Since my recent post about Filers and Pilers has created such interest, I thought it might be interesting to ask Keith to speak about being a “piler”—and living with a filer who has now developed significant memory issues… Keith’s words: These are some of my natural tendencies as a piler: I have many ideas of…
MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment)
On this blog, I share my story of coping with an MCI diagnosis, how it has affected my lifestyle and the tools I've learned to preserve or improve my quality of life. Click here to learn what the condition is, and click here for my introduction to MCI.
Filers and pilers
Before MCI and dementia set in, my most recent career was consulting with businesses and organizations regarding employee and manager relations. One of the consistently helpful and popular presentations I did was on the topic of “Pilers and Filers.” I focused on this topic because it was a universal pain point for employees and manager….
Thoughts on interacting with a loved one who has memory issues
I keep a list of topics that I want to write about next to my computer. Recently one topic caught my eye: Write about what/when/how to visit with someone who has dementia—from my perspective and experience. In some ways this topic is an ongoing, ever changing learning experience, as COVID isolation and social distancing is…
Solitude
February 2, 2021 Most of the world is practicing social distancing, a new and extremely difficult experience for humans, who it is said cannot survive without human contact and communication. As witnessed by the worst punishment foisted on a prisoner—solitary confinement—and the detrimental decline it can have on the elderly and disabled. Every day I…
Fortitude. Forecasting. Future.
Fortitude. I adore this word. I like repeating its three syllables; they sound strong as I say them aloud, and unconsciously I find myself standing straighter. I easily recall my Mother’s fortitude when she was dying of stomach cancer. No complaints, whining or feeling sorry for herself. No, she was strong and stoic. I so…
New Year Resolutions
January 2, 2021 I’ve been reading New Year’s resolutions people are making and posting on-line. As I read them I’m reminded of the resolutions I made as a teenager and even a young adult. I don’t remember many details, of course, but I do remember I didn’t keep them for more than a few days—for…
Change of mind and mood
Perhaps you’ve noticed I haven’t written a post in the last few weeks. I can’t offer any specific reason for this hiatus, other than I just didn’t know what to write about. So I looked back over my previous posts, hoping to come up with an inspiration for a topic. I then recognized almost all…
What does dementia feel like?
Editor’s note: Virginia addressed this question (which was asked by me, Michelle Urbick) in a post she wrote a post about it in May 2020. Recently it was on the top of her mind again, and due to the nature of her condition, she forgot she’d already written about it. This new post contains descriptions…
Musings on an October morning
October 26, 2020 Today is one of those pre-winter days; grey skies dripping rain and sleet, no wind, only stillness. As if nature is bracing for the harshness of what’s ahead. I’m feeling similar, waiting for my disease to progress…for me to be so far gone I won’t know or care about the next day….
How I’ve dealt with MCI, past and present
Please note, this post was written prior to my dementia diagnosis. As most of my readers know, I’ve been dealing with memory and cognitive decline for seven years now. During those years I’ve read scores of documents and heard many suggestions about how to possibly delay or reduce symptoms of the condition—all of which encourage…