Knitting saved my life

tboard

Last summer I was stuck at home caring for my DH who has mixed dementia. It was just about impossible to do anything except take care of him. Some days he stayed awake all day with no naps.

Last August I found some knitting needles. I was taught how to knit as a child and stopped knitting more than 50 years ago. I discovered that I could still do it.

I started knitting socks in the little slices of free time I had. It would take me a month to complete a pair of socks but I looked forward to knitting all day. It became my reason for getting up in the morning. The rest of my life was hell on earth most of the time. It was nice to have that one thing. My thing.

My DH is now in stage 7 and in a facility in hospice. When I visit I sit with him and knit. He doesn't talk much but seems to enjoy sitting with me. I have five new pair of socks, a couple of pair of mittens, a new hat and am currently knitting a cowl. My next project will be s sweater.

Maybe you don't want to knit but if you are a caregiver it might help to find something you enjoy doing that can be done with interruptions and during short periods of free time. Something that doesn't require a lot of concentration or tools. Something that can be put away quickly and kept out of harms way and that doesn't take up a lot of space.

Reading, cross word puzzles, sudoku, drawing, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, gardening . . . you get the picture.

Damiross

I like to do stuff that will keep my brain active. I really believe that will help reduce the possibility of getting dementia.

I enjoy working on my computer. I am currently setting up a media server. I also like to do jigsaw puzzles.

Victoriaredux

This post reminds me of a prior by @--Rebecca-- on this thread

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/71433/whats-your-pleasure

her little dog's face says "patience" to me. What a cutie .