Uncovering Needs #elderlyissues #atozchallenge

I have found that working with the elderly is like digging for treasure – I am never disappointed with what I find.

There are times (especially with dementia) that we must uncover their needs or what makes them happy.

Every person has things that have meaning. It could be an activity like going to the market and remembering days gone by. With one client who was almost bed bound, I realized there were certain activities that gave her energy to get out of bed.

I first noticed change when a neighbor stopped in for a short “hello.” My client was upbeat the rest of the day.

The neighbor had brought flowers so we spent time thinking of something nice to do. We baked cookies and my client wrote a card.

The next week we made valentines for her son and her husband. Wow I noticed color in her face.

What I uncovered was she liked doing things  for people.

It’s also fun to uncover things about a person that maybe no one knows.

Here are some ideas to mix up their day and keep it interesting:

Writing his/her memoir

Writing cards to friends

Drawing/ coloring

singing together

Folding laundry ( I have lovely conversations with my clients when doing chores)

 

How have you been keeping things interesting during the Co-Vid “Stay in Place”???

Great people to meet in the A to Z challenge:

Keith is a good writer with clever themes. Expect excellence: https://keithsramblings.net/

Frédérique at https://quiltingpatch.blogspot.com/ is a talented artist who I have enjoyed getting to know

Lee is  a lady whose poetry engages the reader: https://ladyleemanilablog.wordpress.com/

Arti is a wonderful crafter of words:
https://artismoments.blogspot.com/

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Not Under a Tree #gifts #children #Christmas

Please enjoy this montage of poetry over the next several days. These true vignettes represent what I believe the true spirit of Christmas to b:

Generous the soul that gives

what little he possess

in such a manner shed a light

a heart the greatest gift

***

 

There was a boy not old nor young

of two sisters he was glad

He wasn’t strong nor was he weak

protective heart he had

There came a season barren, cold

his family had but little

warmth  abundant at the hearth

holidays always special

I’d known this boy a little time

a leader in the making

challenges were plenty big

cleft palate, one of many

bad was the year for all

our work was in the past

my children knew Christmas joy

in friendships that would last

gathered underneath our tree

bundled what we had

took shiny gifts and things

Merry, joyful, glad

love came too

that Christmas Eve

Six children

danced with glee

That little boy looked to my son

“like you someday I’ll be”

into his hand he placed his trust

“it’s Christmas time you’ll see”

what we learned that Christmas year

is hard to put to words

smiles tell a thousand things

with stars they sing the verse

 

Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love; Hearts unfold like flowers before thee, Opening to the sun above.

 

The Gift Giver #Christmas #giving #generosity #children

 

Generous the soul that gives

what little he possess

in such a manner shed a light

gave life’s gift away

***

~Some stories are easier to tell in prose~

There was a boy neither old nor young he had two little sisters.

He wasn’t strong nor was he weak but always a protector.

There came a season barren, cold his family had but little

warmth  they always had, the holidays were special .

I’d known this boy about  a year

a leader one day it was clear.

His challenges were plenty

disability one of many

bad was the year and business worse

 our family agreed these children had worth.

Mine gathered from under the tree

they’d learned kindness and generosity

we took these gifts that Christmas Eve

Six children danced with joy and glee

That little boy looked to my son

 eyes full of glimmers and fun

 what he loved most with to play

 A big heart he gave this thing away.

I remember Leon at this season

knowing his struggles had a reason

 

And with Leon, we celebrate the greatest gift giver of all times…

” For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6

 

Wishing a Merry Christmas to Family and Friends near and far!!!!

 

The Right to Give Love Away #poetry #humanrights

Man opens his mouth and words result

making mighty his lofty claims

as he pontificates and struts

self-edification his primary aim

*

the ruler of this world so petty

the rich so powerful and “right”

we worship what is sexually pretty

the poor and lowly we despise

*

hold a ball where you stand

juggle it with two others

gather and clasp a small hand

put aside your druthers

*

turn the balls now inside out

see where a smile grows

it is in the weakest things

beauty’s goodness overflows

*

here’s a right we all possess

if we open up our hearts

look not to grandiose emptiness

sacrificial love a good place to start

 

“Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Prov 31:8 & 9

Today’s prompt at Poets United is Human Right’s Day

 

The Thing about Aaron #autism by @barnestormjohn

The Thing about Aaron

by John Barnes

Aaron is seven.

