Supporting all who care for elders
Floris, who was care partner for her husband, arranged an event she thought might be special for him. He “walked with Alzheimer’s” and had always been a baseball fan. He had a specific team he loved, and although it was challenging, she wanted to take him to a game when his team played in town. […]
Quality Of Life Can Be Tricky in Your Alzheimer’s Journey Read More »
When my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in her mid-fifties, the disease and all that went with it was a huge cloud of doubt to me. It was 1975, and not as much was known about the disease. There weren’t the supports for family, and we didn’t have the internet to do research.
How to Lower Your Risk of an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis. Read More »
Sometimes, when reading a novel, I come across a character who develops Alzheimer’s. Or their mother does. Or they’re a witness to a murder but are discredited because of their diagnosis. Maybe it’s my sensitivity to the subject, but it blows me away how often Alzheimer’s and other dementias show up as a
My Mother Was Diagnosed With Alzheimer’s. What Do I Do Now? Read More »
Sometimes reciprocal care takes a little work. Operation Christmas Child is a wonderful program of Samaritan’s Purse. Special boxes are packed for children of various ages with items like clothes, school supplies, small toys, books etc. They are then distributed by the organization to children who would otherwise not receive a
Practical Ideas for Elders to Give Care Read More »
My most poignant story of reciprocal care happened the day I came back to work after the death of my husband. It’s a story I’ve told before, but thinking back on it still brings tears to my eyes. I knew that first day would be gruelling, Part of me wanted to find a place to
Your Elder Has a Gift to Share with Everyone Read More »
Mr. Higgins was a true gentleman. Unlike most of our residents, he preferred to wear a suit amd tie every day, and his gentle manner made him a favourite with all. Although he’d spent most of his life indoors at his business office, I persuaded him to come out to our central garden one beautiful
How to Defeat the Spectre of Dehydration This Summer Read More »
“I feel like I’m looking for an angel with a halo and wings. Or maybe a whole chorus of angels, because one definitely won’t do.” A week earlier… Abby felt overwhelmed as she looked at the many notes she had spread across the dining room table. Mom would be returning home from
Advice About What to Look For in a Caregiver Read More »
As a fiction writer, one of the skills I’ve developed is to get inside my characters’ heads and hearts. I need to feel what they are feeling and then spill that onto the page in ways that draw my reader in. That’s what makes today’s blog so difficult to write.
How to Deal with a Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or Dementia Read More »
There are words whose spelling trips me up every single time. It’s like I have a mental block about them, and it drives me nuts. Why can’t I learn them and put this behind me? Diarrhea. Nutrition.
When Should I Worry? When Forgetfulness Becomes a Problem Read More »
Can you relate? You open the fridge door and stare inside, searching for a clue. You came in the kitchen for something, and you think it’s in the fridge, but what was it? You look everywhere for your phone, only to find it in the pocket of the jacket you’re wearing. You hear yourself saying,
How to Remember When You Are Prone to Forget Read More »