Supporting all who care for elders
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 »
I hate my walker. When I had my first hip replacement five years ago, I was able to leave my walker behind after about six weeks and use only my cane. But time and arthritis creeping into other parts of my body made it different this time. At five months in, I am still using
When Unexpected Support Brings Joy to Caregivers Read More »
Help wanted! I stood staring down the basement stairs. A few weeks post hip replacement, and I’d had wonderful support. A friend came to stay with me for the first week, family kept in touch, and I was getting around and beginning to do things for myself. Except the laundry. My laundry room sat in
Valuable Resources to Help With Your Caregiver Journey Read More »
“It takes a village to raise a child.” African proverb Care partners need a village, too. A group of sometimes unrelated people who in ways, big or small, pour into their elder. I can hear you. “Yes, that sounds lovely. But I have no village. There’s only me.” That’s a recipe for disaster. This month,
How to Recognize and Begin to Overcome Caregiver Stress Read More »