Adopt A Caregiver Mission Statement

October 8, 2008 By 1 Comment

The most important things in my life are my family and friends; my passion for writing, reading and knitting; and my self respect.

My book Behind The Mask is a caregivers secret journey showing the emotions churning through me each new day.

Alzheimer’s Disease is not contagious, yet the caregivers are usually left alone without the support of friends and neighbors.

Adopt A Caregiver is my unique way of giving back, all you have to do is check your neighborhood, your social clubs, church, synagogue, your doctor’s office, the Alzheimer’s caregivers message boards, and the Mayo Clinic message boards.

Then go Adopt A Caregiver.

Just send an email to the person who needs a friend, listen and come back once a week to check on your caregiver, letting him/her know you care, and will listen without judging.

Give something back.

Adopt A Caregiver.

Keep love and kisses in your life. Helene

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A Brief Encounter

October 7, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Sometimes you meet someone just briefly, yet you know deep in your being that you were supposed to meet. Maybe there is no rhyme or reason but when you are supposed to know, you will know. In the meantime be yourself, go about your every day business and when the time is right you will know.

Once in a while this person’s aura or energy or light will reach out to you.  Embrace it with all your being. If you don’t understand it, it’s still all right. Be aware, stay alert, go with the feeling and let it energize you. And if you are wrong, so what did you lose and so what? Just a little time and attention.

Then when you least expect it who knows what will happen.

I wrote this during the time I was a caregiver, while I was writing Behind The Mask.

Since I decided that my journey now is for everyone to Adopt A Caregiver, I’ve met many of these people. You just know they are put in your path to help you. Thank you and bless you.

It’s just like I said, word of mouth is potent, one by one by one we are getting the word out about Adopt A Caregiver. Several websites have approached me and said they wanted to write about my Adopt A Caregiver program, and I gave my permission. Several people have heard me speak, and want me to speak to other groups, and I have accepted.

I am so proud and grateful and blessed to have all these good people put into my path. Together we are going to make a difference in the life of the caregiver.

Keep love and kisses in your life. Helene

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Reflections

October 6, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Evey once in a while I write what I call a Reflection of Me. This is one of them, one I wrote while I was a caregiver. The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease was changed seven years later. This was kept a secret for all of those seven years; until I published my secret journal, Behind The Mask.

The Road:

“This road is an unwanted journey. No choices here, only steady plodding, only roaring down the river without a life vest, riding the waves, brushing up against the rocks, wind roaring through my ears. Not having time or energy to enjoy the beauty of the clear water or the gorgeous sunset, or watching the moon come out at night, smiling back at us.

Too out of control, no oars, just holding on for dear life letting the river take me where it will. Will I ever be able to look back and see any beauty in this agonizing fear;  out of control, how could I have picked this road?

No one gets to pick, we are all chosen, we are together as always, and always alone. No beauty here, only darkness and fear. Have to find the light, live in the light and the sunshine, away from the shadows and the valleys.

Have to be me, to find the balance of light and darkness. I look at strangers and wonder what their lives are like and I look at friends and wonder what they’d say and how they’d feel if they knew??? And why do I even care. I’ll be alone no matter what. It’s how life plays itself out. We come into this world alone, and we leave it alone.”

Now I am on another road, another journey. This one is full of sunshine, and promise and fulfillment. This one is opening doors and people are listening, and caring.

Adopt A Caregiver. That’s all I ask, nothing to pay, nothing to join, no commitment, except to yourself.

Give something back, just look around your community, everyone knows a caregiver. Lets wipe away some of their tears. Be a friend, listen, let them vent. In fact encourage them to vent. If not to you, then in a journal. My journal saved my sanity.

Keep love and kisses in your life. Helene

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Bits And Pieces

October 5, 2008 By Leave a Comment

I always keep a folder handy, called Bits and Pieces, and I throw in bits and pieces of writing that I want to remember.

They could be quotes, poems, my own writing, or  writing from someone else.

I want to share some of these  with you, whether you are the caregiver, or someone thinking of joining my journey to  Adopt A Caregiver.

One is a poem, I have no idea where it came from, or who wrote it, but it resonated with me to my core and I saved it. It reads,

“Depression hovers and hangs over me like a living thing. It swallows me, it starts at my edges and takes small bites–then keeps eating away in my head–till I am no more.

I am consumed by this thing. I want to fight back, but, I let it take me-it’s so easy to be eaten alive-bit by bit, by words, by anger, by resentment, till there is nothing.”

I wish I knew who wrote this piece of writing, it’s so very powerful.

