Supporting all who care for elders
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 »
I hate my walker. When I had my first hip replacement five years ago, I was able to leave my walker behind after about six weeks and use only my cane. But time and arthritis creeping into other parts of my body made it different this time. At five months in, I am still using
When Unexpected Support Brings Joy to Caregivers 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 »