I’ve always been a game-player and I’m not talking about sports. My parents encouraged ‘mind’ games, such as patience, crosswords and puzzles. Nowadays we can buy magazines devoted solely to brainteasers. There are hundreds of different ones to keep us hooked.They are strongly recommended for older people. What is it that these games have in … Continue reading GAMES PEOPLE PLAY
Category: Activities
YOU’RE AS OLD AS …
‘Keep young and beautiful, It's your duty to be beautiful Keep young and beautiful, If you want to be loved.’ NOT JUST FOR THE YOUNG These lyrics from the Harry Warren song of the 1930’s, are particularly offensive to those of us who value people of all ages. In Westernised countries at least, we’re plagued … Continue reading YOU’RE AS OLD AS …
ODD SOCKS – WHO CARES!
It’s something so many of us have in common – the odd sock, the one that got away, the one that’s destined never to meet up with its partner again. It’s a mystery. Of course, there may be a bright spark out there who never has this problem because they’ve found a way to keep … Continue reading ODD SOCKS – WHO CARES!
WHEN WE WERE VERY YOUNG
According to research carried out at the Memory Laboratory of Cambridge professor, Ucha Goswami, it is now accepted that the acoustic structures of nursery rhymes are crucial in the development of language, mainly because of their strong rhythmic regularity. This way of teaching young children can be found in almost all cultures. Even reciting rhymes … Continue reading WHEN WE WERE VERY YOUNG
ROUTINE CONNECTS WITH RITUAL
There are two devices that help structure our lives – routine and ritual, and they’re not the same. Routines are habits that bring order to our day – washing, brushing our teeth, changing our clothes, eating, getting up and going to bed at specific times – these are the main disciplines and they require just … Continue reading ROUTINE CONNECTS WITH RITUAL
A UNVERSAL WONDER
The ability to make music is one of mankind’s greatest attributes. It can enhance our lives from the cradle to the grave. When I was a teenager, I couldn’t understand why old people loved to sing along to such songs as ‘Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag’, ‘We’ll Meet Again’ and ‘Knees … Continue reading A UNVERSAL WONDER
LEARNING HOW TO CARE
Last Monday I completed the fifth of five sessions of ‘FORMATION AIDANT’ – training for Dementia carers organised by France Alzheimer. It was certainly helpful despite the lousy acoustics in the Mirande Mairie conference room. When Yolande Serra (psychologist), in charge with Catherine Lafaille (therapist), turned away from me, her voice became muffled. Nonetheless I gained … Continue reading LEARNING HOW TO CARE
COMING TO OUR SENSES
It’s vitally important that we look after our senses at all stages of our lives, particularly when they’re in danger, either from being neglected, forgotten about or from the deterioration that comes with age and, of course, the result of a brain that’s closing down. Often, we wake up a little too late to recognise the … Continue reading COMING TO OUR SENSES
THE BIG ‘S’
Stress is one of the major factors contributing to the alarming increase in diseases such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Stress brings about a chain of chemical and hormonal reactions, such as over-production of adrenaline, which are highly deleterious to our bodies. SURROUNDED BY STRESS By the fast-living nature of our Western society, … Continue reading THE BIG ‘S’
LOTS OF LOVE
The diagnosis of my husband Leaf’s Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), catapulted us into another reality. We found ourselves facing an unpredictable future. This presented problems and challenges that were new to us. How would we adapt to the carer/sufferer relationship, cope with everyday living, maintain our social life, apply for all the French system has to offer … Continue reading LOTS OF LOVE
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