He is my boy.

They can’t decide just what else he is though.perhaps something

from that Awesome and terrible Space

of Distinctly other.

He is small for his age.

We don’t mind that.

It’s the food issues that concern us much more.

Prone to allergies and respiratory ailments

since his pneumonia before he was two

Emotional Intensity in spades, as they say.

He just really can’t stand when things aren’t right.

His meltdowns,

epic in scale

are sadly, a daily occurrence.

It’s not a tantrum.

It’s watching his heart breaking.

Over and over

again and again.

He’s a bright guy,

my boy.

Reads at well over double his grade level.

His vocabulary is tremendous.

He builds Great

and Wondrous

things.

He sees Everything.

But cannot readily understand

the feelings of others.

He loves to play outside.

Outside is where He wants to be

most.

Yesterday

he paused ahead of me on the walk.

“I’m afraid of nature”

he said.

Further inquiries divulged

it was the birds

that caused him fear.

“They’re just too loud”.

You should have seen, should have heard.

Last Fourth of July a rocket went off

just way too close to his ears.

Bath time is a major ordeal

Every Time.

It takes two adults to wash his hair.

His screaming and squealing are deafening

bouncing off the tiles of the tub.

He understands well how things should work.

But when an impulse takes him,

he’s gone.

All semblance of common sense falls away.

all civilized pretenses shed.

He’s a runner, you see, when you open the door.

Pretty much any door.

This can be a problem.

Thank God he doesn’t have much stamina

so he stops to hide

pretty soon.

But, he is what he is, this boy of mine.

And I love him, ah yes, I do.

In many ways similar, He and I.

Both odd little units, it seems.

And yet, his mind works ways

I can’t possibly understand.

He has Mighty and Vivid Dreams, my boy,

and he tells me about them sometimes.

“There are stories – in my eyes”.

“They get there

when I sleep.

And sometimes

when I’m not.”

I appreciate this poem that is so thoughtfully penned by father and writer John Barnes. John Barnes lives in Portland Oregon with his wife and their autistic son. Please enjoy more of John’s writing at his blog.

The Edge (National Autism Awareness Month) #Autism

Just starting off – with autism

She’s a young mom just starting off. Her first child was a girl her second a little boy.

“Why all the tests? We never had to do these for my daughter at this age.”

” We are trying to determine if…”

” Determine if ? What- I want to know. What is wrong??”

How many hallways have heard the echoes of these words, the panic, the uncertainty.The – why me???

What can we do for this young mom? Should we just tell her ” toughen up your child has autism?”  Sure if you want to push her over the edge.

I recently was told a sad story.  My friend has autistic twins.  Yes –  she has her hands full and most days are “over the top” for her. She is part of a wonderful support group for autistic families. One of the young moms was at the end of her ability to cope. Obviously the group didn’t know how close to the end. One day after her child’s therapy, the mom hung herself on the therapy equipment. Do you think this mom was making a statement?

I heard her cry and I didn’t even know her

 “I hate this!!! ”   “I can’t do this anymore!!!!!!”

At the End

Have you ever been at the end of yourself??? I have – but I never had a child who needed me every minute of the day for what seemed like forever. I never had someone tell me that one child would be a full-time job just to work with therapists, the teachers, the experts… I never had to juggle an autistic child with the lives of my other children who have needs too!

I worked for years in a group home for children. These children were there because the families could not take care of a child with special needs and take care of their other family members. They all agreed it was just too hard. Parents who are each day making the choice to raise their autistic children are heroes.

Autism Awareness

This is National Autism Awareness Month. Please look for ways to help families in your community. There are so many ways you can help. Be part of the support system that a family needs so that they can get through this autism thing. Also remeber at the end of the month people are still dealing with autism every day of their lives.

