Journalling is a very important part of my caregiving. I start the year with journalling.
I look through my journal once a month to reflect, learn and improve myself.
My Caregiving Journal contains the health needs, care plan, early interventions and behavioural issues due to progression of the dementia. The aim is to allow myself to evaluate the usefulness of an activity used to engage my mother and also to record any triggers that may have caused her distress or behavioural issues. Recognising the triggers will allow me to prevent future ones.
Below is a sample of one that is used to anticipate her needs :
Care activities planned out in preparation of the Chinese New Year season in February 2022.
Health promotion activities to slow down her deterioration from moderate to severe stage. This will allow her to have a better quality of life living with dementia.
Meeting her needs to engage in meaningful activities:
She made Chinese New Year lantern using Red Packets during her Dementia Day Care session.
When we hang it up outside our home, she felt a great sense of satisfaction in a job well done. Also she has contributed to the decoration of the house in preparation for the festival.
There are also other meaningful activities that can be scheduled: To minimise Day time napping and to stimulate her mind.
Music therapy conducted by myself at home.
Patch work (making a blanket from leftover cloth)
Health maintenance activities
Visit to Dentist to ensure good oral health so that she will continue to be able to eat well, not experience malnutrition.
Going for Physiotherapy and rehabilitation so that she can continue to conduct her daily activities of living and for fall prevention.
Indeed these are her wishes: to eat well and be able to be independent to go for her breakfast daily.
Another Journal that I keep is: One for my Self Care
Below is a sample of a journal that my daughter (60centsILT) has drawn for me as my birthday gift in 2020. There, I will input my self care plan (as a caregiver)
Caregiver Self Care journey:
1. On 2/7/2020: Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! I would fly far away to the site of the wilderness.
2. In my journalling journey, it brought respite, rest and comfort.
3. I also schedule time: Rest in my calendar.
Every time I pen down my thoughts, I am reminded of how loved I am by my family. My daughter's quotes (she is known as 60centsILT) in the journal also encourages me to take One step at a time. Many of the interventions that I had planned for my mother since 2017 - the outcomes only slowly become more evident in 2020 and 2021. Eg Fall prevention. She used to fall down every 6 months since 2017. However, it took years of rehabilitation for her to upgrade from a quad stick to a single stick while walking.
Self Care for other family members
I also encourage 60centsILT to draw and keep her Instagram account (little_beans_22) as part of her art therapy as she thrive together with us in this caregiving journey. The initial years of caregiving as a family was difficult for her too. Unlike me who journals as a way of respite, she draws.
These cards of encouragement arise from 60centsILT's work during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 - They brought joy and encouragement to friends who bought it or gave away to encourage a downcast heart. They are on sale for S$10 for a pack of 6. Maybe you can encourage another caregiver or a friend with these.
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