Christmas from Bed

Posted on December 24, 2014 by Tryn Rose

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So Christmas for me in 2014 was spent mostly in bed; I had a bout of salmonella, not fun at all. I didn’t get to put up most decorations (this is a photo of a Christmas past). I didn’t get to sing or lead music with small and large groups, which I’ve done for many years. Was I sad? A little. But I’ve also been around for 46 Christmases so far, and I drew upon Christmases past to cheer me up. I looked at pictures, read stories, and sang a few songs from my bedroom. It worked to bring the spirit of Christmas to our home and hearts. We also instituted a ‘ring the key chime, open a present’ tradition so we could gather some moments of joy whenever we needed one.

The one trip I’ve made out of the house was to the hairdresser. A good haircut goes a long way. She shared about a friend’s 4-year-old son who asked, “Mom, how many Christmases have I been around for?” Mom: “Well, you’re four now, so….four.” “I only remember 2, so I don’t believe you.” She showed him pictures and tried to prove that he’d indeed seen 4 holiday seasons thus far. It remains to be seen if he will believe her, but nevertheless, he’s been celebrated thoroughly. When someone with dementia doesn’t believe you’ve done what you’ve done, try to realize that you have done good things, and that celebrating from bed can be ok.

Take care, and stay in touch,

Tryn Rose Seley,

Author, 15 Minutes of Fame: One Photo Does Wonders To Bring You Both Back to Solid Ground at www.caregiverheart.com

[email protected]

Purchase PDF version of 15 Minutes of Fame

For those of you who prefer Amazon Kindle versions, Click Here.

For those of you who prefer Nook versions, Click Here.

Request printed copies at [email protected]

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Spiritual Book For Caregivers

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Tryn Rose

IMG_0018I am writing a spiritual book for caregivers. Here’s a glimpse.

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

“Divine Providence does not regard that which is brief and transient, and comes to an end with a person’s life in the world; rather, it regards that which remains forever and so does not come to an end.”
“Secrets of Heaven,” Emanuel Swedenborg

Butterflies live a very short time. Oh, except for the monarch, whose third generation travels back from Canada to Mexico for the winter, lays eggs in Texas on the milkweed in the spring, so the cycle can continue.

I see people with dementia traveling to the next realm already. I spoke with a woman whose mother had Alzheimer’s, who would have periods of resistance to bathing, dressing, eating. Then, later, she apologized to her daughter for her struggles. The daughter perceived that her mom was connecting with her son and twin sister who had passed away, and was not wanting to stay in this world anymore. When this daughter realized this, she could be part of the letting go and supporting her mom’s readiness to depart to the next life. She did, and she did.

Take care, and stay in touch,

Tryn Rose Seley,

Author, 15 Minutes of Fame: One Photo Does Wonders To Bring You Both Back to Solid Ground at www.caregiverheart.com

[email protected]

Purchase PDF version of 15 Minutes of Fame

For those of you who prefer Amazon Kindle versions, Click Here.

For those of you who prefer Nook versions, Click Here.

Request printed copies at [email protected]

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Alzheimer’s Resource: Special Offer

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Tryn Rose
Tryn Rose Seley, Author

Tryn Rose Seley, Author

I am grateful for Amelia Schafer and her stellar work at the Alzheimer’s Association: Colorado Chapter. She is a thoughtful and caring teacher, program developer and director, and a mentor and friend. If you are an Alzheimer’s Association Program Director, and contact me, I will send you a free printed copy for your resource library. I’d be honored to support your caregivers across the country.

Tryn Rose Seley / [email protected]

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Dear Program Directors,

I’m writing to let you know about, “15 Minutes of Fame,” a resource written by a former Alzheimer’s Association employee and wonderful soul, Tryn Rose Seley. Tryn has been an Alzheimer’s advocate, caregiver guru, and friend of the Alzheimer’s Association: Colorado Chapter for many years.

You can learn more about “15 Minutes of Fame” at Tryn’s website Caregiver Heart. It is available in a print copy or as a downloadable ebook. This is a great resource for both families and professional caregivers.

Please take a look and share this resource with your staff, volunteers, and families.

Amelia Schafer, MS | Director of Professional Education | Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado | 455 Sherman St | Suite 500 | Denver CO 80203 | alz.org/co | NATIONAL HELPLINE 800.272.3900

Take care, and stay in touch,

Tryn Rose Seley,

Author, 15 Minutes of Fame: One Photo Does Wonders To Bring You Both Back to Solid Ground at www.caregiverheart.com

[email protected]

Purchase PDF version of 15 Minutes of Fame

For those of you who prefer Amazon Kindle versions, Click Here.