*****

Thank you to the following for the beautiful photographs:

JTravism

xmlns:cc=”http://creativecommons.org/ns#” about=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/jtravism/2591668637/”>http://www.flickr.com/photos/jtravism/ / CC BY 2.0

Meg Yarsh

xmlns:cc=”http://creativecommons.org/ns#” about=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/megyarsh/2436625071/”>http://www.flickr.com/photos/megyarsh/ / CC BY 2.0

I will never understand… #oneshotwednesday #autism awareness

I will never understand

why people look and deride

a person

who is just like you and I

inside

I will never understand

can’t you see

that individual

has feelings like you

like me

I will never understand

as the winds blow

why such intelligence

and thought

are looked at so low

I will never understand

beauty from above

rarely given

second thought

as a gift of love

This month is autism awareness month. A time to support those who carry an additional burden through life. If anything has been my life’s cause, it is to help others appreciate these children who have so much love to offer the world. My friend Alexi has bravely written an account about her younger brother – a survivor – a gem!!!

 

This is also One Stop Wednesday!!!

enjoy the wonderful poetry submitted by the community of poets in our midst.

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77682540@N00/2789338547 Ali Smile

Rhett Maxwell http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhettmaxwell/2443185091

Reality Check

Looked in the mirror lately

what do you see?

I’d like to look back

at a former me

***

so much has changed

from dark to gray

lines in odd places

they’re sadly here to stay

***

some things work too well

what’s that pain about?

If  I could reverse time

before my knees  give out

***

one thing that’s a constant

the state of my heart

always loving and caring

after all that’s my art

The Overlooked Community (recognizing National Autism Awareness Month) )

Large Crowd Syndrome

Have you ever been in a large crowd where it seems that you are invisible? you are standing minding your own business and without cause someone rams into you. It’s worse when they don’t even acknowledge you with an “excuse me.” Don’t you feel dehumanized? I do. There is an entire community of people who experience that dehumanizing factor everyday.

Different Labels

The special needs community represents a vast array of people. They may all have different labels such as autism, cerebral palsy, mental disorder, Downs Syndrome, Blind, Deaf, paralyzed   impaired, impaired, impaired BUT they share something in common – they are living in an overlooked community.

If there were a city in the world filled with these folks would New York or London be large enough to contain them? Doubtful! And if there were such a city would they strive to meet the needs of this vast and differing community?

Would this city recognize and accept the musical talent, the scientific prowess, the analytical genius, the ease to accept and embrace others,  and the exuberant smiles that emanate from a child’s face.

The “Looked at Community”:

My question to the “looked at”  community why do we overlook this community so often? Are we afraid to share the hardships that families must endure each day. Do we not have the empathy to give hope to a young family with a new diagnosis? Are we so engrossed in “us”, that we fail to realize the needs of “them”?

Maybe you also agree that not enough is being done to encourage this community. You would welcome the opportunity to write blogs of encouragement and  be excited about the possibility to write useful non-fiction or fiction.

If you are looking for an outlet, then let’s talk there are many places where your skills can be used.

Coach Cooper (little car with a big heart)

Hi I’m Coach Cooper and I am in the process of putting together a series of stories for children.

As a mini-cooper, I know about being different. Those big trucks always make me feel insignificant and out of place.

Not to worry I’ll stay off the roads and go to the baseball diamond where I can have fun with my friends.

I got involved with a baseball league called the Miracle League. This baseball league was formed so that kids with disabilities could enjoy my favorite sport — Baseball! We even have a special field set up for the league.

You know what? Even though I am different from most of the coaches, they asked me to be third base coach.

I’m hoping that kids will really enjoy our stories. If you are on twitter you can follow me @coach_cooper. My friend Robert will also have things about me too. Robert knows about beating the odds. As a man with cerebral palsy, he has faced some incredible odds. So one of the incredible things he is doing is co-writing these books for kids. Wow — what a guy. Check out his blog robertsblog46.wordpress.org