Sundowners Syndrome

Have you heard of the Sundowners Syndrome?

Do you have an older loved one that becomes very fearful as the sun goes down?

Do they hallucinate or hear things that aren’t so? Do you see mood changes, crying, depression and stubbornness?

This could be Sundowners Syndrome.

Mom becomes terrified at the thought of me leaving the house in the early evening when it is becoming nightfall.

This is illogical and irrational, but not to them. Sundowning behaviors is very hard to control.

They usually become very confused and paranoid, nothing, I mean nothing you can say will convince them that what they see or hear is not so.

So don’t waste your time trying to convince them!

It can become a very emotional time for us caregivers.

When I think about having to take over for mom, it becomes very hard for me.

She gets very upset and it makes me feel as though I am taking her independence away, which in a way I am.

From doing a lot of research and talking to others, it would be a better choice to have someone other than the caregiver come in and talk to our loved one like another outside family member, the doctor, a friend or the nursing agency. The nurse is in to see mom now.

It will have more effect and get better results because they will be able to come across as more objective than we can.

There are times when I feel all alone in this situation but the more I research this I obviously have much more company than I thought.

About 2 years ago I noticed I wasn’t feeling well and when I finally decided to go to the doctor, they found I had high blood pressure, the constant worry and stress I guess of wanting and trying to do the right thing for all.

The caregiver can be as affected by sundowners syndrome and the dementia disease as they

are.

Sundowners Syndrome

Nightfall can bring on many different issues. We don’t realize what is happening, but we stand by and watch it, sometimes not realizing there is little we can do to stop it when night comes.

It is hard to do but WE have to be careful with our self if we are to survive this part of our lives.

NOW…we must keep a better eye on “our” health and that is much easier said than done.

No one else is going to do it!

We have to decide…are WE important?

If we don’t take care of our self, we won’t be around to take care of our loved one. We must decide. “Do we want to live or do we want to die?” It will happen if we don’t take care of our self.

YOU and I are important!

With that said, I need to go now, but I will be back.

Thank you for your patience as I add to my site and hopefully give you some more insight on sundownering and other elderly problems.

Do you need to talk to someone about sundowners syndrome, if so, please check this link.

I was listening to an audio tape earlier in the week and what I heard is this “We don’t have problems or issues, we do have experiences and opportunities.”

To your caregiving success.

I am still connected to God even though the day doesn’t always go my way.

Sundowners Syndrome

I wish you well ~

P.S. Donna Harris is also an online entreprenuer helping others find new ways to increase their income. Head on over to Top of Page

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A sweet lesson on patience.

Daniel Kirkley just sent this to me on Facebook and I just had to share it with all of you. ENJOY!

A NYC Taxi driver wrote:

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. ‘Just a minute’, answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90′s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940′s movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard
box filled with photos and glassware.

‘Would you carry my bag out to the car?’ she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. ‘It’s nothing’, I told her.. ‘I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.’

‘Oh, you’re such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, ‘Could you drive
through downtown?’

‘It’s not the shortest way,’ I answered quickly..

‘Oh, I don’t mind,’ she said. ‘I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. ‘I don’t have any family left,’ she continued in a soft voice..’The doctor says I don’t have very long.’ I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

‘What route would you like me to take?’ I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, ‘I’m tired.Let’s go now’.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

‘How much do I owe you?’ She asked, reaching into her purse.

‘Nothing,’ I said

‘You have to make a living,’ she answered.

‘There are other passengers,’ I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.She held onto me tightly.

‘You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,’ she said. ‘Thank you.’

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut.It was the sound of the closing of a life..

I didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day,I could hardly talk.What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

A Sweet Lesson On Patience.

I wish you well ~

P.S. Donna Harris is also an online entreprenuer helping others find new ways to increase their income. Head on over to and pick up a FREE “ESTATE RECOVERY REPORT” when looking at this opportunity. The FREE report will be attached to the Welcome Email.

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Estate Recovery

Suppose You Could Save Your Parents Assets From Estate Recovery? Listen to This…

Have you heard of the Estate Recovery Program?

Don’t give your assets away! Please, please read this all the way through! Medicaid does not give this information away! You have to find it….

The long searching paid off for us and it has saved us thousands of dollars.

Suppose there was help for you too. Well there is!

I have been mom’s caregiver for over 7 years now. Living here with her and taking care of everything…and may I add… as the primary caregiver!

As I was out one day walking, I realized that my siblings were working for their future and mine had slipped away.

Now, my siblings didn’t know what was happening, neither did I. I do know I had a lot of unrest but never could pinpoint it. All I do know is that I could not make a living and care for mom at the same time, so I was always emotional over my finances.

