Her Interests & needs: Remember those..whatever they may be ...

My mother has been really amazing .. you’re going to hear this often .. – when she was really ill & hooked up right at the beginning (May 07) she was saying don’t give me choices .. one or two are enough; fortunately I seemed to be able to slot into the mode of asking which she’d prefer to do or have ...

It’s terribly important to have eye contact, to talk clearly, slowly and succinctly .. not saying a lot in other words, but conveying what you want to say & making sure that she understands ... bringing memories (again brief) to guide her & allow her brain to take in what you’re saying: then you’ll get the response you expect (probably!). Time is critical in communication skills .. my mother says to me .. let it sink in – don’t know yet .. the words take time to be unscrambled and to be assessed, and then to be thought about & then perhaps to reply ..

.... however if you want sharp wit .. just come & visit my mother .. it comes straight out!! More often than I expect sometimes. It is mind boggling .. how the brain works .. then we have a good old laugh .. she belly laughs often –which is so excellent.