Dancing and embracing and nurturing

 Today was a strange day. I had the unpleasant responsibility of catching the cat and putting her into the carrier at work to take her to the vet. That stressed me out a lot.

Then when I came back I went to do friendly visits as part of the activities in the afternoon. I wanted to try some of the validation therapy techniques and use it for people in the home who are at late stage in dementia. 

I spent some time stroking this one woman's hair and cheek, forehead very gently as a mother would. It was relaxing to her. She eventually closed her eyes. I did this gradually and slowly, by first telling her that I'd touch her hand, then her arm, then eventually without speaking, I moved to her hair. I said "hi, __" to the woman a few times to let her know that I was there with her. She responded so well. She started to, relax and closed her eyes and actually turned her face towards my hand stroking her.

I moved onto another woman of the same late stage, only because she sometimes gets overstimulated with too much touch on her hands and arms, I spent more time on her head, hair, ears and upper arms. She relaxed as well, but was cold so I got a sheet and wrapped her upper torso in it. She relaxed but kept opening her eyes to see me, which she doesn't do often because she mostly closes her eyes. 

It was wonderful to see.

Later in the afternoon, my boss told me to take a cd player upstairs to a floor that needs the tv cable fixed. The residents are so used to watching it, it was making them anxious not to have it. I put some old crooners on and started to dance around the lounge. I paid special attention to the women in the room. One lady joined us and that lead to a conversation about the lake, her memory of being in the war, and how much she enjoys dancing. We laughed and danced and talked.

It was so much fun, and I love to see these people happy.