A Merry Heart

God knows, we all have a trust problem.  That’s why Proverbs 3:5,6 encourages us: “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  Acknowledge the Lord in all of your ways and He will make your paths straight.” 

Visiting with Mom the other day, I saw she was comfortably dressed and pretty as a picture with her earrings, and a lovely necklace.  When she heard who was coming home for a visit, she said: “Hooray! The gang will all be here and we’ll go out dancing and play Crokinole!”  Her carefree spirit is a commendation to her character but also a recognition that staff in The Home are taking care of her.

You know, it is a team effort to continually love, embrace, and qualitatively enhance someone else’s life. Whether it be a gentle sweeping-back of the hair from someone’s face, an affectionate kiss on the cheek, steering someone to the washroom, tucking someone into bed, cleaning up a mess, assisting at meal times, or setting a ball-cap aright, these actions go a long way. I have seen staff do all of these and oh, so much more. 

For sure, we need to address problems in The Home; being an advocate is essential to someone’s well-being.  Sadly, though, we default to the old saying: “While good news is putting her boots on, bad news is already down the road.”  Why not focus on a different proverb: “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)

This week, will you encourage a staff member in The Home?  By all means, do not let concerns go unnoticed.  However, kindness and courtesy will go a long way in resolving situations, and you, the one you are visiting, and the staff will all benefit from trusting the Lord. 

Threads of Gold ~ Part 7

Mom~ with son, Pierre, at his wedding ~ March 2017

There is nothing quite like a familiar, comforting voice, and those living with an advanced form of dementia should not be relegated to a life sentence of silence because we think they cannot understand us; or we cannot understand them. Communication is a gift from God; we can’t afford to limit what He can do with our interactions.

Why, even His creation speaks:

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4) The Creator’s familiar voice surrounds us every day, and this gift of speech is worth sharing.

Visiting in The Home?

• Talk! Hearing loss does not increase with dementia
• Make eye contact; sit facing the person, rather than to the side; use body language
• Let them see your face-vision becomes more like tunnel vision, as dementia increases
• Ask questions that take yes or no answers
• Use one of their coherent words as a basis for conversation

I’ve been inclined to blame Dad’s side of the family for my ‘gift of gab,’ but Mom says it’s those ever-talking Comeaus! With a hearing problem for most of her life, I have been inspired by Mom to speak up. As a 4-H leader, she insisted that all Club members do a public speech or demonstration. Standing at the back of the gymnasium, she would characteristically state: “Speak up!” We were not too happy with those drills. Today, her eight children are grateful for her wisdom. Conversation is a gift that keeps giving; I hope you give today.