Of Course You Can!

Making wishes come true is one of the greatest experiences one can have.  One day, when looking at a picture of a horse, our mother whispered, “I wish I could ride a horse one more time.” Mom was 88 years old and suffering from advanced Alzheimer’s related dementia.  It took an amazing amount of effort, coordination and resources to make that wish come true for Mom, but the day we took her horseback riding remains the favourite day – ever – for everyone involved.

Never let limits deter you – believe there are ways to bring joy to your loved ones and seize those opportunities. We were determined to make Mom’s wish come true and helped by some amazing people in our efforts, most specifically the staff at Boundary Ranch.

As strange as it may sound, a time of incapacity might give a person the opportunity to do something they have always wanted to try. Depending on an individual’s situation, circumstances may provide an opportunity to try something new. While he is not incapacitated, George Bush Senior has taken up skydiving in his elder years with a mindset of “What’s the worst thing that could happen?”.  Glenn Campbell, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, penned and sang the song “I’m not going to miss you” telling the story of his career and sending messages of love to his family and friends.

 

The ability to continue to grow through experience is an essential part of our well-being. While it may be difficult to imagine all the possibilities during significant life changes, stay open to the idea that many things are achievable.

The Personal Directive Agent plays a huge role in the life of an incapacitated adult, contributing immensely to their well-being.  Exit Savvy’s Personal Directive Agent workbook encourages conversations about what activities are important to the Planner and provides opportunity to discuss ways to maintain connections to these activities.