For those of you who prefer Nook versions, Click Here.

Request printed copies at [email protected]

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Exercise Now, I Don’t Mind How

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Tryn Rose

I just took me a walk. A walk that included rolling a water bottle back and forth between my hands and arms, giving me a wider stretch and a higher heart rate, admiring the birds, flowers and bunnies, singing my favorite song of the moment, and getting to know my neighborhood streets. It felt great.

I don’t use the word “should” very often, but here it is. I should exercise more often. Why? Because I am 53 years young, and I want to be well, as well as I can, while I am in charge of my own choices. My family lives long, into their 90’s, wise-cracking and/or waxing eloquent ’til the end of this chapter of living. But I’ve noticed my own lag of energy, or lack of peanut-butter-jar-opening strength, so it’s up to me. Luckily, it’s up to me to get where I want to go.

The Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation has promoted The Four Pillars of Alzheimer’s Prevention for over 20 years now. They are:

1) Diet (Food Choices) and Supplements

2) Stress Management

3) Physical and Mental Exercise

4) Spiritual Fitness / Life Purpose

One has to get the blood flowing. Did you know that 25% of every pump of the heart is supposed to go to the brain? If the heart is blocked, or not working at a higher capacity at all, well, that brain is not getting what it needs. It also means one might have symptoms of dementia because of varied health problems: constricted arteries, high or low blood pressure, other heart issues, etc.

I walked for 30 minutes. I needed to rest at the end. I have taught chair exercise; fabulous, do that if that fits. Whatever the top level of one’s abilities, one ought to go ahead and get going, for your own sake. Why take the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, when you have the power now to aim at preventing it?

Check out more valuable resources at APRF: 888.908.5766 or www.alzheimersprevention.org/4-pillars-of-prevention

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Take care, and stay in touch,

Tryn Rose Seley,

Author, 15 Minutes of Fame: One Photo Does Wonders To Bring You Both Back to Solid Ground at www.caregiverheart.com

[email protected]

Purchase PDF version of 15 Minutes of Fame

For those of you who prefer Amazon Kindle versions, Click Here.

For those of you who prefer Nook versions, Click Here.

Request printed copies at [email protected]

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Hospice Care: Good or Not So Good?

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Tryn Rose

Truth is, with the elder needs of our culture growing by leaps and bounds, there will always be a need for hospice care, and I’ve seen some of the best care provided by skillful, intelligent, patient, kind men and women. One man I knew passed away in a hospice care community the day I visited him, and had told him the best stories about his life that I had come to know. He was peaceful and comfortable. One woman I cared for gently sailed away right before I arrived at her room. Her grand-daughter almost cancelled a lifetime trip for her family to stay with her, but went because she trusted the care of the hospice group. This grand-daughter was on the phone with her, telling her she loved her, as she passed. It was golden and dear.

There was a recent article in the Washington Post describing some very poor care practices in some hospices in America. But lean in here: it is a family member or friend’s job to ask questions, to ask for better results, to advocate for the loved one receiving care. It’s like recommending a restaurant, service, doctor; you share with friends the ones who are good at serving people, right? We can raise the quality of a hospice’s ability to care by being present, by phone or otherwise, and by providing those volunteers with photos, songs, and stories of the person’s life to remind them that this is a *person first,* a valuable human being who deserves respect and the very IMG_2281best care. And, doing this invites that hospice person to join the family, and he or she might become family to you more than your biological family in some cases. Help them join you in caring for your loved one.

We all have to take responsibility to partner with those who can support our loved ones at the time of his or her passing. Please do.

Take care, and stay in touch,

Tryn Rose Seley,

Author, 15 Minutes of Fame: One Photo Does Wonders To Bring You Both Back to Solid Ground at www.caregiverheart.com

[email protected]

Purchase PDF version of 15 Minutes of Fame

For those of you who prefer Amazon Kindle versions, Click Here.

For those of you who prefer Nook versions, Click Here.

Request printed copies at [email protected]

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Touching the Sky from Solid Ground | Dementia Services Development Centre l DSDC, Stirling

Posted on May 2, 2014 by Tryn Rose

Touching the Sky from Solid Ground | Dementia Services Development Centre l DSDC, Stirling.

Review of “15 Minutes of Fame” by Dr Tom Christie. Read, and connect with his supportive and valuable resources at this link.

