Supporting all who care for elders
Few people seek out the role of care partner. Of those who do, most of them are paid to fulfil the role, and only a small portion of those feel called to the position. For the most part, the role of care partner is thrust upon family members who embrace it more or less reluctantly. […]
The Reluctant Care Partner Read More »
A special person I know is moving her mom into care in the next month. What a frightening journey that can be! She wrote to me, asking for advice. This was my reply: I was so pleased to hear you and your family had made the difficult decision to find a place for your mom
Advice on the Big Move to Long-Term-Care Read More »
Imagine you are 10 years old. Do you remember the house you lived in at that time? What did it look like? What did your mom and dad like to wear? Did your mom wear an apron and make your favourite foods? Was your dad busy at work all day, and did the family eat
How to Focus Your “Dementia-speak” and Produce Joy Read More »
We often associate anxiety with dementia, and that’s legitimate. There’s nothing like an impaired memory to cause fear, especially if everything and everyone is new to you every day–that’s scary. But that’s a topic for another day. Elders who don’t suffer from cognitive decline, but have an anxiety disorder, have an especially poignant struggle. I
The Crippling Force of Anxiety Read More »
Imagine you’re snuggled in bed having a great sleep, and at about 7:00 a.m., a stranger walks in your bedroom, turns on the light, and begins rifling through your clothes. As you cower under the sheets, she grabs the covers out of your hand, ripping them off you, and starts to perform some extremely personal
How To Make Your Approach Diffuse Anger Read More »
Families can be the best aspect of our lives, or the worst, or somewhere in between. The reality is that if families aren’t functioning well, or one member isn’t, becoming a care partner will make this more difficult. Rather than fighting, dysfunctional families will often stay away from each other, having as little contact as
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 »