Supporting all who care for elders
Friday is “decorating day” at work. In the Community Life office, where all things creative happen, red bags of Christmas trees line the walls and boxes and bins of glittering decorations are everywhere. At 9:00, staff who usually spend their day in front of a computer screen will join those of us who work on […]
How to Have Yourself a Flexible Little Christmas Read More »
Family time over the holidays can be fun and exhilarating–the stuff of which memories are made. Family time over the holidays can be a disaster, a bad dream, and the birthplace of hurt feelings and misunderstanding. All this can happen in the best of families. In the same family. Over the same holiday season. If
How to Make Family “Work” This Christmas Read More »
Maybe where you live, the weather outside isn’t frightful, but the calendar is moving forward. Hallowe’en and Remembrance Day are behind us, and our neighbours to the south are celebrating Thanksgiving next week. Black Friday, Cyber Monday–however you look at it, Christmas is coming. If you are caring for someone with dementia, Christmas takes a
How To Have Christmas, Dementia and Joy Read More »
She was a sweet lady, and not that old. Her dementia was vascular, and the changes in her in the last year had been profound. She’d come to live with her son and his wife because she could no longer cope on her own. In our little townhouse complex, I lived on one side of
Here’s How to Blow it When Talking with Dementia Read More »
When my kids were little, I was not a fan of Hallowe’en. That’s an understatement. I hated it. The spiritual implications, the cost, and all that candy put me off. I probably scarred them for life, but they got dressed up and we took them out to Chuck E. Cheese, where they came home with
Hallowe’en and Dementia Read More »
In celebration of my 300th blog, in the month of October, I will be featuring a series called “Who is A Care Partner?” Each week, I will interview a professional care partner. Different responsibilities, nationalities, and perspectives, but one thing in common–a heart for elders. This is the fourth in the series. Tell us a
Who Is A Care Partner–Maria Read More »
In celebration of my 300th blog, in the month of October I will be featuring a series called “Who is A Care Partner?” Each week, I will interview a professional care partner. Different responsibilities, nationalities, and perspectives, but one thing in common–a heart for elders. This is the third in the series. When Lillian talks
Who Is A Care Partner?–Lillian Read More »
In celebration of my 300th blog, in the month of October I will be featuring a series called “Who is A Care Partner?” Each week, I will interview a professional care partner. Different responsibilities, nationalities, and perspectives, but one thing in common–a heart for elders. This is the second in the series. Niala Dookie was
Who Is A Care Partner–Niala Read More »
In celebration of my 300th blog, in the month of October I will be featuring a series called “Who is A Care Partner?” Each week, I will interview a different professional care partner. Different responsibilities, nationalities, and perspectives, but one thing in common–a heart for elders. This is the first in the series. Honeygirl’s journey to her
Who Is A Care Partner–Honeygirl Read More »
“I’ll never put my mother in a home.” I’ve heard these words many times over the years. They’re often said with conviction and a sanctimonious air that doesn’t invite dialogue. There are many hidden messages in these eight words, and although not all of them may be intended, some definitely are. In some cultures, it’s considered dishonourable