MARCH = OUTDOOR TRIPS

March has come in like a lamb and Carol loves going outside. 

The attached picture shows two happy girls.  Carol has been real happy this month.    Love bill & carol

BILL GETS VISIT FROM CAROL & GK'S

Eric and 3 GK's came to see Bill and stopped by Carol's unit and

and got Carol out of her walker and let her walk down two halls to Bill's room.  When they entered the room she burst out into the biggest smile we've seen lately.  She was actually bouncing with joy. Looking at the boys on each side, she actually seemed to recogonize them.

GK's are Sean and Nathan Eldridge and Alex Dennard. 

They then walked Carol back to her Unit with boys helping on the other side.  Longest walk Carol has had in sometime. 

BILL'S IN REHAB AT CHRISTIAN CARE CENTER

Bill had lumbar surgery on Dec 12 and was doing fine for about a month.  But then two blod clots developed, one in each lung and I had to go to the ER. Went from there to Rehab at CCC and still there.   But doing good.  No longer on oxcegyn and physical therepy is going good. Hope to go home this week. Good to be here so I can see Carol twice a day.

I have written before about the sincere expression of LOVE I have felt in this facility, especially in the Alzheimer's Special Care Unit.  It is the REAL THING.  Now I have found the same sincere LOVE present in the Therepy Group.  They work with some very handicapped individuals and are so sweet and loving.  It is a real Blessing from God.

Carol is doing great and seems to be happy most of the tine.  Smiles a lot and jabbers away.  She does not seem to be hurting in any way and I can't ask for anything more. 

Thank you for your prayers.      bill and carol

NEW YEAR UPDATE

First nice day of the new year and Eric,our  son took Carol outside for a walk. Carol walks very good but most of us don't give her the chance.  Eric always does and she really enjoys going outside. 

She is happy most of the time and that is all we can ask for.  She loves to receive attention and so many of the staff are cooperative.

Billl startedd off the new year recovering from back surgery.  Stilll taking therapy and back seems to be getting better.    I am resolved to live with artheritic pain in back, knees, shoulders, hands, etc.  Getting old ain't for sissy's
Happy New Year to all visitors.  We love you,   bill

NURSING HOMES CAN BE GREAT!!!!!!!

Nursing Homes do not have a universal reputation of being wonderful for the guests and their families.  We are very fortunate to have found a NH just for Alzheimer's and actually called a Special Care Unit.  It is a secure unit and most guests are given a reasonable degree of mobility, either by walking, wheel chairs or the Merry Walkers which is what Carol has.  While in the Walker, she is able to sit, stand and actually walk whenever she wants to do so.  Others can really manuever wheel chairs and go all over the Unit.  Some residents are capable of walking without any assistance but it is not encouraged while it is also not restricted.  The main concern is that a "walker" might be bumped by one of the guests in a wheel chair or Merry Walker.

But the main thing that makes this Special Care Unit so great is the four letter word----LOVE!!!!!!  It is real and not just a facade.  It goes both ways.  The staff does love the guests and the guests really love the staff.  Carol really gets gushey when some of the Aides or Nurses comes up and talks to her.  She sees them out of the corner of her eye and actually wants them to come talk to her.  She can not speak words but her smile and emotions say nothing but LOVE!!!!!She has her own language.  We say that Carol's Christian Ministry is to spread God's Love around the halls of the Nursing Home.  She has a big reputation and it even goes outside this particular Unit. The leading person in this sharing of real love, is the morning nurse, Janet Lowell.  She is an amazing person and the guests all recogonize and love Janet.  I feel sure the other staff folks also love Janet.  Carol and I certainly do love Janet.

Others that work in or near Carol at the Christian Care Center are:

 Ashley, Dusty, Regina,Cama, Marciel, Lucy, Brandi, Brittany, Rachel, Rosalynn, Joyce, Jesse, Debra, Tracie, Tawana, Marlene, Emma, Angela, Irene, and others that I have probably forgotten to include.

They also love me.      bill

My Get Up and Go has Gone and Went!!!!

