Is It Possible To Have Fun As A Dementia Caregiver?

Welcome to the place where I share dementia tips, strategies, and information for family members caring for a person with any type of dementia (such as Alzheimer's disease, Lewy Body dementia, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, etc.)

In today’s video I talk about how I unintentionally made a caregiver upset at the idea that busy caregivers deserve (and can have) more fun in their life. A happy caregiver is a better caregiver and in the monthly of July, I'm talking about how to introduce more of this in your life.

______________

FREE Resource:

💌 [LET’S CONNECT]

______________

CHECK OUT MY POPULAR PLAYLISTS

Dealing with Challenging Behaviors:

______________

OTHER VIDEOS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:

__

In case you haven’t met me, my name is Natali Edmonds and I am a board certified geropsychologist. That means that I am a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with older adults. One day, while hiking a trail, I came up with the idea for Careblazers and I decided to see if posting videos online could provide help to the many other Careblazers in the world who don’t get to have help come directly to them in their homes. I hope that this work helps you in some way on your caregiving journey.
#careblazer #dementia #dementiacare

[marygoodsell]

This is your best video ever! I am a very happy 63 year old caregiver for my 80 year old husband. I was very depressed and scared when he was first diagnosed, but our attorney who did our wills told me “be bold and strong and take over!” This was very hard for me but I transformed our world! I sold the property and house, moved to a nice rural area, made new friends and now I can take really really good care of him. I thank him everyday for being so good and easy to take care of and I treat myself very good too! I work at making myself happy!

[orthodudeness]

Thanks! HA!!! So, I just got back from a short bike ride. Saw your latest video. Welcome to the world of having most any business. You get your ass handed to you, quite often sometimes. I do Ortho conventions as a n exhibitor. Once in a while a doc will show up and hand me my ass, right there, in front of whomever is around. Turns out, after all the years doing this, I have learned that these docs are not well accepted in the AAO or PCSO, as they are complete assholes. The world of business?? You get a huge thank you, I mean from the bottom of my heart thank you. Only to have someone in your other ear, at the same time, ripping your heart out. You are tougher than all of that. You were taught what you were taught in schools and universities. YOU have not just had info poured into your head, only to just repeat it over and over. YOU took that info and expanded it to levels not seen before. With no guile, just concise well thought out insight. Like I said, I will never forget you. Nor will I forget how you instill the ability to show and teach how to advance one's own abilities beyond what we already know.

[bonniebutler]

Thank you so much for helping caregivers! 67 taking care of my 95 year old dad with dementia. It helps both the caregivers and their loved ones

[jeannehoffman]

I try to make it fun for my mother everyday. Just acting silly so she can laugh at me, or dancing across the room to make her laugh. If she is laughing, then I feel better, too. It isn’t always easy, but it can be done.

[sandyboswell]

Oh, my goodness! I totally agree! This is exactly what I try to do every day. My husband is bedfast in a hospital bed in our living room. I walk in first thing in the morning with a cheerful, “Good morning! How’s my handsome husband this morning?” While I’m fixing breakfast, I put on our favorite 50’s upbeat music. We laugh together every day. My husband has always used humor to break up a stressful situation. So when he says, “I’m ready to go home, ” I laughingly reply, “Oh, so you’re trying to get rid of me, huh?” I keep my attitude upbeat (most of the time) by looking at the funny side of things, instead of getting frustrated with what I have to do. But I never make fun of him. I treat him with the respect he deserves. I recognize that even though his brain is deteriorating, he’s still my husband. I see it as my privilege to care for him while I still can. Attitude makes all the difference!

[janejohnson]

Not only do I think it is possible to have fun, but is so necessary if we (as caregivers) are to be able to provide our loved one and ourselves with a life worth living.

