100 Things

     Recently, for both personal and professional reasons, I have been attending Alzheimer's seminars at one of our memory care facilities. As a personal care attendant, I can count these seminars toward the eight hours of continuing education I am required to have per year. As the daughter-in-law of someone with Alzheimer's, I want to learn as much as possible about ways to help and relate to him in the years to come. One of the goals of Expressions Memory Care is to learn 100 things about each client so the staff can tailor its care to its residents. This caused me to think about what I would want someone to know about me if I were unable to care for myself. I promise not to list all 100.

1. A cup of decaf, black tea with cream makes me feel relaxed and content.
2. I am solar powered. Let me sit in the sun whether inside or outside.
3. Let me walk barefoot, especially in the grass. After knee replacement, I learned how much it stabilized my stride, soothed my inflammation, and improved my mood.
4. I sleep in nightgowns. I haven't worn pajamas since grade school.
5. I'm not comfortable wearing a bathrobe in public. I like to dress before I leave my bedroom.
6. I prefer music in 3/4 time, wooden instruments, one or two instruments to an orchestra.
7. I like to have my hair stroked.
8. The sound and warm feel of a clothes dryer relaxes me.
9. Because of many happy moments spent poolside with our kids, the smell of bleach relaxes me.
10. I love to travel. Talk to me about the places I have been.
11. Latin music gives me energy. I like to exercise to Latin music.
12. I love riding a bicycle. Not sure if a stationery bike would work though.
13. I have exercised all my life and am fairly flexible.
14. I am a writer and express myself better on paper.
15. I love to cook. Hospitality, feeding people makes me very happy.
16. I have a good sense of humor and love to laugh.
17. I sleep on my left side, sleeping on my right gives me a migraine.
18. I get more pain relief from ice than heat.
19. I get no pain relief from Ibuprofen or Aleve, Tylenol works.
20. Give me something useful to do. I am easily bored.

     No one wants to lose their memories or abilities, but knowing 100 things like those above can help those suffering with Alzheimer's keep, if not their identities, at least their essence until the end.