Take care, and stay in touch,

Tryn Rose Seley,

Author, 15 Minutes of Fame: One Photo Does Wonders To Bring You Both Back to Solid Ground at www.caregiverheart.com

[email protected]

Purchase PDF version of 15 Minutes of Fame

For those of you who prefer Amazon Kindle versions, Click Here.

For those of you who prefer Nook versions, Click Here.

Request printed copies at [email protected]

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One Moment at a Time

Posted on April 29, 2014 by Tryn Rose

Have you noticed when you cut an apple through the middle, there’s a star waiting for you? It’s cool. I learned this years ago from a cousin in Pennsylvania.

It’s a joy of the moment. It only lasts as long as that. I tried to save a slice, like a romantic notion of making a Christmas ornament or something, but no, it browned up and crinkled up. If I had all my sights on saving it for some other time, for the future, I’d have been disappointed. But I didn’t; I enjoyed it in that moment, and so did my husband.

A couple of days later, I cut the apple this way again. I enjoyed it again. And so did my husband.

When I was a youngster, Sandra Boynton, cartoonist/humorist (chocolate-loving hippos, “Wee fish ewe a mare egrets moose” in place of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”) came out with a design. Mine was on a mug. It was a little bear holding a balloon that said, “I love you.” On the inside of the mug, it read, “It’s a sentiment that bears repeating” along with a ring of 10 more bears and balloons. I loved it then, and I love it now. It probably formed some of my ability to find little joys in the moment, for myself, for children with special needs, for those with Alzheimer’s. Thanks Sandra.

Create some joys of the moment, and love them in that moment alone. It counts as joy. And you could cut the apple through its core, but why, when the star is waiting for you? Choose joy in the moment, when you can.

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Take care, and stay in touch,

Tryn Rose Seley,

Author, 15 Minutes of Fame: One Photo Does Wonders To Bring You Both Back to Solid Ground at www.caregiverheart.com

[email protected]

Purchase PDF version of 15 Minutes of Fame

For those of you who prefer Amazon Kindle versions, Click Here.

For those of you who prefer Nook versions, Click Here.

Request printed copies at [email protected]

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Arizona View

Posted on April 15, 2014 by Tryn Rose
4/14/14

4/14/14

 

It’s a new day, a new chapter of living. I’ve looked at the sky before, but at midnight last night, it felt like I was seeing constellations I’d never seen, smelled flower scents and heard birds for the first time. I love an eclipse, and I share it with you here. May you find strength and inspiration in your next chapter of living.

Take care, and stay in touch,

Tryn Rose Seley,

Author, 15 Minutes of Fame: One Photo Does Wonders To Bring You Both Back to Solid Ground at www.caregiverheart.com

[email protected]

Purchase PDF version of 15 Minutes of Fame

For those of you who prefer Amazon Kindle versions, Click Here.

For those of you who prefer Nook versions, Click Here.

Request printed copies at [email protected]

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BiddingOwl – Loving Arms Mission Auction-Dr Oz, Lisa Oz & Tryn Rose Seley, Among Many

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Tryn Rose

BiddingOwl – Loving Arms Mission Auction.

By clicking on the link above before March 31st, 2014, you create a win-win for yourself and those you love! Loving Arms Mission was created in Nepal as two orphanages, and turned into two large, wonderful families. Their annual auction features many wonderful gifts and services, including 2 tickets to The Dr. Oz Show, Lisa Oz’s book about relationships called “Us,” and my caregiver book, “15 Minutes of Fame: One Photo Does Wonders.” Take action today!

Take care, and stay in touch,

Tryn Rose Seley,

Author, 15 Minutes of Fame: One Photo Does Wonders To Bring You Both Back to Solid Ground at www.caregiverheart.com

[email protected]

Purchase PDF version of 15 Minutes of Fame

For those of you who prefer Amazon Kindle versions, Click Here.

For those of you who prefer Nook versions, Click Here.

Request printed copies at [email protected]

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Valentine’s Day For Both of You

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Tryn Rose

“What if My Valentine Has Dementia?”

Thank you Tami Neumann of Conversations in Care for this opportunity to speak with your listeners. And please, create Valentine’s Day any day you need it with these ideas.

Listen in by clicking here:  http://ow.ly/trPvx 

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Take care, and stay in touch,

Tryn Rose Seley,

Author, 15 Minutes of Fame: One Photo Does Wonders To Bring You Both Back to Solid Ground at www.caregiverheart.com

[email protected]

Purchase PDF version of 15 Minutes of Fame

For those of you who prefer Amazon Kindle versions, Click Here.

For those of you who prefer Nook versions, Click Here.

Request printed copies at [email protected]

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