Supporting all who care for elders
I saw laughter. I saw whirlwinds of activity. I saw smiles and happy tears. I saw hugs and milling crowds and eating–lots of eating. I saw all these at work today. But I didn’t see helplessness. “An Elder-centred community creates opportunity to give as well as receive care. This is the antidote to helplessness.” Eden […]
The Family had a Party Read More »
Have you ever listened to your mind? Mine was a tornado of wildly whirling thoughts as I stood waiting for the train this morning. Here’s a tiny peek inside my brain: The renovations are starting today on my basement. Have we removed everything? Will they go smoothly? Will they be done by the time I
The Small Miracle of Listening to Birds Read More »
We all know that some personalities don’t get along well. There’s the person with the loud and flamboyant personality to your quiet, introverted one. Or the one who is the heroine of all her stories, who makes you want to scream. What about the one who always looks grumpy to you? Or someone who is
When You Can’t Make it Work Read More »
Everyone’s journey is different, but here is one I see frequently. Diane cared for her husband all their married life, and became a care partner the day he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. She read everything she could find about the disease, and related topics such as the side effects of the medications. She watched
Connecting with Staff Read More »
Just because “receiving gifts” is last on my list of love languages doesn’t mean I don’t like them! More than any other love language, this illustrates how they mesh together and depend on each other. If your main gift is quality time, a gift has more meaning when
The Love Language of Receiving Gifts Make a Gift More Than a Gift Read More »
“I don’t feel normal. I don’t feel like me.” As we talked, I asked her what she felt “normal” was. She told me about a time when she could do everything for herself, and used to run church groups. I asked my friend how long ago that had been, and we agreed it was about
Care Partner Wednesday–What is Normal? Read More »
Have you ever run into an old friend you haven’t seen for a long time? After the obligatory, “Hi, how are you?” the answer is inevitably, “Busy.” We wear “busy” like a badge of honour. Our time is full, and somehow that makes us better, more important people. For care partners, balancing life is especially
Care Partner Wednesday–It’s All About Time Read More »
Beth stood in the aisle at the drug store, looking at rows and rows of adult diapers. What kind to get? “Who knew there were so many varieties?” she said to no one in particular. Immediately, she was transported back 30 years, listening to her husband describe the identical experience. He had just returned from
Care Partner Wednesday–Walking the Tightrope of Changing Roles Read More »
Dr. Bill Thomas, founder of The Eden Alternative, poses an interesting question. What if almost everything we believe about aging is wrong? You’ve seen it before. A magazine article about a man who still runs marathons in his 90s. A woman who graduates from university in her 80s. Someone who is still working as a
Care Partner Wednesday–What If We Got Aging All Wrong? Read More »
Without purpose, life is flat. It’s a series of obligations, where we trudge through each cold, grey day. Nothing matters. Purpose brings colour and sparkle. It makes what we do in a day matter. Purpose is a job we love, relationships that matter, and making a difference. For someone with dementia, or who is elderly
Care Partner Wednesday–A Sense of Purpose Read More »