Today was a good day! Watching Mitzi buzz around to the residents of the memory care home we volunteer at on Fridays always makes me smile. She is so great about kneeling down to get at their level (if they are sitting), always touching their hand or their arm as she looks them in the eyes and finds something to compliment them on to start a conversation. And she doesn’t pick the “easy ones.” She does not shy away from those whose words don’t make sense. Or who might seem very agitated. Or even those who might have skipped their shower for a few days. She’s quite unconditional.
In addition to our regular cast of characters like the Queen, Melissa, and Hope the Therapy Dog, our sweet friend Nancy joined us today (she’s the amazing artist who donated her talents to create our logo). Mitzi enjoyed giving Nancy a tour, and I was happy to capture this moment as Nancy and Mitzi had started a back scratching “chain” with some of the residents, who thoroughly appreciated the calming kindness of it. I will never forget Mitzi telling me herself a year ago how important she feels it is to connect with people with Alzheimer’s through touch since verbal communication can be so difficult for them. I still marvel at how profound that notion was to me when she first explained it.
…Much like I continue to marvel at her courage to walk into a memory care home while she has Alzheimer’s herself, with such a strong desire to bring her special brand of sunshine to those whose feet are walking further ahead of her down this same uncertain path. ????
