Viki will be interviewing author, Sherry Lynn Harris, about Adapting to Alzheimer’s – March 9th, 10AM PDT

Join me as I interview Sherry Lynn Harris about her new book, Adapting to Alzheimer’s:  Support for When Your Parent Becomes Your Child, on March 9 at 10AM PDT on http://www.blogtalkradio.com/kindethics/2015/03/09/viki-kind-interviews-author-sherry-lynn-harris–adapting-to-alzheimers.

Sherry had the pain and privilege of caring for her mother from the beginning diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, through eighteen years, until her death. Sherry learned many valuable lessons and she felt it vital to share these discoveries “to inspire and lighten the load of others going through this challenging experience.” Her book, Adapting to Alzheimer’s: Support for When Your Parent Becomes Your Child tells her story, detailing many of these coping strategies, and has a five star rating on amazon.com.  http://www.amazon.com/Adapting-Alzheimers-Support-Parent-Becomes-ebook/dp/B00KI5PF66

Sherry has delivered highly acclaimed Alzheimer’s talks throughout Southern California, including presentations at Senior Concerns, Sunrise Assisted Living, Unity of the Oaks, the Jewish Home for the Aging, and the Motion Picture Television Fund.  She has been invited to go to Washington D.C. as an advocate with the Alzheimer’s Association later this month. Sherry’s blog to support caregivers can be found at her website www.Adapt2Alz.com.

Sherry has a number of upcoming speaking events: “Adapting to Alzhiemer’s: Aging Gracefully with Memory Challenges” on March 30, 6pm at Simi Valley Library, open to the public. I have also been asked to do a presentation to the Nursing Students at Moorpark College on April 27 and to the Ombudsman staff and volunteers of Ventura County on May 21, 2015.

Sherry is available for inspirational speaking engagements, especially when she can offer her books for sale. Sherry presents a dynamic, informative power point presentation which she can tailor to your needs. She has an hour presentation appropriate for Seniors concerned about their memory which discusses what is normal aging of the brain and when it might be time for a geriatric evaluation. It gives proactive suggestions for developing and maintaining memory skills as well as ideas on how to help a loved one with cognitive impairment.

For groups with members who are caregiving a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia, Sherry offers a 45 minute presentation that includes a section on grief and ideas on how to move through it, as well as ways to create moments of joy, of calming connection, and activities you can share.

Sherry also has created a lovely CD, “Serenity Visualizations,” which can help relax, release, then renew and refresh the listener in just a few short minutes.  You can find it at Sherry’s website www.Adapt2Alz.com.

Have a kind and respectful day.

10 Quick Tips for Crisis Decision Making

Here are 10 Quick Tips for Crisis Decision Making  from my new Resource Workbook and Visual Conversation Toolkit.  This is part of the extended Crisis Worksheet found in the workbook.

Do something to help yourself calm down. Breathe.

1. Ask how long you really have to make the decision.
2. Get the facts. Call a friend to do some research for you if you aren’t near a computer.
3. Ask about other options including the option to wait and see.
4. Ask what would happen if you chose these other options.
5. Ask about both the positive and negative consequences of each option.
6. Ask about the short-term and long-term consequences of each option.
7. Have someone else help you listen to what is being said and to take notes and/or record it. If nobody can be there with you, have the person call in and listen to the conversation over the phone.
8. Make the decision realizing that you are doing the best you can in this crisis situation.
9. Now that the crisis is over, get yourself some support. You just went through a lot.
10. Later on, after the crisis is over, think about whether you will need to modify or improve the plan now that you have more information and time to think.

Have a kind and respectful day.