It never stops amazing me how one Alzheimer's caregiver can give another Alzheimer's caregiver encouragement, energy, and the strength to carry on...
By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
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| Alzheimer's Reading Room |
I thought the article would catch the attention of our readers. It did. More than 600 readers read the article in the first two hours after the email alert went out.
There is no doubt in my mind that support from Alzheimer's caregivers is like medicine for the brain.
I already wrote about the woman that came up to me in the gym, and then immediately called her husband over to listen to what I had to say. I talked nonstop for 20 minutes. Venting. It just poured out of me. They looked at me, right in the eyes, smiling, nodding affirmatively, as I went on and on.
When I stopped, they shared their own experience with me. A similar experience. They gave me the smiles and encouragement. They answered my questions. But mostly, listened.
It took a few hours. But then suddenly, I felt like an enormous weight had been lifted off my shoulders. The medicine was taking effect.
This was one of several quick injections of support, support medicine, that started me on my way. This was truly the day(s) when I started to become the most effective Alzheimer's caregiver I could be.
I often wonder what it would have been like if they hadn't stopped what they were doing, listened and encouraged me for 45 minutes.
It didn't end there. The first time I wrote here about my mother being sick, I was shocked and surprised when I received 122 private emails. Emails offering prayers and support.
Once the medicine kicked in, I was a different person. I didn't have my tail between my legs, I was ready to deal with the situation. I really felt the energy.
It never stops amazing me how one Alzheimer's caregiver can give another Alzheimer's caregiver encouragement, energy, and the strength to carry on.
I wrote previously about how I believe there is no substitute for the love and care of an Alzheimer's caregiver.
I now learned that there is no substitute for the support of an Alzheimer's caregiver. Someone who understands how you might be feeling. Someone who can help you learn and understand you are not alone.
And someone, who can provide you with the strength to carry on.
More Insight and Advice for Caregivers
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- What’s the Difference Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
- How the Loss of Memory Works in Alzheimer’s Disease, and How Understanding This Could Help You
- Learning How to Communicate with Someone Suffering From Alzheimer's Disease
- What is Alzheimer's Disease?
- What is Dementia?
- Alzheimer's World -- Trying to Reconnect with Someone Suffering from Alzheimer's Disease
- Advice and Insight -- Alzheimer's Reading Room
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Bob DeMarco is the Founder of the Alzheimer's Reading Room and an Alzheimer's caregiver. The blog contains more than 2,680 articles with more than 512,100 links on the Internet. Bob lives in Delray Beach, FL.
Original content Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room
