Supporting all who care for elders
If you talk to anyone living in Southern Ontario this week, there is only one topic. The weather. Friday ‘s grey skies turned to snow Friday night, ice pellets on Saturday, freezing rain on Sunday and torrential rain on Monday. Everything was coated in ice, including my car, driveway and the roads. I remained glued […]
How to Cope When You Feel Overwhelmed Read More »
Sometimes, it looks like a knitted square. My knitting group is small at the moment. Just three ladies contribute, but for each of them, it’s an important part of who they are. For Janice, it curbs anxiety. As each day wanes, she struggles with anxious demons who torture her with thoughts of the night. The
What Does Purpose Look Like? Read More »
When an elder reaches a certain age, and especially when they need care and move into a retirement home or long-term-care, a difficult conversation needs to happen. How do you want your story to end? For some people, this is unemotional writing of a living will, which expresses their wishes. Done, filed, don’t have to
Age is Just a Number Read More »
Maybe it’s rare these days, but I grew up with “respect your elders.” I called everyone “Mrs. Smyth” and “Mrs. Ruse,” and even when I grew up and these ladies invited me to use their first names, I couldn’t. My mother, who passed away in my mid- twenties, seemed to sit on my shoulder and
What Does Respect Mean, Anyway? Read More »
It was the end of a hectic day at work, and interruption after crisis after demand left me feeling like I had accomplished little. In the last hour, residents were beginning to gather for dinner, and I was taking the opportunity to achieve some of my “to do” list. I was focused and, I will
Isolation and the Power of Community Read More »
“What we had as a couple is gone. Now it’s all about coping with him and the way he acts. I still love him, but I miss normal.” I hear variations of this so often. “My mother is gone.” “I don’t recognize my brother.” “This isn’t the father I knew.” “I wish…I wish…I wish…” There’s
How to Find Normal When Normal Seems Hopeless Read More »
Why is it so hard to look after ourselves? We all know we should. We can hear our mother’s voices expounding the litany of advice we loved to ignore. “Eat your vegetables. Dress warmly when you go out in the winter. Get enough sleep. Don’t eat junk food. Exercise.” And if our mothers didn’t tell
The Tricky Business of Self-Care Read More »
How is this day unlike any other day? Those famous words were applicable to us as we celebrated Shrove Tuesday in our neighbourhood. The menu at lunch was, of course, pancakes, with sausage, bacon, peach and/or strawberry sauce and maple syrup. Resident’s eyes widened as this amazing plateful of goodies was brought to them. If
How to Offer Maximum Choice and Why Read More »
No, do more than hug. Give them the gift of your time. Today began with falling snow and baking muffins and joy. Somewhere around noon, it all fell apart. One of my residents was unresponsive and I worried that I was seeing stroke symptoms. Another with serious heart issues was unwell. We were trying to
Hug A Care Partner Today Read More »
“Nobody’s asked me how I’m doing.” The poignant words lingered in my mind long after the evening ended. I spoke to a group at church about self-care in ministry, but because I used examples from my life and work, the topic of elders in long-term care naturally rose to the surface. A lovely lady, an
“How Are You Doing?” Read More »