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

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

Here’s a scenario. On a trip to the local drug store, I pick up several items and head to the checkout. I also need stamps, which I know can be obtained at the cash register. While I am placing my items on the desk, the cashier begins to fire questions at me. Do I want

Since I was a little girl, the words “respect your elders” were drummed into myconsciousness. To this day, when I call some elders by their first name, I see a vision of my mother’s eyebrows raised with the look. It’s a sign of respect to use older people’s proper names. There were clearer rules when I

Anxiety produces a great Scrabble score, but not much else positive. Two daughters faced a care partner’s nightmare. They had to move their exceedingly reluctant mother from her condo to a room where she could get more care. They shuddered when they remembered how they had moved her a few years ago, and this was

It’s a question there is no one answer to. Care partners have different roles, depending on who they are and who they are partnering in care with. For the next several weeks, we are going to be looking at care partners and their roles, by looking at each letter in their name. C-A-R-E  P-A-R-T-N-E-R, who

Once upon a time, many years ago, you had an uncomfortable conversation with your mom. “Will you be my power of attorney?” she said. “Your brother isn’t into that kind of thing and your sister lives out of town.” Talking about things like this took you far outside your comfort zone, so you made a

People don’t age at the same rate. That’s not rocket science, right? But what if they are married? One usually begins caring for the other. Years may pass, but eventually a day comes when one needs to move to a place where they can get more care. How do couples survive? I’ve observed many over

Yesterday, an ice storm pounded our area. Freezing rain and wind swirled in the streets outside, and the bushes near the window became coated with ice. “Aren’t they pretty?” said a resident as she walked by. Yeah. Pretty. From the inside. When 4:00 o’clock came, I checked the window again, frowning. It wasn’t letting up,

“Maybe I should give up the idea of the puppy.” As these words ran through my head, I experienced an overwhelming sadness. The thought made my face crumple and tears course down my cheeks. No. I’d been saving for months. But the reality on the computer screen couldn’t be denied. It was a luxury I