Supporting all who care for elders
It probably started with niggling thoughts chasing themselves through your brain. Mom looks unkept. She’d never allow anyone to see her with her hair unsettled before. She seems frail, too. I wonder if she’s eating enough. From there, perhaps you made an off comment to a sibling or other family member. “How do you think […]
How to Navigate the Minefield of Choosing a Long-Term-Care Home Read More »
“I’ll never put my mother in a home.” I’ve heard these words many times over the years. My biggest challenge is always to keep silent, or to carefully ask a few gentle questions. Spoken with conviction and often a sanctimonious air, the words don’t usually invite dialogue. Those eight words hold hidden messages and although not all
Why I Think My Care Choices For My Elder Are Better Than Yours Read More »
“Will you be my neighbour?” Fred Rogers’ winsome question prodded a generation to think beyond their cultural norms. Neighbours were the same age, colour and religion as me. They were adults, they didn’t have wheelchairs or (gasp!) mental health issues. When we did something for them, they gave back. Yeah, we could be neighbours with
Will You Be My (Elderly) Neighbour? How to Connect 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 »
“Someone stole my purse!” Barbara pushed her walker into the dining room to make her announcement with as much volume as she could muster. Her eyebrows jumped and her eyes bugged to emphasize the seriousness of the accusation. Several residents peered down the hall, perhaps expecting to see the culprit racing away with the purse
What Happens When Your Purse is Stolen Read More »
I love to beat the system. By that, I often mean spending far less (or nothing) on something that’s supposed to cost me a fortune. Two of the world’s cutest baby overalls, one for each new grandchild, fall into this category. The fabric was given to me by someone downsizing, and its primary colours of
How to Beat the System This Christmas and Choose Joy Read More »
Hazel looked around her bedroom from the proximity of her pillow. Bins and boxes lay piled in one corner, and the knowledge that she’d just had her last sleep in this room sat heavily on her chest. Not that she had strong ties to the room, but today she moved to long-term-care and she knew
Practical Tips to Prepare for the Big Move Read More »
It was the end of a hectic day at work, and interruption after crisis after demand left me feeling like I had accomplished little. In the last hour, residents were beginning to gather for dinner, and I was taking the opportunity to achieve some of my “to do” list. I was focused and, I will
Isolation and the Power of Community Read More »