Supporting all who care for elders
“There once was a little girl, Who had a little curl, Right in the middle of her forehead. And when she was good, She was very good indeed, But when she was bad, she was horrid.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 1. I’ve known that poem all my life but wasn’t aware it was written by Longfellow. […]
The middle-aged man walks onto the stage and pulls out a chair. The audience watches in silence as he drags the chair to the back of the stage, positions it in the corner and sits on it. His back facing the audience, he begins. “My name is Brian. I have Alzheimer’s, but it doesn’t have
“I Have Alzheimer’s But It Doesn’t Have Me.” Read More »
It was time to say good-bye. The activation students had been with us two days a week for several months and on their last day, we took them out to lunch. These two young men had grown, matured and learned so much over the weeks. As we chatted together, my supervisor asked them, “What was the
Breakfast With Betty Read More »
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 »