Alzheimer's Blogging:

So how was your Thanksgiving?  Although we are given this gift from God, a thing called life and we live it everyday, it seems like the Holidays we try and make it special.  Some of us live far away from loved ones and we try to visit them during this holiday time.  Thanksgiving seems to be the time for togetherness with meals and great deserts. It is a time that friends and relatives try and go out of there way to see each other. If you have a loved one in the house with Dementia/ Alzheimer's you know that this can be a very difficult time for them.  With their memory loss it is difficult for them to relate and communicate.

I remember a few years ago when we were planning on leaving Chicago and move with my father in law to Phoenix. We had a Christmas party. My father in law stood in the corner of the room, watching, waiting, smiling but not really wanting to participate. He may have recognized some of the faces and  yes he should have known all of them. But due to his memory loss  he was frightened. The house was noisy and lots of food sat on the table.

My children watched him, and one of them came up with an idea to get him involved.  They put karaoke on the TV set with music from the 60's and it didn't take long before he was dancing to it while they sang.  He was now participating with the group and enjoying himself.

My father in law is now long gone and all I have left is his memory in my heart and pictures on walls. He was a great man who taught us a lot about love and life.

This year I celebrated Thanksgiving with my husband, my five children and four of them have husbands who joined us along with my seven grandchildren. It was a wonderful time of food and games. This is what I love about the holidays, the get togethers.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving,
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
www.mariefostino.com
PS:   I have written a couple of romance books if anyone is interested:
The Silver Locket
http://www.amazon.com/The-Silver-Locket-ebook/dp/B005R6Q3D0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322419189&sr=1-1
A Struggle of the Heart
http://www.amazon.com/Struggle-Heart-ebook/dp/B0067T6O30/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322419239&sr=1-1