Mark sent this to me as a way of him inviting me to Amicalola Falls State Park, for coffee.
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Mom purchased this. She said she loves the words.
“Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children, now I have six children and no theories” John Wilmot
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“An earlier Stanford University study reported that 40 percent of family caregivers for Alzheimer’s patients – whose responsibility can last 10 to 15 years – die from stress-related disorders before the person in their care does” June 1, 2017
I think of two parts of this. Number one is doing whatever work must be done and dealing with the mental part of that, and number two dealing mentally with putting your stuff on hold. Wow, this is tuff stuff.
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One evening in January of 2014, at 7:00 pm, I began running, jogging, walking, leaning and sitting for 24 hours. It was exciting to me. 24 hours later, at 7:00 pm, it was over. 71 miles had been covered on foot. Tired? You bet, but it felt good and I was proud of me.
This took place at Amicalola Falls State Park in north Georgia. They granted me permission to do this.
My age at that time was 63 years old. There were no adverse affects, just tired a day or two. It was enjoyable.
I’m not sure of the value in doing this, other than something to speak of. In the refrigeration industry, there were several times we worked 24 hours and once we had a stretch of 72 hours without sleep. In the Navy we had a few times we worked for 24 to 30 hours or so, without sleep. Ah, but I was much much younger then.
Posting this is getting my attention. What could I handle at almost 69 years of age? Maybe go 12 hours, I dunno. It’s amazing though, the stirring inside of me at this moment.
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This picture was taken at Middle Georgia State University in Macon Georgia
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Mom had visitors from Valdosta Georgia today. They spent time at mom’s house, ate lunch at Hudson’s Restaurant and then headed home.
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A lot of conversations I have with strangers concerning Alzheimer’s are about, why so much of it now? In the picture above, you can see the signs and folks approach and we talk.
By 2050, it’s estimated America will have over 15 million folks with the disease.
I have no proof, and no formal education in this area, but, my gut tells me it’s partially because of all of the chemicals we ingest. I’m not sure anyone, no matter their education level, could convince me otherwise. What I believe may not matter much, but it’s what I believe.
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In 2013 the one on one conversations with caregivers were, to a large part, very informative. Two aspects were spoke of often. First the discomfort that comes from observing another human being suffering, and secondly the feeling of putting ones life on hold. I think those are both realities that have to be thought about and dealt with in some way.
I am deeply grateful to the Alzheimer’s Association for opportunities to speak with folks that know firsthand about caregiving.
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My opinion changes sometimes on what I feel my biggest contribution was and still is, as an advocate. Most of the time it feels to me like giving out the helpline phone number for the Alzheimer’s Association was the big thing. It was given out on most of the media stuff, meet n greets and out on the road, to folks that stopped. I have always felt like a caregiver may be beginning a process that could ease their load, when they ask for help. Mom allows me to keep signs on her car that give out the 24/7 number.
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