Love and Dementia

To love what is: The caregiving life.

Could Happen

Before the accident that left him like someone with advanced Alzheimer's, my husband  was an artist. After the severe injuries to his brain's frontal lobes, centers for the "executive functions" that enable us to conceive and carry out plans, he found it difficult to make art. Read More

This is very moving..

While I don't understand what your husband is going through, I think this particular piece of artwork is beautiful. He shared a message of hope with all of us.

Thank you for sharing your story,
YG

Beauty

Even if he doesn't remember the actual exhibit,
I bet that some part of him does remember how
happy it made him feel.

That was truly a beautiful thing you did for your
husband.

Beauty

Thanks for your comment. A friend took photos of the exhibit--the people and the art--and put them into an album for Scott. He greatly enjoys looking at it, though I doubt that he remembers the event itself. The following year we went with friends to Tuscany, and again, though he has no memory of the trip, he loves to look at the pictures of it in the album I made for him. (Both the art show and the trip are scenes in my memoir about his accident and its aftermath, To Love What Is.) AKS

As someone who cares for

As someone who cares for those with dementia, I know and value the importance of expressing your emotions when dealing with this disease. I applaud your husband for sharing this through the form of art.

I admire your support to your

I admire your support to your husband and may you have some questions right now that no one can answer, just keep supporting and you will see you will find the answer.

Art Therapy and dementia clients

Thank you for sharing this. I understand your concern about who is this for...as an art therapist working with dementia, post-stroke clients many who are unable to verbalize, have no short term memory, and certainly are not expressing their desire to make art I have grappled with that very question. However, time and time again I am amazed by the energy, focus, and time each may put into making art with me. It is only and always about now. That means, to me, there is no intention to make art, no memory of making art only making art. I know it is meaningful in the moment and that is what is important. For your husband, the art is certainly important; the show was important at the show. After it is no more. I encourage you to join him in making art and being present in the moment with him.

Senior Assisted Living

Great Blog!

Keep up the great work

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Alix Kates Shulman is the author of 14 books including the best-seller Memoirs of an Ex-Prom Queen and a memoir about life with her brain-injured husband, To Love What Is.

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