Friends are always asking me “How are you doing?” I’m not sure how to answer that question. My physical health has a lot of aches and pains but my heart and blood pressure seem to be doing great. The Dr even took me off of my Blood Pres. medicine. My attitude is usually OK. I am thankful that Carol seems to be happy and contended. But I guess I do have periods of depression.
My get up and go has gone and went!!! I have always been a morning person but lately, I have trouble even getting out of bed. I think it is more than old age. I seem to be able to put off anything. I neglect my exercise program. Even eating is often skipped, which is certainly not normal for Bill Eldridge. I don’t cook much anymore. I have been on a low Carb diet and have lost 25 lbs. but have trouble with the discipline of a diet. My social life is also easily postponed and/or skipped. I watch a lot of news but miss being able to discuss (and cuss) the breaking news.
So, next time you ask me about how I am doing, you might not get a real meaningful answer.
I guess I'm coping well with the challenges in my life. But, having the love of my life in a nursing home does take it's toll. Bill

TALKING ALONG W/ HUGGING

Carol has really started talking (jabbering) and singing more lately.  Especially when she sees someone that gets her attention  like staff ladies or Carman our daughter.  Sometimes I get a little bit of recognition.  I guess I am there so often that I am not worth a big greeting.  There are certain staff members that she really gets excited over and that really makes those folks happy.  This is more of Carol's ministry of showing God's Love to those in the Nursing Home.  Her Ministry is so real to me and that makes me have such good vibes about Carol's situation.  It could be so much worse.
Please keep Carol in your prayers.

Praise the Lord!!!!

THE SNOEZELEN ROOM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFQFyb_CNqk


This is a short news special on Channell 8 in Dallas, Tx. about Carol and the Snoezelen room at the Special Care Unit of the Christian Care Center in Mesquite, Tx.   Hope you enjoy it.  You won't often see Carol so relaxed.  She is usually walking in her Merry Walker or standing up and down and up etc.      Bill

NEW FRIENDS IN ALZ SPC. CARE UNIT

 Listed here are a number of the new friends we have met in this Special Care Unit in the Alzheimer's Wing.  They are specially qualified to be in this Wing and security concerns is paramount.  This is why Carol has her Merry Walker. Most of the residents are in Walkers or their own wheel chair. 

Otillie is Carol's room-mate being helped by Velma (Black Velma) to put on hand lotion which they do every morning during the Activities time, which is great.


  


Traci is the head nurse of the Spc Care Unit.  She has three sons in the military.



Paula has such a pretty smile.  Likes to touch and hold hands with Carol. 



Betty wears a glove on her right hand because she slaps the tray so hard whe might hurt herself.

 


Angela and Lucy are two of the fabulous Aides that work in this wing.  It amazes me how much love and care these workers show to these Spc Care Residents.

Rita, w/ husband Walter, are really sweet.  Rita loves to give out kisses, to almost anyone. 

Elmer Preston is a resident but they let him do a lot of work like clean tables, floors and he even helps other residents with their meals, chairs, etc.  He loves to help.  Thiks he works there.

 
 


Chiya is a Jabanese lady and has been in this Special care unit longer than any one else.  Allmost deaf.



Jack is one of our newest residents.  His wife has AD also but is in a different wing and requires more attention.  Jack often is looking for his "Red Cow"!


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Ashley and Janet, pm nurse and am nurse.  Both really great and so full of love for the residents.  We are blessed to have them.





Jessie has been here for 16 yrs and is really good with the residents.  He is Carol's aide most of the time and can feed her better than any of us.  Go Jessie!!!!

Irene is in charge of a fantastic program of Activities every day. Virginia is a resident that was given one of the Activity Aprons like Carol has.

CAROL LIKES TO CLAP HANDS

The Altzheimer's Special Care Unit has almost continious activities between breakfast and lunch and more in the afternoon. Carol can not do the excercises or things like playing bingo but she has one very awsome ability. She claps at the right time during Bingo, or certain excercises.

It is very interesting to see some of the residents help each other. One lady, Velma, is especially helpful to other residents. Here she is helping Otillie, Carol's roomate, rub lotion into their hands.

SANTA CAME TO MY HOUSE!!!!!!

Guess what?????  When Igot up Christmas morning,  I went into the living room and Lo and Behold,  I discovered that Santa had come to see just me.  I saw the plate and cup and thought Carman had come over and got some of our Christmas dishes.   But then I looked closer, and saw crums and pieces of cookies on the plate.   Strange!!!! And then a little Christmas tree caught my eye.  It was in front of the fireplacem lit up and with gifts from Santa around the base of tree.  And wouldn't you know, Santa had made footprints when he got down the chimney.  I learned later that someone had actually seen 6 Young Elfs also at my house with wrapped gifts.  Isn't that the sweetest thing for an Ol' Paps to rise and shine on Christmas morning with such a fantastic greeting.

