Hy Lynda - I have been a journal-person since I was a kid. I rarely have missed a day in 35 years after I started journaling at age 10 at the recommendation of a therapist after we had a house fire. So when my Mom got diagnosed, I started writing about it in my own journal for a while, but then I found the One Line A Day journals on amazon and it has become a place for me to record what’s going on with my Mom. It is a 5 year journal with a space for three or four sentences for each day for five successive years. It has been really helpful because I can tell what has happened in the past and because there is little space, I keep it to the salient details. For me, journaling at the end of the day is a way to close out the day and set it to rest before I go to sleep. It is also helpful for preparing for doctor’s appoinments and keeping family informed. Hope this helps!❤️

Lynda, I do not keep a diary of my wife’s changes in behavior since she has been on a plateau for the past seven months. If I were to keep a diary, I think a summary of what has changed in the past week would be more useful than a day-by-day record. A weekly summary would also a good place to record my wife’s vital signs (weight, BP, heart rate, blood oxygen). I know my wife’s cardiologist would like to have the vital measurements more frequently than every six months.

Keeping a log was especially helpful for the staff that helped out in our home. I encouraged them to write down anything that they found helpful in certain situations - as well as logging sleep, no sleep, eating, mood, etc.

I haven’t done it and wish I had. I remember the milestone moments but not always when they happened. I find myself cross referencing memories to guesstimate dates. That said, when times are hard and I may have to give account of my actions, I do keep rather scruffy notes.

Linda,
I agree. i bought a journal about a year ago and I rarely remember to enter anything. Seems like the days go so fast and I am usually tired in the afternoon.
I am generally awake by 5-5:30 and my hubby is awake around that time as well. We are starting the day's routine by 6. Everything seems to take longer to do now that he needs more assistance. I do find this site helps me to vent or ask questions and just concentrate on knowing that we are not alone in this. Reading other peoples stories also takes my focus off of us and allows me to support and be compassionate towards others.