On a lighter note, I think caregivers should journal, and I will talk more about that later this week. But for now, if you are a caregiver, give yourself some slack. Don’t beat yourself up!

Tell yourself, that just for today, I will live in this moment, and not be angry, or frustrated no matter how hard the day is.

Tell yourself that just for today, I will dress myself, put on makeup, and comb my hair, just for me. I will not let myself go..just for today.

Tell yourself that just for today, I will reach for a pen and paper, and pour out my thoughts. I will vent away all my fears, all my anger and not stuff everything inside. Here on this paper, I can complain, whine, and let my words cry for me.

Tell yourself that just for today, I will be grateful for something. Maybe someone will call or email or just get in touch. Maybe a friend will reach out.

Keep love and kisses in your life. Helene

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Vision For The Future

October 4, 2008 By 1 Comment

My vision is that every community 55 and older who have caregiver support groups, would have an Adopt A Caregiver program.

It would be wonderful if people in the community would contact the support group leader and say, “I hear someone needs a friend. I’d like to Adopt A Caregiver.”

Just think how easy and awesome this vision is.

There is nothing to join, nothing to pay, and no commitment, except to yourself.

This works in your community, your church, your synagogue, anywhere there are caregivers. Everyone knows a caregiver, but do you know how they feel? Behind The Mask is my secret journal, and when you read it, you are standing in a caregivers shoes. This is every new caregivers story. You will stand in their shoes and know what they are going through. All the things they never talk about..

For those in the later stages of Alzheimer’s Disease I recommend Lauren Kessler’s inspiring book, Living In The Land Of Alzheimer’s, a true story.

Word of mouth is potent, this is how my words about Adopt A Caregiver are getting out to the public. Please help someone who can’t help themselves.

Keep love and kisses in your life. Helene

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My Exciting Day

October 3, 2008 By Leave a Comment

My day today was full and exciting.  First thing this morning, I spoke to a large group of people from Senior Resources. They work with seniors in every capacity. It was a pleasure talking to them about my Adopt A Caregiver program. They listened with their full attention, they liked what I had to say, and they said at some point they would all try to adopt a caregiver. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Bless all of you. I’m sure that we will meet again!

Also scheduled was a luncheon in my community and I won one of the raffle tickets. I never win. But this was something I really liked. A knitting basket, filled with wool, needles, a couple of knitting magazines, and a gift certificate. I’ve been complaining that I have no time to knit. But it’s time to start again, by knitting scarves for kids in an at -risk school, which is something our knitting club does.

Out to dinner with friends. And home to watch the debate. No matter whose side you are on, I hope you all watched the debate. We are all Americans. We protect our freedom.

Keep love and kisses in your life. Helene

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And The Mountain Moved

October 2, 2008 By Leave a Comment

I am the little girl full of love and laughter and family, and the mountain was huge and scary and far away.

I am the teenager, scared and scarred, and the mountain is still huge.

I am the young adult with stars in my eyes, love in my life, marriage and children, and the mountain seems remote and far away from my life.

I am the middle aged woman who worked all her married life, whose children are grown, and it’s time to find out who I am; and the mountain appears closer.

I am the wise old woman who knows who she is, where she belongs, and what her legacy is. And that mountain is within me.

by Helene Moore

Something I wrote a few years ago, that still is very meaningful to me. This is the first time I’ve shared it. The first time it’s in print. I hope you like it too.

Keep love and kisses in yor life. Helene

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"Nancy Where Are You?"

October 1, 2008 By Leave a Comment

My friend ‘Nancy’, not her real name; I changed it in my book, Behind The Mask, has changed jobs and states, and I don’t know how to get in touch with her. So ‘Nancy’ if you are reading this, send me your new email address. I miss talking to you.

Doors are opening, word of mouth is spreading and Adopt A Caregiver is becoming more of a reality than a distant vision.

The future of every community can change how caregivers are treated. Every community has caregivers, be they from Alzheimer’s Disease stroke, heart attack, or MS. We hear things, we know people and we can help. All it takes is an email, a phone call, be a friend, listen, learn, help.

I read something the other day that said something like, being angry is wasting time on life. Angry doesn’t help. Depression doesn’t help. We have to learn to help ourselves. We have to cope, we have to be there. And it’s hard to do it alone. We all need support of families, and friends.  My support system was a secret journal that I wrote on my computer. No one knew about it. I think it saved my sanity.

Thank you to all those who are helping. Lisa, Linda, Sue, Gary, Steve, and so many others, too many to name. You know who you are. Thank you.

Keep love and kisses in your life. Helene

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