Supporting all who care for elders
“I want some chocolate ice cream.” My co-worker, Melissa was startled to hear this. Paul was at the end of his life and had lost all interest in food. Although he could still swallow, he hadn’t had anything to eat or drink for several days, and staff had been instructed not to offer anything. Melissa […]
Comfort Feeding Only Read More »
When Bill was dying of heart disease, I didn’t know he was dying. He was palliative and nearing end-of-life, but I didn’t understand those terms, and no one explained them to me. Perhaps because he was only 55, every medical person was full of hope until all hope was gone. One disturbing symptom was when
When Food Is No Longer Possible Read More »
Every care partner knows the end will come someday. Maybe they dread it. Maybe they welcome it. Maybe it depends on the day. Whatever your feelings, it’s likely that you have questions. Like the entire care partner journey, end-of-life is full of difficult decisions. There is no manual that helps you make the right one,
What Does End-of-Life Look Like? Read More »
There’s a rhythm to the day in my neighbourhood. Today, I was in at 6:30 to make a special breakfast. Even though my body isn’t a big fan of getting up at 4:00 a.m., there’s something magical about the hush of the dining room when the only sound is one care partner making breakfast. I
Sundowning–Why Life Gets Crazy in the Afternoon Read More »
“There once was a little girl, Who had a little curl, Right in the middle of her forehead. And when she was good, She was very good indeed, But when she was bad, she was horrid.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 1. I’ve known that poem all my life but wasn’t aware it was written by Longfellow.
The middle-aged man walks onto the stage and pulls out a chair. The audience watches in silence as he drags the chair to the back of the stage, positions it in the corner and sits on it. His back facing the audience, he begins. “My name is Brian. I have Alzheimer’s, but it doesn’t have
“I Have Alzheimer’s But It Doesn’t Have Me.” Read More »
It was time to say good-bye. The activation students had been with us two days a week for several months and on their last day, we took them out to lunch. These two young men had grown, matured and learned so much over the weeks. As we chatted together, my supervisor asked them, “What was the
Breakfast With Betty Read More »
If you talk to anyone living in Southern Ontario this week, there is only one topic. The weather. Friday ‘s grey skies turned to snow Friday night, ice pellets on Saturday, freezing rain on Sunday and torrential rain on Monday. Everything was coated in ice, including my car, driveway and the roads. I remained glued
How to Cope When You Feel Overwhelmed Read More »
Sometimes, it looks like a knitted square. My knitting group is small at the moment. Just three ladies contribute, but for each of them, it’s an important part of who they are. For Janice, it curbs anxiety. As each day wanes, she struggles with anxious demons who torture her with thoughts of the night. The
What Does Purpose Look Like? Read More »
When an elder reaches a certain age, and especially when they need care and move into a retirement home or long-term-care, a difficult conversation needs to happen. How do you want your story to end? For some people, this is unemotional writing of a living will, which expresses their wishes. Done, filed, don’t have to
Age is Just a Number Read More »