It is no secret I have a weakness for hot chocolate.
It is still my hot beverage of choice, long after my peers switched to a daily coffee habit. So what does hot chocolate have to do with dementia? Everything and nothing at all.
Nothing at all? Our lives do not become a compressed, medical version of ourselves when dementia enters the picture. So moments for play, a treat, or a visit from a loved one should never become a line item on the care plan or viewed with a medical lens. It should happen simply because, and enjoyed for the beauty of being in a relationship with a loved one.
Life is made up of Moments. Dementia does not change this; these moments become more important with dementia. They are moments of joy, sorrow, care, and faith. So make some hot chocolate in your favorite mug, sit down, breathe, and savor the moment.
The Hot Chocolate Moment Returns! While I don’t believe hot chocolate has a season, we took the Summer months off. So…
Grab your favorite mug, pour yourself some hot chocolate (or coffee or tea or water, we don’t judge here) and let us pause for a few moments and savor this mug in our hands.
While we don’t often think of flowers in the Autumn months, how often do we find ourselves smiling when we think of the buds and blooms? Even in the midst of the coldest months, how often do we crave the life of flowers, greenery, and plants within our home?
It is well-understood the importance of plants and flowers in one’s space, be it a room in a care community or the home of someone living with dementia. Inviting the person to care for the plants and enjoy the beauty and changes that occur with the life before us, and be an impactful element of your care plan.
Purchasing flowers can be pricy, and out of budget for some, but potted plants that have a longer lifespan and the occasional purchase of a (even cheap) bouquet of flowers can bring beauty into our world can be that small moment of joy we might need when we feel hopeless, are struggling, and needing a lift.
