peachmanstewart

The Alzheimer Society is a great resource for caregivers, even if you aren’t dealing with Alzheimer’s. Their information about caregiver stress is excellent and practical, and I am going to borrow their bullet points, but add my own commentary. * Denial Denial of the disease and denial of the stress are both common. “She isn’t […]

Barb couldn’t get a handle on her life. Her three children were growing, but seemed to need her more than when they were little. Her oldest was in university, and the next in her last year of high school. Barb couldn’t imagine paying for two in university. The youngest was into soccer and band and

It usually hits me in the fall. When the trees are robed in magnificent, brilliant colours, I try to fill my eyes and brain with the beauty. Each corner holds a surprise–an even more dazzling red, a deeper burgundy, and more intense yellow. I try to store all that colour and beauty for the stark

When I started working with the elderly, I knew nothing. I didn’t know much about older people. I am the youngest grandchild on both sides. With multiple siblings in both my parent’s families, there were many grandchildren, and by the time I came along, the grandparents were elderly and coping with their own issues. I

            Taken on our thirtieth anniversary, two months before Bill diedHave you ever looked at a beautiful clear sky, and noticed one wispy white cloud? The next day is a violent storm, and looking back, you realise it started with the innocent cloud. Have you ever had that happen in

I was horrified when I saw her. Sitting at the entrance to the subway, she was bundled in a coat, hat and mittens. She leaned against a post.  People streamed by her, and she looked at them with a hopeful expression. She probably hadn’t seen 20 yet. Propped against her legs was a sign. “Having

Not many sign up to be a caregiver. When I was a young mom with two little girls, my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. This was over thirty years ago, and I knew little about the disease. Neither did my dad, who was her primary caregiver. There were some supports available at the time,

Are you a caregiver? Many of you might answer negatively, because you don’t provide hands-on care, or get paid to give care. You don’t live with someone who needs help with the activities of daily living, and you aren’t related to the person needing care. That must mean you aren’t a caregiver. Google, Wikipedia and

There’s someone new in our house, and he’s turning it upside down. Literally. Our new ten-week-old beagle puppy is energy, fun and affection personified. Yes, he’s a lot of work, but so much joy, too. He’s snuggled beside me as I write, making sleepy puppy noises (which sound so much like meows, they make me

Have you ever walked into a raging windstorm? Swirling debris pelts you, and you close your mouth and even your eyes at times in defence. Step by step you go forward, but your one thought is, “When will this be over?” This week was a bit like that. Crisis after crisis (some of my own