From the desk of Rosemary Laird, MD
Founder of Navigating Aging Needs (NAN), LLC
The Many Faces of Happiness
For a caregiver of a loved one affected by Alzheimer's, the entire idea of happiness is complex. There is the "feeling good” sense of the word, such as when you are taking a warm bath or eating a yummy treat. For a caregiver those moments of happiness can be harder to come by. On the other hand, there is the "well-being" sense of happiness that is tied more to one’s sense of purpose and having a life worth living. This is the kind of happiness I wish for you and all family caregivers.
Frames of Mind
The author F. Scott Fitzgerald once observed that "the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function." It certainly seems true for this particular time in our lives. The world seems to be convulsed with conflicts between contentious ideas and behaviors, and nothing seems “normal.”
This can also be true of a caregiver of a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s. As the disease progresses, your loved one may show signs of being in a mental state that conflicts with reality. You may face differences of viewpoints with your family, friends, and health providers on how to proceed on some issue that needs to be resolved.
Take Care of Yourself!
As the Global Selfcare Federation puts it, “this International Self-Care Day celebrates the value and potential of self-care” as a “fundamental act of self-love and self-preservation.” It’s the phrase “self-preservation” that is key: Caring for yourself is often regarded as an indulgence, a “guilty pleasure” that you do as a luxury, not as a necessity.