"Love is the key -- loving ourselves as we manage the change, loving others as they participate with us, loving the life we live even when it is disrupted or difficult," Linda MaNamar.
Change is the constant for those of us living with and providing caregiving to someone with dementia. Capabilities that were there yesterday, are not there today -- and yet, they may be there for a few minutes tomorrow. Schedules that worked last week, do not work today. Support systems that were taking care of things now have to be modified and increased. As we monitor the well being of the person for whom we provide caregiving, let us not lose sight of self care and self love. Like they advocate on an airplane that we put the oxygen mask on ourselves before we assist others to do so; so, too, must we as dementia caregivers take care of our own needs first. This task before us is too difficult. We will not survive it well without putting our needs and welfare as a top priority.
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