Supporting all who care for elders
Sarah wanted to do something special for her husband, who “walked with dementia.” He’d always been a sports fan, and she decided she would take him to see one of his favourite teams play. He’d always loved live games, and maybe there’d be a moment which would bring back happy memories. It was a lot […]
Should Grandma Stay Home From the Celebration? Read More »
The general consensus was that we were nuts. “You’re going camping? With elders?” We did. We called it a “camping experience,” in that we stayed in a totally accessible double cabin. We took a nurse, PSWs, and so much staff we were almost one-to-one. The average age of the elders with us was 90. One
Practical Ideas to Bring Your Elder to the Party (Or Bring the Party to Them!) Read More »
I’m planning a wedding for this fall. Yes, my own. (Insert wild applause here.) Amidst the joy (this man is the one I prayed for) the fun (getting in touch with my crafty side) the work (sewing four flower girls’ dresses) and the angst (will my “country-chic” wedding look like a kindergartener put it together?)
Can I Include My Elder in My Summer Celebrations? How? 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 time and thought went into
The Love Language of “Receiving Gifts” Makes a Gift More Than a Gift Read More »
We came together to celebrate my Dad’s birthday and to spend a few precious moments before my parents went to visit my sister and her family out west for a few weeks. My husband and I, my parents and my two little girls visited over a meal, and of course, cake. I
How to Find Creative Ways to Give Quality Time Read More »
My mom loved to play games in an evening with guests and the family. Normally serious and strict, she morphed into a silly kid who could act a charade with the best of them. When Alzheimer’s crept through her brain, this didn’t change. She still loved to play, but her ability to participate waned every
Loving Advice to All Caregivers Everywhere: Don’t Miss the Party! Read More »
The unused patio looked a little pathetic. A long, rectangular space, no one enjoyed it because the planters were full of weeds, needed to be repositioned and you could only sit if you had a wheelchair or carried a kitchen chair out. The door was narrow and the lip at the bottom made it a
With a Little Creativity, Dinner Can Be a Fun Experience Read More »
“They cancelled Hallowe’en? How can they cancel Hallowe’en?” That was the cry last year as we saw event after event cancelled. Because Hallowe’en occurred outside, we held faint hope that perhaps it could still happen, but eventually the word came from above that it, too, was cancelled. Little did we know how many other events
How to Find Purpose and Fun With Your Elder this Hallowe’en Read More »
I am so thankful for the many elders who added to my life.
Three elders who helped complete the puzzle of my life Read More »
When dementia makes the outcome of celebrations unsure, how do you cope?
How to Celebrate When a Disaster is Possible Read More »