as much as possible in the beginning.

2. Provide Comfort to Your loved One

Their diagnosis may not let them express their fear for the future, which is why it’s important to make your loved one feel safe. Don’t be afraid of them, continue to make eye contact when they’re speaking to remind them you know who they are and you’re listening.

Keeping up a routine is important in dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. Try to recall little habits or preferences they have like drinking their favorite juice every morning, hobbies like knitting, or wearing their favorite sweater. Keep reminding them of the familiar as much as you can, but do not push it. Trying to remind someone who they once were, will mostly result in frustration and anger if they do not remember what is asked of them.

3. Find the Right Fit for Care

Choosing the right form of care is a big decision, you must ask yourself some questions. Is it inviting? Clean? Is there knowledgeable staff? How do they communicate with patients’ families? Is it comfortable? There is an array of potential questions to ask yourself when deciding where to go, and each relates to your personal situation. There are also specialized memory care facilities that focus solely on dementia and Alzheimer’s patients.

At this facility, caring is our top priority for your loved one along with our privilege. We offer exceptional care and a comfortable environment. We focus on every resident and their specific and unique needs. Each of our facilities are licensed and inspected by the state health departments, along with each facility having the assistance of the Department of Health regulating our facilities. It’s important to check that any facility you are thinking of choosing, has the proper licensing and certifications. Each year, the National Center for Assisted Living updates state requirements for assisted living care. Click here to find your state.

4. Have Patience With Your Loved One and Disease

Although you can’t fully understand what they’re going through, try to remember if they become upset or agitated towards you that it is the disease talking and not them. It’s important to take it day by day, you cannot look too far into the future because each day is different. When diagnosed, they will need to stop doing the tasks they used to do like driving a car, riding a bike, going for a run and it’s important to accept that as a loved one you cannot “fix” or “preserve” them. Patience and accepting the hard realization of this diagnosis are key.

5. Don’t Let Guilt Creep In

Many family members feel guilty for placing their loved ones in a memory care facility. Do not feel guilty for prioritizing your loved one’s diagnosis by putting them in memory care, you also must prioritize yourself as their care giver or close family member. Neither side wants to be going through this, you’re taking care of them by knowing it’s time they receive professional care, and you should be proud of that. Letting go is very difficult and this disease may take full control, so while you can, take control of it first.

Sometimes, it’s easy to feel irritated or frustrated with your loved one going through Alzheimer’s. This does not make you a bad person or care giver, it makes you human. There’s no right way to grieve someone you love after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. You may fear all the memories they will lose or if they will remember your name. Even if you’re not going through the disease, it doesn’t mean you aren’t already grieving a loss to come and that is okay.

In Conclusion

You’re a loved one, who’s worried about another loved one with an incurable disease. Give yourself credit and grace. Taking each day at a time will be beneficial to the both of you. The next day can bring anything, good or bad, so there is no need to try and predict or control the future. Your loved one is lucky to have you.

Book a tour here to see if we’re the right fit.