It. Is. On.
Not having fun with your dementia person? Then it's time for some forced dancing! That'll teach 'em to keep that upside down in a frown.
Ideally you'll want to force dance 'em on a day when you're feeling particularly goofy (potentially even still drunk from the previous evening's hijinks). That way you won't even register your dementia loved one's disdain for the activity as you haul them into your arms and force dance the crap out of 'em.
Did you see that sort-of smile there? Forced dancing works! Well, kinda... she went on to have a pretty pissy day, but for a few minutes that morning she was suffused with the happiness of forced dancing hell.
P.S. This isn't the last of the forced dancing: Forced Dancing 2: Riverdance!
My mom's ability to travel disappeared pretty early on, but we managed short excursions throughout her dementia process. One day the activity director asked my permission to take Mom to Seaside with a group from the Assisted Living side (Mom was in Memory Care). The activity director and I discussed it in depth, and she would be with Mom one-on-one. Honestly I was just as worried about the helper as I was Mom! My thoughts were something like, "Is this woman totally crazy?" Sigh. I set aside my reservations, thinking it would backfire like any such trips did for me and previous caregivers who'd tried. Turns out they had a great time and it made a super memory for th…
I'm glad our journey is reminding you of yours Debra. I know I always find that comforting too. Please feel free to share your experience, we can use all the help we can get.
Our coast excursion wasn't terribly successful and I got pretty frustrated with Mom, then frustrated with myself for being frustrated with Mom, and I'm still beating myself over the head with guilt. Does that sound familiar too?
<sigh> Today's a new day... to hopefully not make the same old mistakes.
Thank you for sharing the reality of dementia on your blogs! Of course, each person's dementia experience is different, but there is something about your posts that remind me of what life with my mom was like. Loved the Facebook picture posted from the coast. It was a beautiful day for going, and made me wish I was there! My husband and I spend many Saturdays just hopping in the car and making the two hour trek just to get away.