Our local free rag has just published an article promoting care for the elderly and people with dementia. I absolutely acknowledge that for many carers, respite care is a huge boon and is, at times, a necessity. However, to back up the advertisements for local care homes, there's an article that suggests families consider placing their PWD in respite while they get on with their Christmas preparations!
I have written to the Editor to suggest he considers running a second feature on how families can adapt and compromise to accommodate their PWD over the festive season, should they wish to do so. There's so much that can be done and we've learned by trial and error and yet there's still so little in mainstream media about managing and adapting. I just think a more balanced approach would have been more professional journalism.
I just found the whole concept of excluding less able loved ones during the season of goodwill in order to crack on with mass consumerism sickening. If caring for a PWD means cutting back on visiting other relatives, or going to parties, or indulging in big shopping sprees...................so what?!!! Remind me again what Christmas is supposed to represent!
I'm not out to shame those who genuinely have extremely tough choices to make at this time of year; perhaps juggling PWD with other seriously ill friends and family, or additional care commitments, but the tone of this particular article was basically suggesting consumerism should trump the needs of people with dementia.
Last Christmas, we had a whale of a time. We ditched the big table and the full family get-together and 3 of us huddled around a small table, enjoyed a simple dinner and the whole day revolved; minute-by-minute, around our beloved PWD. Other family members ended up enjoying the freedom to do their own thing too.
I have written to the Editor to suggest he considers running a second feature on how families can adapt and compromise to accommodate their PWD over the festive season, should they wish to do so. There's so much that can be done and we've learned by trial and error and yet there's still so little in mainstream media about managing and adapting. I just think a more balanced approach would have been more professional journalism.
I just found the whole concept of excluding less able loved ones during the season of goodwill in order to crack on with mass consumerism sickening. If caring for a PWD means cutting back on visiting other relatives, or going to parties, or indulging in big shopping sprees...................so what?!!! Remind me again what Christmas is supposed to represent!
I'm not out to shame those who genuinely have extremely tough choices to make at this time of year; perhaps juggling PWD with other seriously ill friends and family, or additional care commitments, but the tone of this particular article was basically suggesting consumerism should trump the needs of people with dementia.
Last Christmas, we had a whale of a time. We ditched the big table and the full family get-together and 3 of us huddled around a small table, enjoyed a simple dinner and the whole day revolved; minute-by-minute, around our beloved PWD. Other family members ended up enjoying the freedom to do their own thing too.