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Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign: Does labelling things help?
We are all being challenged to be very creative in response to our loved one's behaviors.
I have put up signs in just about every room as guidance for my husband.
There's a sign on the thermostat with the temps we keep the house at day and night. There's a sign on the dishwasher with directions for use, and I taped off the buttons we don't use and labeled them, 'Don't touch' because I had to keep resetting with the correct washing preferences every time he changed them.
The kitchen has a sign reminding him what our dog can't eat. I just bought a white board for the kitchen to track what he eats, since he sometimes has gluttonous behaviors and eats a meal twice because he doesn't remember eating.
There's a breakfast guidance visual showing him pictures of a cereal bowl, with directions to thaw his fruit before putting cereal on it, and quantities for milk and cereal (with photos of those products). Sometimes he forgets to refer to his guidance visual and eats cereal with frozen fruit, or doubles or triples recommended amounts.
In the dining room there's a sign I asked him to make himself (as an attempt to have him internalize the info; ha!), stating he can no longer take walks alone (he was trespassing and peeping in people's windows). I made that sign when he kept telling me he was going for a walk, alone. So, I made a sign that says he no longer walks by himself and needs to have a walking buddy, so far it's just me.
There are several nutritional signs helping us stay on track for the recommended Mediterranean diet.
On the bathroom mirror is a post-it note from his dental hygienist reminding him what areas to focus on, and one demonstrating how to clean his ears in the shower. There's also a love note from me on the mirror, our only happy sign!
I put labels on our bath towel racks, because he was either using mine and leaving me with a wet one, or putting his wet one on top of my dry one.
In the living room are signs for me regarding positive coping strategies, and a reminder to be positive.
I could go on, but wanted to write a bit about how this aspect of our lives has changed.
When our children were learning to read I labeled so many things in our home. I feel like I'm coming full circle, or something?
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Thanks for the info. I'll chk in my area. All the best for you and your family.
@judimahoney
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2 Reactions@ellesea01
Positive Approach to Care courses and certifications are offered online. If you go to their website, Positive Approach to Care Teepa Snow you can see what is offered. The courses I have taken so far are the Champion courses 1 and 2. I will take 3 and 4 in December. These courses are offered on a rotating schedule so you can see what dates fit your schedule. The cost for these live online courses is $99 for 1 and 2 then another $99 for 3 and 4. There are also free short Teepa Snow videos on You Tube on various subjects. Today I watched the one on bathing someone with dementia and suggestions for handling their resistance it.
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3 Reactions@ocdogmom , that sounds very helpful. I found that resistance to care was probably the biggest challenge I had with the caregiving of my family members.
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3 ReactionsInteresting. Might you elaborate on what the term 'resistance to care' means? Thank you. @celia16
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1 Reaction@ellesea01 , yes, it consisted of many things between my cousin and my dad. They both resisted bathing. Huge problem. Daddy refused prescribed eye drops and shaving. Both refused to use cane or walker. Refused to wear appropriate clothes. Refused to allow help with hygiene. Daddy refused to accept home healthcare workers. Resistant to housecleaners, even if he knew them. Daddy insisted on driving for years and it was always a huge issue, even though we had secured the keys and he had no access. Refused to allow us to sell the car…we could have sold it over his objection, but you have to pick the battles so that was one we didn’t fight. He couldn’t drive, so we left it at that.
Refusal to wear Depends despite repeated accidents. He didn’t understand why laundering soiled underwear daily was not feasible. We must have thrown away dozens of soiled cotton briefs.
I resorted to offering daddy money if he would allow homecare aid to shave him. He’d agree, but then change his mind. I was shocked he forfeited $50!
Towards the end he allowed me to shave him.
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6 ReactionsThat's awesome. I like the zero $ training. Helps and encourages more people to obtain very valuable knowledge. That creates ripple effects which ends up helping even more people.!! Appreciate the info, thank you. @judimahoney
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2 ReactionsThanks for describing these very difficult situations.
Now I recognize what the term means. Thank you. I can see how important taking classes is. By what you mention, anyone that routinely interacts with the suffering loved one, is fully affected and involved too. How everyone responds is really going to help or further aggravate the household. Wow, we're sure not prepped for any of this 'real life stuff' are we? Ugh. But thank goodness for organizations & the people within them that are available to help & teach. All in your setting are an asset to each other. It's great that you are here & help us too. Thanks so much for sharing. We all benefit learning more about the grittier experiences on the horizon. All the best to you & yours. ❤️ 💙 💜
@celia16
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7 Reactionsjust finished reading Travelers to an Unimagined Lands, by dasha kiper. she has a chapter on this, going counter to your efforts.
Best book ive read in a while.
peace and love to you and yours
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2 Reactions@celia16 I have a mom just like this..........its difficult
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2 Reactions