Supporting all who care for elders
I came out of my supervisor’s office feeling battered and bruised. I hadn’t been chastised or done anything wrong. In the midst of a major change, I experienced the messy and overwhelming emotions that go along with that. We were starting a new neighbourhood, training new staff and learning a radical way to […]
How to Receive Care As Well As Give It Read More »
Mr. Higgins was a true gentleman. Unlike most of our residents, he preferred to wear a suit amd tie every day, and his gentle manner made him a favourite with all. Although he’d spent most of his life indoors at his business office, I persuaded him to come out to our central garden one beautiful
How to Defeat the Spectre of Dehydration This Summer Read More »
The event was definitely in the category of “I don’t know if this will work, but I’d like to try.” As a new and green Life Enrichment Coordinator with lots of energy, I often had “outside the box” ideas which left my co-workers shaking their heads. I purchased a kiddie
How to Make Your Outdoor Plans Sparkle This Summer Read More »
In 1957, the Paul Smith Quartet sang those words, and they’ve been picked up and sung by so many artists since then. And although for elders, it may not be easy in any season, summer does offer more possibilities. This month we’re going to look at what benefits the great outdoors offers, a few cautions,
Making the Livin’ Easy for Elders this Summer Read More »
They looked like two friends enjoying coffee and a chat, except one was furiously scribbling notes. As Cheri shared her experiences with hiring caregivers for her dad, Abby tried to write down all her insights. Everything Cheri said struck a chord with her, but it wasn’t the advice she’d been expecting. Delight
Four Surprising Characteristics to Consider When Hiring Caregivers Read More »
“I feel like I’m looking for an angel with a halo and wings. Or maybe a whole chorus of angels, because one definitely won’t do.” A week earlier… Abby felt overwhelmed as she looked at the many notes she had spread across the dining room table. Mom would be returning home from
Advice About What to Look For in a Caregiver Read More »
It began with a fall. Abby got the call at work and rushed to the hospital to meet the ambulance that brought her mother there. Mom had gone out to take the garbage to the curb and had slipped on some black ice. The kids had all left for school and the street was deserted,
Finding the Care You Need to Stay in Your Home Read More »
As a fiction writer, one of the skills I’ve developed is to get inside my characters’ heads and hearts. I need to feel what they are feeling and then spill that onto the page in ways that draw my reader in. That’s what makes today’s blog so difficult to write.
How to Deal with a Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or Dementia Read More »
There are words whose spelling trips me up every single time. It’s like I have a mental block about them, and it drives me nuts. Why can’t I learn them and put this behind me? Diarrhea. Nutrition.
When Should I Worry? When Forgetfulness Becomes a Problem Read More »
Can you relate? You open the fridge door and stare inside, searching for a clue. You came in the kitchen for something, and you think it’s in the fridge, but what was it? You look everywhere for your phone, only to find it in the pocket of the jacket you’re wearing. You hear yourself saying,
How to Remember When You Are Prone to Forget Read More »