Smoochin' time

This is a vividly portrayed pic of Carol and I in a hot embrace while sitting on the new Love Seat which was delivered Fri. 12/17.  I had suggested to management that we needed a Love Seat in the Alzheimer's Special Care Unit similer to what they had in the main Lobby and even had one in the visiting area of the Moore Unit.  Low and behold, when I got there Fri afternoon they were placing not one but two in our Unit.  They put this one in the Snoozling room and the other went to the TV room.  Goal is to have them available for relatives and visitors to the Residents in the Alz Unit.  Carol and I had to break it in. Before- Carol and I had to go all the way to Lobby or Moore Unit to find a Seat to sit in after walking all the way out to the front.  While Carol is usually two busy walking, she does like to snuggle when we have a chance.  I trained that girl right!  Later that evenng, we spent about 45 min's in the Seat and Carol even took a little nap.  My arm went to sleep but so what.  It was worth the pain. 

CAROL ELDRIDGE THE INTERIOR DECOATOR





This picture of a Christmas tree at CCC in the main dining room took me back to some great memories of Carol back when she worked as an Interior Decorator all over North Texas.  But, especially at Christmas she was always very busy.  She was decorator for Presotnwood for about 5 years until they moved to their new location and we moved to Rockwall.  Carol started off working with volunteers, our Sunday School class, on the immediate days after Thanksgiving.  Finally the church realized the job was too big for volunteers and just hired Carol and her trained team of Christmas Decorators. 

She also decorated about 10 buildings owned by Don Carter.  Mostly the lobby of these buldings but wherever, Carol's first love was the trees themselfs.  I wish she could really see these trees and remember the good ol days.

Proverbs 31:13      -----and works with eager hands.  14. ------ 

Thanksgiving Time

It is that time of the year to pig out on turkey and such.  But alsoa time to think about what we are actually thankful for.  Carol is at the center of our thanks this year.  Certainly, she is still in the final stage of Alzheimer's but God really seems to be using Carol as a Witness at the Alzheimer's Special Care Unit.  I have tried to tell you a little in the last few posts about the love she seems to be handing out to those around her.  She is so content and peaceful and really seems to like the life she is still living.  Of course she does not remember any of the old Carol,  the new Carol sure seems happy. 

The Christain Care Center just had their annual fund raising banquet and invited Carman and I, as special guest.  They had interviewed me several weeks before and included a few minutes in to their Festival of Trees 2010 DVD.  I hope you can view it by clicking below.    

Alzheimer's Spc Care Unit

Carol's unit has been able to recover Irene, the Activity aide who had been relocated for several weeks. It is a real blessing to have Irene back. She has a special knack for making the residents happier and less stressful for the rest of the shift staff. Janet and others did a valient job entertaining the residents but where really to busy with answering phones, dispensing medicine, taking vital signs, etc. Irene really has a way with activities.

The staff is so important to the operation of the Unit and we (families, residents, and especially the staff themselfs) are really happy to be back again to such a fantastic unit.

Thanks to management for recognizing the need to return to old plan.

"ANOTHER BEATITUDE"

These verses are printed and framed in a 12"x18" frame on the wall of the corridor that leads to Carols
Special Care Alzheimer's Unit at the Christian Care Center in Mesquite, Tx.   I look at it often and thought it should be posted in Carol's Blog.  

"BLESSED are they who understand
     my faltering step and shaking hand,

BLESSED, who know my ears today
     who strain to catch the things they say.

BLESSED are they who seem to know
     my eyes are dim and my mind is slow.

BLESSED are they who look away.
    I spilled my tea on the cloth that day!

BLESSED are they who, with cheery smile,
     stopped to chat for a little while.

BLESSED are they who know the way
     to bring back memories of yesterday.

BLESSED are they who never say,
     “You’ve told me that story twice today!”

BLESSED are they who make it known
     that I’m loved, respected and not alone.

And BLESSED are they who will ease the days
     of my journey home, in loving ways."

By Elisabeth Clark

CAROL IS (LIKE) AN ANGEL OF LOVE

Mary Ann is one of Carol's favorite residents.  Mary ann can stand and that makes it so much easier for Carol to give her a great big hug.

Carol seems to be taking on the role of an Angel of Love as she continues to Live with Alzheimer's.  She loves to walk around the building in her "Merry Walker".  She especially likes to meet and greet other friends, residents, staff, family and other visitors.  She will often greet them with a sweet touch facial greeting.  She loves to touch your arm, your blouse, name tag, etc.  But if you are lucky,  she will make a move towards you for a hug.  She loves to hug and talk to you in her own way.  I feel it might be the way an Angel might be to those in a Nursing Home. . All who have seen her lately agree that she epitomizes LOVE.

