JOAN’S WEEKEND BLOG – NOVEMBER 1-2, 2008 – GEARING UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

Halloween is over. You know what that means. The “Holidays” are coming!      That usually means joy, anticipation, excitement, hustle and bustle, and of course – STRESS. That is under normal circumstances. But when you have a spouse with Alzheimer’s Disease, the holidays are fraught with infinite pitfalls. Upsetting to your spouse can be change in routine, noisy grandchildren, too much company, distracting decorations. Upsetting to you can be the loss of the ability to share the significance of the season and the traditions of your family with your dear spouse. In addition to the normal holiday stress, you have the added burden of keeping your spouse safe and calm during all of the upheaval. To those of you with spouses in nursing homes, there is overpowering sadness and loneliness.

I cannot make this disease go away. We have to live with it, and make the best of it. But what I can and will do is present a special series on Holiday Caregiver Tips to reduce stress on both you and your spouse during these busy weeks. Look for the series to start next week.

I am also going to make it quick, easy, and inexpensive to shop right here at Amazon and Joan’s Marketplace without having to leave your chair. I am in the process of putting up Holiday specials from Amazon and designing a variety of items, both Alzheimer and NON Alzheimer related for my Marketplace.

Try not to eat too much left over Halloween candy this weekend. I am making Sid put ours up on a shelf too high for me to reach without dragging out the step ladder. Considering my woeful lack of height, anything above the first shelf qualifies as “too high” for me.

©Copyright 2008 Joan Gershman        

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