This morning Judy and I drove to Victory to attend a seminar on Alzheimer's Disease. When Judy and I walked up to the church, we marveled at the amount of activity going on there, including the lawn mowing. Another team of guys, hired to paint the exterior of the church, were starting with the bell tower. A regular beehive of activity!
He checked his e-mail and reported to me, "This is as far as I got: Dear Kim...." and he was distracted or something. He never did get back to me (so it wasn't my memory playing tricks on me!), it was his! He called Anne to bring the treats, saying she was not happy to do so. We made sure to thank her for them during the break.
The presenter was a pastor from The Lutheran Home in MN and did a fine job of it. He had printed materials, a power point presentation, and videos interwoven in the presentation. There were equal number of attendees from GS as from Victory. I sat next to Fran and was glad to do so. More than once she wished she knew this info two years ago when Andy got sick.
Pastor met us and seemed surprised that I did not have dough nuts with me. He asked, "Did I answer your lovely e-mail yesterday?" and I looked at him with a concerned look on my face. Oh no! Is my memory going? I had written to let him know Judy was coming along and asked if I could bring something, like dough nuts. Since I didn't hear back from him (really, I did not!) all we carried in were a couple of sodas.
He checked his e-mail and reported to me, "This is as far as I got: Dear Kim...." and he was distracted or something. He never did get back to me (so it wasn't my memory playing tricks on me!), it was his! He called Anne to bring the treats, saying she was not happy to do so. We made sure to thank her for them during the break.
Now, about the content of the seminar---as I told Linda later on, I could/can hardly express how much I took away from this four hour session. We were taught about the difference between dementia and actual Alzheimer's Disease, and the other illnesses which present with memory loss, short or long term. There were suggestions about what to say or not say to those suffering which might trigger a defensive reaction instead of a positive one.
He addressed the matters of establishing POA (powers of attorney) for financial reasons and for medical purposes, doing it ahead of time when people can still think straight and know what they want done, etc. The one part that choked me up was the discussion about the Christian preamble as part of ones Will. His booklet had verses to reference for that, as well as for helping to determine end of life decisions to be made. I can't help it---the tears just come.
One idea to help a sufferer 'remember' the good memories of the past was the use of a picture book using photographs of better times and loved ones. Anne mentioned the movie "The Notebook" where the husband read his wife's and his life story to her daily at the nursing home. She would 'open the curtain' every now and again to remember him, and fade away into her other place. Might have to get that movie out to watch tonight!
Pastor Hoyer mentioned how beneficial this class or session would be to have at the Seminary. The presenter, Curt, said he spoke at a Pastor's Conference recently and ended up with appointments to speak at 35 more congregations in the upper midwest. Later, Pastor said that GS should invite him down next year to have this session again, especially after those of us there talk it up.
Pastor Hoyer mentioned how beneficial this class or session would be to have at the Seminary. The presenter, Curt, said he spoke at a Pastor's Conference recently and ended up with appointments to speak at 35 more congregations in the upper midwest. Later, Pastor said that GS should invite him down next year to have this session again, especially after those of us there talk it up.
One of my longer time friends at Victory, Carol, was introduced to me years ago by Linda O. She brought us together because we were both writing. Carol was writing about her dad and his Parkinson's Disease. In 2008 when Linda was visiting, we arranged to meet up with Carol at The First Coast Writers group where the speaker was the author of the book "Mothering Mother", Carol O'Dell. "Victory Carol" had a chance then to talk with the other Carol, who suggested she wait a little while to work on her book because it was still so fresh for her, to give it some time to rest. So she did!
Today Carol said she is getting close now to wrapping it up. The stuff she learned in this class would go a long way to helping put the finishing touches on it. And then, she came to me afterward and asked me to proof her manuscript when she is done, prior to sending it to the editor. I would be honored to do so. What a privilege she is giving me. The icing on the day!
