Supporting all who care for elders
Help wanted! I stood staring down the basement stairs. A few weeks post hip replacement, and I’d had wonderful support. A friend came to stay with me for the first week, family kept in touch, and I was getting around and beginning to do things for myself. Except the laundry. My laundry room sat in […]
Valuable Resources to Help With Your Caregiver Journey Read More »
“It takes a village to raise a child.” African proverb Care partners need a village, too. A group of sometimes unrelated people who in ways, big or small, pour into their elder. I can hear you. “Yes, that sounds lovely. But I have no village. There’s only me.” That’s a recipe for disaster. This month,
How to Recognize and Begin to Overcome Caregiver Stress Read More »
Inflation. Inflammation. Although they have slightly different meanings, they both come from the root “inflame,” and when it refers to your body, it’s not good. When your ankles are swollen on a hot, summer day, or you have an infection and part of your body swells, you are aware of it. It’s uncomfortable. You keep
How to Eat So Your Body Doesn’t Blow Up Like a Bubble Read More »
Is it playing those word games I love? Solving math puzzles I don’t? Spending regular time with a group of close friends? Good genes? All of these are factors, but the single greatest element of brain health over which you have control is your diet.
The Number One Factor in Maintaining a Healthy Brain Read More »
Greta knew that her kids wanted to talk with her, and it scared her. She had guessed their concerns for her mobility, her safety and the fact that she still lived in the house they’d grown up in would be the topic of conversation. They sat around her kitchen table, and
What 81% of Canadian Elders Want and How Technology Can Help Read More »
Gladys didn’t understand the appeal. Her friends had fancy phones which did all kinds of things besides make phone calls. They did their banking without leaving the building. Was that even safe? They got their groceries and other things delivered and talked to some weird guy called “Siri.” All these things scared and confused her,
5 Ways Technology Can Help the Other 10% Read More »
It wasn’t that long ago… “When my mother moves downstairs, will the right cables be in the room to connect her desktop?” In our facility, with independent living, assisted living and care, this elder had moved into care. Beginning to settle in, her family was in the process of moving her belongings out of her
5 Ways Technology Can Enhance the Life of Your Elder Read More »
Sarah couldn’t get the picture of her mom lying on the floor in the kitchen out of her mind. The fall hadn’t been serious; there’d been minimal damage. But Sarah’s mind and even her dreams kept crowding with what ifs. What if she hadn’t come to visit that day? What if Mom had laid there
How to Cope When Bubble Wrap Isn’t an Option Read More »
On Friday, Sarah experienced the nightmare every care partner dreads. She came over to her mom’s apartment to find her on the floor. Fortunately, she’d only slipped down as she tripped over a kitchen mat about ten minutes before Sarah arrived. Her bottom had received most of the impact, and other than a large purple
How to Respectfully Create a Safer Environment Read More »
A fall can change everything. Not a profound statement. Of course it’s true. Broken bones are no picnic, especially for elders who heal slower and have multiple medical issues. But have you considered this: Falls can trigger chronic pain which will change the quality of a person’s life. Head injuries and all their implications as
How to Avoid the Fall That Can Change Everything Read More »