Carol and our son Eric.  She does show affection to others.

Carol really showed a lot of affection to this lady who came with her husband for some musical entertainment.  Carol really responded to her visitations during her songs.  Oh what love hath no man!!!

If your want to be hugged like an Angel might give you a hug, I invite you to come by and visit Carol.  She really enjoys visitors.



I am beginning to read up on Angels, especially as they relate to the emotion of Love.   If you have a comment on this new subject, please add a comment below.  Just follow the directions after indicating your request.

We love you and your interest and Love of Carol,       Bill

Proverbs 31:13-31 ----works with her hands in delight. ----

howiscarol (and BILL) doing

Carol is still very contented at the CCC at her Alzheimer's Special Care Unit.  Physically things are good. She fractured her shoulder a moth ago but healing is going well.  Memory is still going down but she does seem to enjoy her family and friends.

As far as me.  It could be better and in fact, I am taking steps to improve my spirits.  I was spending 4-12 hrs a day with Carol and I'm afraid it was too much for me.  I would come home and eat and sleep.  I had lost my :get up and go!"  I had a long To Do list and not getting much done but the real necessities.   So I have reduced my time with Carol to once a day for 2-4 hours, but they are the quality time for us around the evening meal.  Weather is nice so we go outside often.  She still seems to recognize some of her friends in the Moore Unit where she used to be.

My health is so-so with continued generative arthritis  in back and knee still  bother me a lot.  Plan to have another pain shot next week to assist my Spinag cord Stimulator.  Both shoulders continue a worsening of my rotator cuff limitations.  Heart is doing good along with Reflux.  Had another cornea transplant and it has healed well and a new prescription for glasses should finnish the treatment.

I am steadily getting my To Do list whittled away but am still pretty lazy.  Glad Fall is here and hope to more outside now.  Am trying to clean up papers and other junk that need filing or discarding.  I can see a little of my desk today.   But my bed is covered with stacks of paper that will be in boxes before I can go to bed tonight.

I am totally convinced that God has given us a new way to be the Witness He commanded us all to be.  I will tell you more later about an opportunity I have to use this Blog and an interview to help the Christian Care Center at their annual Banquet.  Getting back to Church Sunday School, some prayer groups  and more time with Kids and GK's.  Stay tuned for more exciting news from Carol's Blog

Love Bill

THERE'S A SWEET SWEET SPIRIT

One song keeps coming up in my memory.  This sweet hymn describes the staff and residents at the Christian Health Center so perfectly.  The more you get to know both,  it becomes clear that the Lord is present.:

There's a sweet sweet spirit in this place
And I know that it's the spirit of the Lord
There are sweet expressions on each face
And I know they feel the presence of the Lord

Sweet Holy Spirit
Sweet heavenly dove
Stay right here with us
Filling us with your love
And for these blessings
We lift our hearts in praise (hearts in praise)
Without a doubt we'll know that we have been revived
When we shall leave this place


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Love,   bill and carol

ALZHEIMER'S IS A ___________ DISEASE!!!!

Several weeks ago, I posted the above Title on the messge board for  thealzheimerspouce.com  and from many other caregivers,  we came up with the following list of names that we often used to describe the nature of  Alzheimer's:

Abomination, Abstinence maker, agony, apocalyptic, bankrupting, Consuming, cruel, degrading, demoralizing, denied, desolation, vile,DESPAIR, despicable, destructive, devastating, dreaded, Dream destroyer, earth-shattering , Empty, engulfing, Evil, Eviscerating, frustrating, gut-wrenching, hard, hateful, Heartbreaking, heart-wrenching, HELL, hit by a Mac truck, Horrible, hurt, Hurtful, ignored, Insidious, isolating, life-destroying , life-sucking, living death, Living hell, lonely , lunacy, meaningless, misunderstood, nerve-wracking, nightmare, overwhelming, painful, Paralyzing, Ruinous, Ruthless, S***ty, Sad, shattering, Solitary, sorrowful, “sucks”, terrifying , torment,Tragic, Unbearable, unfair, Unloved, unappreciated, useless, unbelievable, unfair, unrelenting, vile, worrisome,

Carman said that this list was troubling but it is just the truth, nothing but the truth about Alzheimer's.  It helps us to realize that there are many of us taking care of our dear spouces.   But,  believe me,  they are worth all the effort we have.   

Feel free to send this note to others or even leave a comment below about your thoughts.

Love    bill