...thousand miles away from home...

Where I am from and where I am NOW?

The healing power of the drum

The Healing Power of the Drum: A Psychotherapist Explores the Healing Power of Rhythm...
by Friedman, Robert Lawrence

I have used this book as one of many resources in my daily work. A very good book to have for collection.

...A Borneon on his way to present at the World Congress Paris, France in July

I am looking forward to present my paper (Loneliness and Lived Experiences of Elderly Individuals Living Independently: Hermeneutic Phenomenological Approach) at the XIX IAGG World Congress, Paris, France 5-9 July 2009.
This will be my opportunity to share my knowledge to those presenters/participants who will be attending this World Congress. I would like to extend my thanks to Dr. Kathryn Douthit, Dr. Mary Dombeck and Dr. Ann Monroe Baillargeon who had generously given their time and expertise to better my work. I thank them for their contribution and their good-natured support. The depth and the beauty of this work has unfolded with the assistance of three of you.

Caresharing...

THE ABC Approach

One successful method of dealing with difficult behaviors is the "ABC" approach," usd extensively at the University of Washington in their Alzheimer's research. The approach has three key components:

1. Antecedent. First, determine what was going on just before you observed the behavior. What seemed to trigger it? Did the enviroment or you somehow contribute to the behavior? Was it too noisy or were you rushed when the incident happened?

2. Behavior. Once you've identified what triggered the behavior, try to identify what actually happened. What specific behavior did you see? For example, rather than observing that your care partner was angry, it is more helpful to recognize that they shook their fists or hit the table. Then you have a specific way of acting that you can watch for.

3. Consequences. Then look at the response to the behavior. How did you and the others react? Did you get angry yourself? Did you move your care partner away from the situation? Identify specifically what you did and how effective it was. A word of caution: At times, negative behaviors are reinforced when people receive added attention that they did not receive when things were on an even keel.

When you have examined all these factors, you will be better able to consider ways to resolve or deal with the difficult behavior.

Richard, M (2009). CareSharing: A Reciprocal Approach to Caregiving and Cre receiving in the Complexities of Aging, Illness or Disability. Woodstock, Vermont. Skylight Paths Publishing.

...it begins here...

The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand. -Frank Herbert-

Give a guess...?

Two elderly women asked me today. What is your guess of how old are we?

I smiled and said, "you must be 85 and your friend is not more than 90, so I will go with 89." They said, "you are right."

MMM...I said to myself, "how did guess it right?"

May you rest in peace...Dr. Connie

COME to ME God saw you getting tied, a cure was not to be, so He put his arms around you and whispered, "Come to Me." With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you passaway, and athough we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard workings hands at rst. God broke our hearts to prove to us. He only takes the best.

Today is Dr. Connie Luna's requiem mass at 4.00 pm. Dr. Connie at right , a wonderful, inspiring, faith-filled person. We will continue to miss you Connie but God has a special place for you.

...what a joke...

This 92 year old man read this joke to me.

"I am doing what I can," the doctor explained, "but I can't make you any younger, you know." "The hell with that," said the patient. "I'm not interested in getting younger, I just don't want to get older."

-Joey Adams-

...happy birthday...

An elderly man celebrated his 93 year old birthday.

It was inspiring to hear him singing this song.

Girl of my dreams, I love you

Honest I do, you ae so sweet

If I could just hold your charms

Again in my arms

Then life would be complete

Since you've been gone, dear

Life don't seem the same

Please come back again

And after all's said and done

There's only one

Girl of my dreams it's you.

Since you've been gone, dear

Life don't seem the same

Please come back again

And after all's said and done

There 's only one

Girl of my dreams, it's you.