One day I decided that I had given enough of my life away. I could not keep going 24/7 and the day mom goes to Heaven, find myself on the street. I have been the sole caregiver and after much thought I decided to ask for mom’s small house to be left to me upon her death.

Several months of exhausting deliberations between me and my siblings went by before coming to a result, and thank goodness they finally decided that I did deserve the house.

Now, after many months of working on this situation, I decided to check out the Estate Recovery program so I didn’t find myself up against the wall AGAIN and what I found was… even though my family had decided to leave the house to me, mom’s house was the only asset that she had and would have to be used to reimburse Medicaid and Passport after mom’s passing.

This information was very frightening to me. When we signed up for the Passport Program – Catholic Social Services of Miami County our case worker told us that we did not have to worry about this. Little did he know!

Once again I decided I better do some more digging on Estate Recovery.

I would not give up! It took a lot of time and effort, but I finally got it all taken care of and now the house is clear!

Are you the caregiver for your parent who’s on Medicaid? Are you worried what will happen to your parent’s assets? YOU BETTER…It is a very touchy subject. Taboo too! It’s not something Medicaid will freely announce. If you come across the Estate Recovery information, OK…but they will not indulge the information, unless you seek it.

I have done all the digging for you.

I have the written information from Medicaid – highlighted from the department and I have the information on the paperwork needed to save your parent’s assets.

If you have been the primary caregiver and giving up your income and future financial security to care for your parent(s) and taking the burden off the rest of the family….you deserve some security.

Go NOW and sign up in the RED box to your right ===> and GRAB the FREE Estate Recovery Report and get this taken care of TODAY!

I am giving it away for a limited time! In a few weeks there will be a price to pay for this information…..so hurry!

Don’t waste anymore time…get your FREE Estate Recovery Report today by filling out the RED contact form to your upper right and recieve the FREE information TODAY!

Remember, it is only FREE for a very limited time so take action TODAY!

Are you getting help from Catholic Social Services or other resources for skilled nursing, caregiving duties, medical supplies?

Does your loved one or parent(s) still own their home?

Have you lived and cared for your loved one or parent(s) for at least 2 years?

“I hope you will contact me for information, I can save you thousands of dollars.” I am throwing you out a lifeline. Go GRAB that report on Estate Recovery right NOW ===> in the red box on the upper right hand side.

I wish you well ~

P.S. Donna Harris is also an online entreprenuer helping others find new ways to increase their income. Head on over to and pick up a FREE “ESTATE RECOVERY REPORT” when looking at this opportunity. The FREE report will be attached to the Welcome Email.

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Coping With Depression

You need God’s Love! No way to get through this without God, in my opinion.

Coping with depression will be challenging but it is treatable!

Do you know what to do when coping with depression in the elderly?

Are you coping with depression with your aging parent you are caring for, it can bring much stress to us as caregivers.

I picked up a little booklet on depression while sitting in the doctor’s office one day that read “Caring for Yourself When You’re Caring for Someone Ill”. It caught my eye. Coping with depression is enough to cause us to be depressed.

“Caregiving means admitting we don’t always have the answers or know what to do. It means admitting our fears, taking time for our self.”

Coping with depression in the elderly can cause you to have irritating feelings that we sometimes have and can cause you to feel guilty.

Mom had many days where she just cried and became depressed, so coping with depression in the elderly is very common.

Just looking at pictures of my dad or my sister, who have both passed away, causes mom to become depressed. Coping with depression is not a game.

Seasonal depression steals their joy. Senior depression steals their health.

Coping With Depression?

There are times when I wonder where it comes from.

There were times when I couldn’t handle being around mom because she cried so much.

I was starting to become depressed myself and I knew that I had to do something. I am thankful that I didn’t give up but I kept persisting because I did get mom on an antidepressant after many attempts and now she is doing much better.

I feel very strongly towards attacking depression and anxiety and not giving up until you find an answer coping with depression.

It seems that depression and anxiety go together most of the time.

There are many forms of depression and anxiety <== and here is one couple who can tell you how they attack both.

Research and study.

Learn the warning signs of depression in the elderly!

There may be times when you can't do this alone.

There may come a time when you need help.

Sometime the family caregiver becomes lost in the shuffle.

Depression doesn’t only attack the elderly.

Learn how to reduce stress before depression reduces you!

We neglect our own self and I am still very guilty of this.

We need to watch our diet, our exercise and our sleep.

We need to have a little fun now and then.

If you cannot go visit a friend, have them come to you. We need God’s LOVE…

I wish you well ~

P.S. Donna Harris is also an online entreprenuer helping others find new ways to increase their income. Click here NOW==>and learn Donna’s secret when looking at this opportunity.

