Brad Swientoniowski shot a video featuring just 12 minutes of his father’s day. Daniel Swientoniowski, age 68, is a Vietnam veteran and retired Detroit police officer. He lives with moderate stage dementia.
He keeps a meticulously clean house! Perhaps Brad can outsource his father’s affinity for tidying up! Weaall, except for the cat litter incident.
Explore Community-based Care Options
This small slice of a day is ample evidence of the need for community-based services in the continuum of care. For example, if Daniel S. attended an adult day care program, the change of pace and structured activities would give him a greater feeling of purpose outside beyond his home. Also, it would give Brad a caregiver respite while his dad expends some of his energy.
Sometimes, we caregivers keep plodding away day to day believing we can manage. And then exhaustion takes its toll and next thing you know we’re experiencing caregiver dementia. It’s better to explore and try out a variety of care options while we still have the strength.
This is a powerful slice out of a 24-hour day, 365 days a year. People with dementia are trying to make sense of their worlds and find purpose, while caregivers are trying to keep up.
Brad’s father’s actions speak louder than words and help raise awareness of what millions of families around the world are living with every day.
busy, Busy, BUSY
These three words summarize my reaction to the video below: busy, Busy, BUSY!
If the video does not play, use this link.
My Father’s Behavior in the Moderate States of Alzheimer’s Disease
