Posts by Louis Summers

🌿 The Two Lives You Live The laptop closes at five. And the second shift begins. Maybe you took a call in the parking lot on your lunch break—checking in, smoothing over a worry, promising you’d be there soon. Maybe you answered emails with one hand while stirring their dinner with the other. Maybe you…

🌿 The Open Door You turned away for just a moment. The kettle. The phone. A knock at the door. And when you looked back… they were gone. The front door stands open. The street is quiet. And your heart drops into a place it’s never been before. Few moments in caregiving are as frightening…

🌿 The Little Cup of Pills It starts as a small part of the day. A little cup. A glass of water. A familiar routine. But lately, it’s become one of the hardest moments. They turn their head away. They say they already took them. They ask why they have to take “all these” at…

🌿 It Happens So Fast You say something simple. “Let’s sit down for a minute.”“Hold on, not yet.”“We already talked about this.” And suddenly, the mood shifts. They become upset. Defensive. Withdrawn.Their voice changes. Their body language tightens. You pause, confused. “What just happened?” Because to you, it was a normal sentence. But to them,…

🌿 A Simple Task That Becomes Difficult It might seem like a small thing. Changing clothes is part of everyday life—something most of us do without thinking. But in dementia care, even this simple routine can become a point of resistance. They may say: Or they may simply refuse—turning away, becoming upset, or shutting down…

🌿 The Search That Keeps Happening It often begins with something small. A missing remote.A misplaced wallet.A purse that “was just here.” At first, it feels like ordinary forgetfulness. But then it happens again.And again. Soon, the searching becomes more urgent. “Someone took it.”“I know I didn’t move it.”“Things keep disappearing.” And suddenly, it’s no…

🌿 A Disorienting Start Morning used to be simple. Wake up. Stretch. Begin the day. But with dementia, mornings can feel unfamiliar—sometimes even frightening. Your loved one may open their eyes and not recognize where they are.They may not know what time it is… or what day… or even who is with them. You might…

🌿 The Moment You Notice It’s subtle at first. You’re speaking to them… but their eyes drift away.You sit together… but they don’t quite meet your gaze. You try again—gently calling their name, leaning in slightly, hoping for that familiar moment of connection. And sometimes, it comes.But often, it doesn’t last. Eye contact—something so natural,…

🌿 When the Silence Grows At first, you might not notice it right away. You’re the one starting most conversations—but that doesn’t feel unusual. Then, over time, something shifts. The questions stop.The comments fade.The little observations they used to make throughout the day… disappear. And one day, it becomes clear: If you don’t speak first,…

🌿 When the Reaction Doesn’t Come You share something meaningful. A story. A memory. A small piece of your day. And you wait—almost instinctively—for the response that used to follow. A smile.A laugh.A look of concern or warmth. But instead… there’s very little. Maybe a brief glance.Maybe no visible reaction at all. And in that…