About

"Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most" -Mark Twain

Well hello to all of you reading this! My name is Emily and I am a care-partner at a Memory Care assisted living facility called Aspen House and I absolutely love it. When I started my career path, I had no idea what I wanted to do, like most people in their early 20's. All I knew is that I wanted to help people somehow. Right out of high school I started working with seniors and fell in love. They have so many stories to tell, advice to give, and, in my opinion, are just all together awesome. My friends constantly teasing me about my love of old people and tell me I'm secretly an 85 year old stuck in a 22 year old's body. It wasn't until I started working with people with dementia that I really found my passion. As one of my residents always tells me, "Find a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life."

This population is so incredible in so many ways that it's hard to put into words. Dementia is a truly horrifying thing for those who experience it first hand, their families, friends, etc. Imagine everything that you know disappearing and theres nothing you can do about it. You can't feed yourself, you have no idea where you are, where your family is, or even when it is. With a life full of darkness, I think they need light the most. Every day I make it my priority to brighten my residents day in any way I can. I love building relationships with them, even if they won't remember who I am the moment I walk away. They carry the feeling of joy and happiness with them, even if they don't remember why.

When I tell someone I work with people with dementia the first thing they say is "Oh my God, that's got to be so sad!" Yes, it is sad. My residents don't improve. They struggle every day. I get attached to them and build relationships with their families only to see them pass away eventually. While the disease is sad, I'm hardly every sad with these amazing people. I have so much fun every day and laugh with them until my face hurts from smiling so much. I think with something as bleak as dementia, you have to take things day by day and with a sense of humor. Find joy in the little things, and bring laughter to those who need it.

With this blog, I hope to share my experiences with you, whether you're a professional caregiver, caring for a family member, know someone with dementia, or just interested in it! I would love to hear from you all and hope you find something that helps you here.