AUTHOR PROFILE: Loretta Parker Spivey
Author's Page: http://
Profile: March 2008 to August 2008 - Battling Alzheimer Author: Loretta Parker Spivey Location: Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
You take a deep breath, you know the water is cold, you are on the side, preparing to jump, but before you have a chance to inhale, close your eyes and prepare for the plunge, you are PUSHED from behind. Brrrr, the water is freezing. Everything in you is fighting against the shock of the push, the water that found its way into your nose and the freezing cold water. THAT is how it feels to be thrust into care giving ...For me the push came the day my 70 plus year old mom called me looking for her little girl and threatening to call the police if she didn’t find her. I was 500 miles away, but I knew that it was time to swim, or at least tread water till I could get my bearings. I was her primary caregiver for seven years. During that time I read a slew of books, had a plethora of experiences and incessantly wrote in my journal while I worked as a writer, vegan caterer and raised a family. It is my honor to author this blog for Alzheimer’s caregivers. My experience helps me to understand, but my writing skill, ability to connect to various people and wide range of knowledge is what will make the blog successful. In terms of the direction of the blog, I understand that caregivers are often stretched to the max as they navigate the waters of caregiving. So here is what I hope this blog accomplishes: * Provide suggestions as to how they can care for themselves. Give them information about treatments, medications, healthy eating, and legal issues. They often want to understand how to how to deal with things like rage, incontinence and wandering. If I write the blog, they’ll be able to get meaningful, insightful information that will respond to the issues they face daily. They may also be forced to consider independent living facilities, long distance care giving and long-term care facilities. My goal is for this blog to be the “go to” internet source for information AND inspiration regarding caring for a person with Alzheimer’s. * For those who have the disease, they want to know how they can keep on living with this disease, how to maintain their independence as long as possible and how to hold on to their “position” as spouse or parent instead of becoming a child who is told what to do. The site will provide ideas for those with the disease to live as healthfully and independently as possible. It will also teach them how to give up the reigns with honor and dignity. I hope to share some of my personal experiences and provide an outlet for caregivers and those with Alzheimer’s to be comfortable in our family room sharing their joys, fears and things they have learned along the way as they live, in one way or another, with Alzheimer’s Disease. Loretta
Posts by Loretta Parker Spivey:
- Hope and Help For the Holidays — Involve Your Loved One
- Hope and Help for the Holidays — General Tips and Information
- Recipe for Life Biscuits and Fried Apples
- Hope and Help for the Holidays – Halloween
- Hope and Help for the Holidays
- Recipe for Life – Brown Rice and Vegetable Stir Fry
- The Essence of Caregiving – LOVE
- A Rant About Home Health Care Workers
- Recipe For Life – The Absolutely Amazing Apple
- Legal Resources For The Caregiver
- More on Guardians and Conservators
- Guardianship and Conservatorship Who Has First Rights?
- Caregiver’s Corner — Let’s Get Involved
- A Recipe For Life — Zucchini Grinders
- Fall Prevention
- Finding the Right Alzheimer’s Care Facility for Your Loved One
- Alzheimer’s Disease Information for Patients and Families
- Alzheimer’s Mirrors and Anxiety
- Why I Write a Recipe For Life
- Alzheimer’s Drug Flurizan Fails in Late-Stage Testing
- Elder Suicide-Know the Warning Signs
- Obesity Increases Risk for Alzheimers-Another Great Reason to Lose Weight
- Recipe for Life-Black Bean and Corn Salad
- Disaster Planning for Caregivers Part 2
- Disaster Planning for Caregivers
- Dementia, Alzheimer’s, the Elderly and Sex (part 3)
- Alzheimer’s, Dementia and Sex (part 2)
- Alzheimer’s, Dementia and Sex
- Caregiver’s Corner–Lighten Up!
- Recipe for Life–Spinach Salad with a Twist!
- Organizing Your Kitchen–Make a Menu Plan
- Organizing Your Kitchen–
- Organizing Your Kitchen-Safety First!
- News From the Alzheimer’s Association
- Organizing Your Bedroom!
- Conquering the Clutter in Your Closets
- Caregiver Organization – Books and Papers
- General Organization 101
- Why Get Organized?
- Caregiver’s Corner-Join a Support Group
- Recipe For Life
- How NOT to Get Alzheimer’s Disease
- Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Partners in Crime
- Caregiver’s Corner-What about Respite Care?
- Recipe For Life
- What’s It Like to Live With Dementia?
- Caregiver’s Corner – How Hospice Helps Caregivers
- A Recipe For Life
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Hospice Care
- Myths and Misconceptions About Hospice Care
- What is Hospice Care?
- Things Caregivers Do to Hurt Themselves and Their Loved Ones
- Recipe For Life
- To Tell or Not to Tell
- Lessons Children and Teens Learn from Caregiving
- Caregiver’s Corner
- A Recipe For Life
- Alzheimer’s, God and Me
- DNR – Do Not Resuscitate
- Advanced Directives and Living Wills
- Caregivers Corner-Keep a Journal
- A Recipe For Life
- Medicare Made Simple
- Do You Need an Elder Law Attorney?
- Fight (with) the Power-Power of Attorney
- Caregivers Corner – An Open Letter to Caregivers
- A Recipe For Life
- The Fine Art of Distraction
- Brain Games and Other Activities
- The Importance of Physical and Mental Activity
- Introducing A Recipe For Life
- How Alzheimer’s Patients Grieve
- How Alzheimer’s Caregivers Grieve
- Alzheimer’s Disease and Caregiver Grief
- Caregiver’s Corner–Drink to Your Health
- Stage 7 Alzheimer’s Disease – Caregiver Response
- Stage 6 Alzheimer’s Disease-Caregiver Response
- Stage 5 Alzheimer’s Disease-Caregiver Response
- Stages 3 and 4 Alzheimer’s Disease-Caregiver Response
- Caregiver’s Corner – Get Some Exercise
- Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease – Caregiver Response
- Alzheimer’s Disease-Testing and Diagnosis
- Alzheimer’s and Dementia-The Differences
- Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
- Caregiver’s Corner–Get HELP
- More Incontinence Products
- Incontinence Products
- Alzheimer’s Disease and Incontinence
- You Gotta Do What You Gotta Do….Dealing With Incontinence
- Caregiver’s Corner…Get Some REST
- Dude, What’s Going On With Grandpa? Talking With Teens About Alzheimer’s Disease
- Why Doesn’t Grandma Know My Name? Explaining Alzheimer’s Disease To Children
- You Know it is Time To Stop Driving When
- Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive With Alzheimer’s
- I Wonder as She Wanders
- I Have Alzheimer’s Disease! What Now?!
- Diagnosis: Alzheimer’s Disease! What’s a Caregiver to do?
- Hello! Welcome to Battling Alzheimer