55 Art Projects for Dementia Care
A few weeks ago, I had resigned myself to the notion that our cherished art days were behind us. Heather seemed disinterested, and I feared our creative journey had come to an end. After a brief hiatus, however, I decided to give it another try. To my delight, Heather’s passion for art has been rekindled, Read More
This week, I hoped that Heather would be interested in decorating the birds she painted orange last week. When I arrived, I could tell she was in good spirits as she greeted me with a big smile—a good sign. After lunch, we moved to the back deck, our usual spot for art projects. I laid Read More
Hetty used to visit on Fridays for art activities, hence the name of the book Fridays with Heather – 55 Art Projects for Dementia Care. She has since switched to Tuesdays, which doesn’t make any difference in the big scheme of things. Today is an art day. Hetty always keeps things as simple as possible, Read More
When I found a package of eight wooden birds at my local Dollar Store, I thought Heather might enjoy painting them. I poured orange paint into a small saucer and handed Heather a brush with a large brush end. To my surprise, Heather began painting one of the birds, carefully covering it entirely and even Read More
At the request of one of my YouTube subscribers, I pulled together a few videos I recorded over the past three years, from before anything really started to happen with Heather. One of the earlier videos is a whale watching trip on Brier Island in Nova Scotia, where I’m quite sure there’s something wrong, but Read More
As I was laying in bed last night, suddenly a little light went on 💡, and I think I’ve come up with an explanation of why Heather has some hesitancy or fear in three particular daily functions: using the toilet, having a shower, and going to bed. Each of these activities has become a challenge Read More
My housekeeping duties are ramping up with time, but I have things set up well enough here that I can stay on top of it. It’s not a big deal.
Neuroplasticity, also known as neural plasticity or brain plasticity, is the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization. It is when the brain is rewired to function in some way that differs from how it previously functioned. It’s the “fake it till you make it” principle. Another expression that Read More
This morning at 8 AM, Heather shuffled out of bed and stood still at its foot, which is when incontinence happens if I don’t intervene immediately. So, I sprang into action, guiding her by the shoulders to the bathroom where I got her seated for a pee. Her diaper was heavy as usual, so I Read More