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Imagine a world without in home care givers and having very little help with the care of elderly parents or other aging relatives.

The question here is….

Without quality senior home care, our elderly parents cannot stay in their homes, when this is where they want to be.

Without quality care during their twilight years, can you just imagine the burden that YOU will carry to their grave?

BUT how can a devoted son or daughter be

in home care givers without their own life deteriorating?

How can a devoted child find a good quality senior home caregiver?

Eight+ years ago I was facing the same dilemma that many of you are facing today.

When the need arose, I was full of questions about elder care and no idea where to get my many questions answered concerning care for our mother.

Now that I am here with mom, providing in home care, I often wished I had a real-live senior home care person, who had been there and done that, who could guide me along this journey.

Within this blog, my passion is to provide answers to your questions on elder care for the aging.

I am a full time in home caregiver for my soon to be 94 year old mother through a local home care provider.

I have developed this blog to provide you with FREE information and resources whether you are a….

Fortunately, through lots of hard work and lots of help I am able to provide my aging mother with quality care as a live in caregiver. Now I want to pass on what I have learned, to help YOU build a solid foundation beneath your caregiving days providing warmth and love for your aging relative’s last years.

This blog is here to provide the resources that is needed during this tremendous endeavor that is before you. I am here to provide you with guidance and support to help you be the best provider for your aging relative, whether you are just lending a hand for an elderly parent or you are living with your parent or vise versa providing in home care.

This World Needs More In Home Care Givers.

Always seek the advice from your family physician when a medical question arises.

If you are relatively comfortable with the elder care terminology, I will be adding valuable resources for senior home care in the near future.

This blog is expanding rapidly and I always want to include quality content and to always be a support for YOU!

As you go through the aging process with your parent or relative…REMEMBER….YOU are not alone!

Check back often for more support and encouraging words.

Get instant updates as new information is provided for senior home care to Caregiving Essentials by subscribing to the RSS Feed (the little orange box under the buttons throughout the website).

I pray that you will enjoy your trip with mom or dad through the aging process and that you have made many memories along this adventure!

Because I really, really believe….

I wish you well ~

P.S. Donna Harris is also an online entreprenuer helping others find new ways to increase their income. Head on over to and pick up a FREE “Personal and Financial Report” when looking at this opportunity. The FREE report will be attached to the Welcome Email.

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Can’t Keep up? A Simple Way To Stay In Touch.

Does this sound like you? I Can’t Keep Up? Well – here’s a simple way to stay in touch with your family and friends. YOU came personalize them any way you want. You just design it how you want it to look and Send Out Cards will do all the rest for you, right down to the stamp and if you want a little gift can be included. You don’t have to leave your house. Sound good? Watch the video below and listen to the Kody Bateman,creator of SOC.

A Simple Way To Stay In Touch.

Send Out Cards can be used for business purposes also. You can create campaigns and even schedule it in advance and forget it.

It you are a real estate agent and you want to stay connected to your priors purchasers just take a photo of their home when they moved in and every year send that little reminder to them and those pictures will take them back in time and keep your name in the front of their minds. There are so many things you can do with SOC. Give to others when you create a special card for them or you can create your own “home business” and work right at your computer in your own home.

What a way for single parents who do not have the funds to pay a babysitter and also do not want to leave their children anymore than they have to. If you need to make some extra cash or you want to create a future for yourself this is the way to go. Network Marketing is on the rise. The way the economy has been the last few years I am taking the reigns of my own financial future and working for MYSELF! What about you? Using personalized greeting cards and even add a gift.

There are many home businesses out there but I can only speak for the ones that I have been personally involved with. I have been with SOC for several years but I basically was using it for my personal benefit. Now that I am starting to get more involved in Network Marketing once again and am picking up momentum and I do not plan on depending on a J.O.B. again.

Well, that’s enough for you to digest for now. Watch the two videos and then get BACK TO ME or go to my website Send Out Cards. Now I went to YouTube and found a video for “Real Estate” so this video is not my personal site. Please get back to ME or my website.

Can’t Keep up? A Simple Way To Stay In Touch.

I wish you well ~

P.S. If you would like to find out what Donna is doing that’s so simple and changing her life financially, put your name and BEST email in the box in the top right. If you want to see how she is changing her life physically click right here. See you on the other side.

P.S.S. Let me hear from you.

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Is Your STUFF Weighing You Down?

Well listen to this….You say you want to start a “Home Business” but can’t find the money.

Listen closely.

What to do with your STUFF weighing you down?

This may be a solution to your problem.  

There may be other solutions but this one can kill two birds with one stone.

SELL IT on eBay or Craigslist or Amazon in the “for sale” section.

