Nicole Robichaud, a lawyer and caregiver in Ottawa, shared her personal experience with a longstanding family tradition involving a folk art calendar. The tradition started nearly 30 years ago when someone in their family gifted her mother the calendar, which became a cherished Christmas ritual. Despite her mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2015, the tradition continued as the disease progressed over the years.
Initially, the holidays were a joyful time for the family in Toronto. The colorful paintings in the calendar, especially December’s snow-filled scenes, brought delight to her mother. However, as the Alzheimer’s disease advanced, her mother’s ability to engage with the calendar diminished. Despite this, the calendar remained a constant presence in their lives, symbolizing their enduring family connection.
With the passing years, the disease took its toll, leading to changes in living arrangements and care levels for her mother. Despite her mother’s declining cognitive abilities, the tradition of the annual calendar purchase persisted. The calendar served as a focal point during Nicole’s visits to her mother, offering a sense of purpose and connection even in moments of silence and unresponsiveness.
The act of turning the pages of the calendar and sharing its images with her mother became a meaningful way for Nicole to communicate love, uphold family traditions, and provide comfort amidst the challenges of Alzheimer’s. The tradition, though seemingly mundane, held deeper significance for Nicole, reflecting her spiritual beliefs in connection, love, and the enduring essence of individuals beyond physical limitations.
In the face of a difficult disease that often leaves much feeling out of control, the calendar ritual represented a source of purpose, solace, and hope for Nicole. Looking ahead to the coming years, she finds comfort in continuing this tradition, believing it creates a familiar and comforting environment for her mother, fostering a sense of home and connection in the midst of uncertainty.