[randygreen]

Not only fun for you but for your loved one with dementia! Of course the word “fun” is going to take on a whole new meaning. If your loved one is acting 12 years old that hour, day, week or month act 12 years old with them. You’ll soon find out that you’ve made a new friend because no 12 year old likes to be told what to do or have an authority figure standing over them.
Great videos! ❤️❤️

[Magnetar]

I work in a dementia nursing home and I have LOADS of fun every day.

[elisabethm]

When I was caring for my late husband, we had a motto on our door ‘ Let’s put the fun in dysfunctional’ … We had a tremendous amount of fun.
Life is short…for our loved ones with dementia, it’s likely even shorter than had been planned. Why should either of us waste the time we have left on anger, frustration and pointless wishes. Consciously focusing on wringing as much happiness and joy in every moment we can is a major life goal - especially during this time.

But to also be real, sometimes we do feel down or even depressed with grief and regret … but focusing on the positive as a default position is, in my experience the surest way to have no regrets in that future time when hour loved on has finally passed on. Living these last years as happily as possible is the best way of creating a lasting legacy in your heart - where you’ll remember them with smile.

[lynylcullen]

Phenomenal Concept! I BELIEVE it’s possible. I don’t know how YET. AND IT CAN HAPPEN! Grateful for all the TRAIL BLAZING you’ve taught me already! I’m committed to opening my mind to what does at first seem impossible!
(I did play a song in the car today that mom started “dancing” to and that felt like a happy little FUN victory moment!)
Let’s bust this WIDE OPEN!

[pattyabozaglo]

I love your podcasts. They are real and useful. Laughter is a great way to overcome stress as a caregiver. So many times humour helps to reduce stress of the person being looked after and the caregiver

[ronaldpalmieri]

Dr Natalie u r the best…u have helped me 100% with my careblazer experience….I appreciate u. So much..♥️♥️♥️

[joyceraymond]

My sister has Alzheimer’s and we try to have as many laughs as possible.

[toko]

I'm 60 .My husband is 76.He has Altz. We do have those moments of fun such as dancing to a song and he likes to rhyme.Whenever he looks in a mirror, he quickly smiles and says Hi Bobby( that's his brother's name) and talks to himself.I want to have fun as much as possible.I am with him 24/7 and he just can walk short distances and is Incontinent.Its not always fun but yes you can have fun times. The VA come to the house for his Dr.Apptmts.They are a big support.

[stevenblack]

Yes I feel I have lost my identity and a lot of my friends because of this disease and frustration because I don’t have it but its affect on me is so great I no longer have the control over my life anymore

[meaquindinho]

This makes me feel hopeful. I try to make "fun" and silliness part of our day. The pandemic forced me to rethink the care my mother needs. So much better when I'm calm and open. Not always easy, not always able to achieve, but I'd rather giggle than yell or cry. Your videos help so much. Thank you.

[CaminoTurtle]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! This YouTube channel was my happy place and was so different from many other sites that seemed so serious and stressful. When I first started full-time caring for my parents who were both diagnosed with dementia, I had to defend my choices when I did things with them that seemed silly or unnecessary. Yes, there were days that were completely a struggle and it seemed that all I did that day was clean up spills, launder clothes, and change bed linens. Then, there were days we were dancing and singing Broadway songs or wearing silly clothes and party hats for Mardi Gras. Not every day can be "fun" but there may be "moments" when you can have fun and those are the moments that make the difficult task of caregiving possible.

[kkay]

My father's Capras Syndrome and hallucinations made making him happy virtually impossible. As for himself, there were times his brain allowed him to enjoy his former intrinsic humor. Those were rare and wonderful moments. Lewy Body as my father experienced it was far worse than my grandmother's Alzheimer's. More horrific than any dementia case I have even read about up to now. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. But he died among loving relations as he wanted, whether or not he knew it.

[Ilovewicked]

Oh no I missed the series. Where can I find it?

[adventurenana]

Absolutely! When I’m happy and upbeat, my dad feels it and often reacts accordingly.
Just like when I’m down, he’s also down.
Thanks for saying it’s ok to have fun. It can be quite comical at times.