Cheryl has some dementia which is a nuisance with her decision making process. Any attempt at speeding her up doesn’t seem to work well. She merely gets angry and frustrated with her husband. And it is hard for her husband to not speed her up. That must be fifty-two years of helping getting in the way of care partnership. (Smiley Face)

This morning I tried to move her along without being pushy. Yes, I can be and have been pushy.

She wakened several times overnight to go to the toilet. I got up to help her once. So, when the seven am medication alarm went off, she ignored it. I got up to remove that annoyance from my ears and get her first dose of stuff for the day. When I returned her snoring indicated disinterest in arising for the day.

I laid back down to see if she would stir again. When I awakened it was eight am. I must have been tired also.

Eventually I left the bedroom to make coffee, get the papers and turn on the news to discover which part of California is on fire. An hour or so later I kissed her awake and she asked me when church started. I told her that she had exercise class at noon. I left to drink more coffee and to listen to the interesting fact that no toilets could be flushed in Mississippi. I returned for another gentle nudge and she got up.

I suggested scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast and she readily agreed. I continued with gentle nudges and quit concerning myself with whether she would be late for her class. She was not late.

The exercise classes she takes at Parkinson Community Fitness are a benefit to her so I make every attempt to get there on time but today I tried a not pushy technique. I call today’s strategy “bump and run.” I would engage her and nudge her thoughts and then leave. I came back a few minutes later for another bump and run. It worked and neither of us was upset when we left.

Today’s class was led by Paige and Jenna. Jenna’s notes are here. The rowing person is excited to do the exercise.

Carpe Diem.