Friday, May 22, 2009

Alzheimer's: Silence is not golden

Silence is not golden when it comes to Alzheimer's.

I've heard so many stories from family caregivers about how they'd give anything if their loved one with Alzheimer's would start chattering again and asking the seemingly endless banter of questions …

Where are we going … What time is dinner …

I don't need to provide any more examples. You know the questions and the answers because you memorized them to maintain your sanity.

Don't sit in silence. Don't allow yourself to forget the beauty of the human voice and that doesn't mean turning on the TV for background noise on some fictional drama and well-worn comedy or the depressing news.

Play your favorite music, even if it's instrumental because there's a song in every melody, even if you make up the words yourself along the way. Plus, you can never anticipate how the music might spark a response from your loved one, including a chorus or two. It can happen.

Buy or borrow books on tape/CD. Listen to your local public radio station because many offer reading selections from popular books.

Now, I know that doesn't take the place of your loved one's voice, but it keeps you connected to the art of the human voice, for which there is always much to be learned.

More importantly, it keeps you connected with the world, which we all need to survive.

And that's how you can take care of yourself, and that's okay.

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