That delights me about the book/journal project, Lisa Though I can understand your worries that she might act nasty to your mother when she thinks of her own mother...have you discussed this tendency with your mother, or could you explain about wanting to record her stories so that she's prepared just in case, or maybe she will find a strategy that can help if your grandmother does get hostile in this way at her?
About the bird feeder --> bird poop, what about keeping a small bottle of antibacterial gel and putting a little bit onto your hands then acting like you're massaging her hands, you could say something like, "Grandma, your hands feel very tense, can I make sure that they relax?" that way the antibacterial gel could hopefully kill off the germs. I can understand your concern about the germs carried by birds. Otherwise even turn it into a manicure session, a small bowl of warm water and a towel, encourage her to soak her hands, then patting them dry?
Sometimes the elderly get more interested and even coy if they think they're being treated. I know I've seen in some care homes that they encourage relatives when visiting to do small activities like manicures because they find it comforting, relaxing and caring.
I suspect the others will have encountered this kind of problem with their relatives and will have found quite a range of solutions or ways to prevent it cropping up
About the bird feeder --> bird poop, what about keeping a small bottle of antibacterial gel and putting a little bit onto your hands then acting like you're massaging her hands, you could say something like, "Grandma, your hands feel very tense, can I make sure that they relax?" that way the antibacterial gel could hopefully kill off the germs. I can understand your concern about the germs carried by birds. Otherwise even turn it into a manicure session, a small bowl of warm water and a towel, encourage her to soak her hands, then patting them dry?
Sometimes the elderly get more interested and even coy if they think they're being treated. I know I've seen in some care homes that they encourage relatives when visiting to do small activities like manicures because they find it comforting, relaxing and caring.
I suspect the others will have encountered this kind of problem with their relatives and will have found quite a range of solutions or ways to prevent it cropping up
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