Dear friends,

We are holding this space for “transforming thoughts” – featuring actionable ideas from past and present thought leaders.

This column presents beliefs articulated not only by the voice, the laptop, the mic, the megaphone of today’s great authors and thought leaders – but also the quill pen and ink of great authors of our past.

These transforming thoughts have been thoughtfully and personally curated because of a long-standing love of quotes and the lessons which can be shared in a couple of sentences.

Some are written specifically for the dementia community. Others are not. But all are included here because the message is applicable to caring for someone living with dementia. The messages speak to the vast – yes, monumental – need for societal change in our approach to caregiving of loved ones.

From the great minds of both ancient and contemporary masters, this meme series is presented in pursuit of the seismic shift needed in our national consciousness…

From old narratives

To new narratives.

 

From impossible

To what is possible.

 

From an “energy-depleting” mindset

To a “soul-nourishing” mindset, energized by gratitude and thanksgiving.

 

From a societal response that “they don’t remember anyway,”

To an acute understanding that they do remember – even, yes – to the cellular level.

 

From witnessing their stoic dread of abandonment and isolation

To witnessing their well-being, contentment, and fulfillment in knowing that they matter.

 

From the malaise of “loneliness, helplessness, and boredom”

To being the very heart of a person-centered – and person-directed – care team.

 

From witnessing the fear of being left behind

To being present in their joy – the joyful bursting into song when the spoken words are out of reach and no longer within their grasp.

 

From the chaos and confusion created around us…  To one collective Beautiful Voice!

May the eloquent words of the masters in this series inspire us to look again to the wisdom of our elders and to transform our societal response.

 

Welcome to ABeautifulVoice blog.

 

Author, Friend, and Advocate,

Susan Troyer

 

 

 

Credits:

“Loneliness, helplessness, and boredom” have been identified by Bill Thomas, MD, and his partner, Jude Thomas, as the “three plagues of nursing homes.” Visit wwwEdenalt.org for more information.