Supporting all who care for elders
John was a “frequent flyer” in my work area. Able to propel his wheelchair down the hall from where he lived to our neighbourhood, his favourite activity was to create havoc in our dining room. He’d move from table to table, touching dishes and cutlery with hands which had been everywhere. John wasn’t popular–that’s an […]
How to Triumph Over Toxic Behaviour in Dementia Read More »
I love to beat the system. By that, I often mean spending far less (or nothing) on something that’s supposed to cost me a fortune. Two of the world’s cutest baby overalls, one for each new grandchild, fall into this category. The fabric was given to me by someone downsizing, and its primary colours of
How to Beat the System This Christmas and Choose Joy Read More »
Think back to other Christmas seasons. What part of the season bugged the heck out of you? And how many of those thorny issues don’t exist in 2020? Here are a few I thought of: Rushing around to malls to shop. No parking, no time. (I’ve done all of my shopping online, at my leisure,
Emerging From Pandemic Sorrow to a Creative Christmas Read More »
Can they really cancel Christmas? Where I live, and all over the world, people are living in various stages of lockdown. The second surge of COVID-19 is worse than the first, and every day the numbers are higher. It’s December and we are looking forward to Christmas. Or are we? Can it be Christmas when
How to Have an Epic Christmas, Not a Cancelled One Read More »
It’s time to get specific! As I plan for a mentally healthy winter, I need to do some introspection. What I discover won’t be the same for you, but the process is similar. Look at what matters to you, large and small, and what you can and can’t control. Then fill your life with what
How to Keep From Emotionally Drowning This Pandemic Winter Read More »
It may be one of those weird 2020 things, but where I live and throughout Southern Ontario and some states in the northern U.S., we are experiencing the warmest November in history. Yesterday, I wore a sundress and sandals–clothes I had sadly put away for the season. It’s only supposed to last a few more
How to Plan for a Mentally Healthy Winter Read More »
I always dread the winter. I’m not exactly a snow hater, and I recognize its beauty as long as I’m not driving or commuting through it. There’s something cozy about a fireplace and a book. But I struggle with two aspects of winter–lack of light and the absence of colour. Each year I stage mini
How To Increase Empathy While Staggering Through Life Read More »
It was time to say good-bye. The activation student had been with us two days a week for several months and on his last day, we took him out to lunch. He had grown, matured and learned so much over the weeks. As we chatted together, my supervisor asked him, “What was the best experience you
Surprising Ways Those with Dementia Can Care For You Read More »
I watched my favourite show with a sinking heart. Rebecca, a widow and the mother of grown triplets, lost her phone and became unreasonably flustered. She mentioned that Miguel, her second husband, had just replaced this phone as she’d lost its predecessor. In the next scene, she goes shopping and can’t find her way home.
Why Is It So Hard To Think Of Receiving Care From My Loved One? Read More »
In the week after my husband died, several milestones occurred, each bringing its own white-hot pain. Meeting with the pastor and the funeral director to plan a service. Entering the casket room and picking out a plain, pine box. Writing out the words to say at the service. Saying those words. Greeting people afterwards. Talking
Learning How To Receive Care From Those You Care For Read More »