Now, I have sold several things on Amazon and actually got what I asked for which was pretty close to what I paid for it and that’s how I put my funds together.

Your STUFF weighing you down.

Sell them!

Hot ticket items on eBay and Amazon include book, cds, dvds, cameras, computers, collectibles, jewelry, and new–with-tags clothing. If you don’t want to bother with packing these things and shipping them out then start local and use local bullentin boards in the libraries, grocery stores and other local places where they may have a board to pin notices up.

You can also use Craigslist where furniture, baby items, power tools, and sports equipment sell well. Just be careful and women especially, make sure you aren’t alone or don’t meet in an isolated area.

There are several used clothing stores that will buy good clothing and used baby items as well. Check those out.

If you make up your mind to something you usually will find a way.

***Garage Sale***  

Sell your STUFF weighing you down.

Clean out the junk and make some extra cash. Learn how to use eBay right here.

How’s that?

Get your thinking cap on.   

I wish you well ~

P.S. If you would like to find out what Donna is doing that’s so simple and changing her life financially, put your name and BEST email in the box in the top right. If you want to see how she is changing her life physically click right here. See you on the other side.

P.S.S. Let me hear from you.

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PRESS RELEASE: Nick Vujicic Returns to Orlando—No Arms, No Legs … No Limits

LONGWOOD, FLA. — Born with no arms and no legs, Nick Vujicic has traveled the world and inspired millions. Last year, more than 23,000 people from 78 countries heard him speak at Northland Church. Now, he’s returning to Central Florida, April 21-23, to talk about how God changed his life and gave him hope and a future, including his latest adventure … marriage.

When I saw the video of Nick growing up and hearing how he was teased my heart ached. But as Nick started talking and heard what God has done in his life I started to feel better and not as downhearted over Nick’s situation.

As I listened to Nick tell his story I realized that God does have a plan for my life, Nick’s life, and your life. It’s what we do with it that counts. God has a plan to give us hope that we can share through our stories. Nick Vujicic Returns…to share hope with us. Life Without Limbs has not stopped Nick.

Nick Vujicic Returns…

“If you don’t get a miracle…..BE ONE! It’s that simple.

Are you done YET doing it your way? As Nick Vujicic Returns… he shares his amazing testimony of how he almost committed suicide. The thought entered his mind not once, not twice but three times. But something amazing happened to Nick Vujicic. I don’t want to tell you the whole story because it can’t compare with how Nick tells how he grew up and how he has gotten where he is today.

You can see as Nick Vujicic returns to Orlando and has one more amazing meeting tomorrow night at the ===> Northland, A Church Distributed. <==== Don't miss this LIVE event at 7pm EST.

Nick Vujicic Returns...in "Butterfly Circus" watch this short movie below featuring Nick Vujicic. I hope you enjoy the movie and don't forget to watch Nick tomorrow night Northland, A Church Distributed. <==== Don't miss this LIVE event at 7pm EST.

I wish you well ~

P.S. If you would like to find out what Donna is doing that’s so simple and changing her life financially, put your name and BEST email in the box in the top right. If you want to see how she is changing her life physically click right here. See you on the other side.

P.S.S. Let me hear from you.

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BeYond A Diet…

Hi there – Donna Harris stopping by today to talk to you about Beyond a diet.

Taking care of the inside will take care of the outside…common sense, right?

Watch this short 2 min video and find out what will help you get healthy and lose weight.

WATCH IT RIGHT NOW below…

Why is it so hard for us? We become addicted to certain foods.

The Twelve Steps of Overeaters Anonymous
Permission to use the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous for adaptation granted by AA World Services, Inc.

• We admitted we were powerless over food — that our lives had become unmanageable.

• Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
• Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
• Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
• Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
• Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
• Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
• Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
• Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
• Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
• Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
• Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to compulsive overeaters and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Have you heard of the Body By Vi ViSalus Sciences? It’s a community!

It’s beyond a diet.

The Body By Vi started a 90-Day Challenge that is just sweeping the country. If you haven’t checked it out, you really need to. Going on diets are the worse thing you can do for your body.

BeYond A Diet, what are you looking for?

• More energy
• Weight loss
• Less colds and sickness
• Improve your self-esteem

Join us and belong to the ViSalus Community and team up with the 90-Day Challenge.

The ViSalus Sciences model is beyond a diet and based on giving rock solid value to their clients, and helping you break through the barriers that have held you back with your health and weight loss.

Welcome to the ViSalus Team…. I wish you well ~

P.S.If you want to do what Donna Harris is doing and share with the world through a viral blogging system and don’t have a clue how to set a blog up then check this out ASAP.

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If You Want To Make Money At Home…

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