Supporting all who care for elders
When I started working in eldercare, my work experience included my father’s pharmacy, employment in a library, and 15 years of running a daycare in my home. I loved the elders, was a good listener and had creative ideas, but I didn’t know what I was doing. The timing of my hiring came at the […]
How to Listen to the Dreams of Elders and Say “What If…” Read More »
Maisie leaned on her tip-toes to peek out the window at the top of the door. A tiny bird of a woman, she clung to her walker for balance. Thin grey hair, heavy brogues and tartan skirt and jacket, she presented the perfect picture of an elderly Scottish lady out for a stroll. She was
What I Learned About Closed Doors From an Elder with Dementia Read More »
Some memories are all about the emotions. It was 50 years ago, but the anger and indignity I felt still surface. As a kid, I’d loved family reunions. Usually held beside water, I could swim, run around with the three cousins who were close to my age and snack all day
How to Plan Summer Family Celebrations Which Include Your Elder Read More »
Take a guess. Of all the activities and trips I planned over the years for the frail elderly population I served, which was the most popular? The garden centre. We rented a bus because it was necessary with wheelchairs, but we didn’t go far. A large garden centre situated
Including Elders in Summer Fun Doesn’t Need to be Complicated Read More »
Does ageism matter? A few jokes and memes. People poking fun at their own infirmities? Should I lighten up? It matters because ageism is the last “acceptable” prejudice. It occupies our society, our workplaces, our government, and is so invasive that we don’t recognize it a lot of the time. It becomes an
How to Recognize Ageism in Every Part of Your Life Read More »
The meme contained a scowling older man holding a remote and yelling, “What channel is Netflix?” Ha ha. The message is clear: older people can’t figure out technology. I receive many such memes, jokes, cartoons in my inbox. I’m not about to start a war with my
How to Understand Ageism and Why It Should Scare You Read More »
Some days are life changing. I was scheduled for my first hip replacement, and would have six sessions of physio after to help with my recovery. But I suffered from bone spurs on that hip–nasty little gremlins which jabbed me with hot pokers when I moved–and my doctor had sent me for a
How to Prevent Falls through a Healthy Lifestyle Read More »
Helen hadn’t felt well for several days. She’d been to her doctor, who told her she had a mild flu. She’d had her flu shot, and that’s why it was mild. He told her the normal things to do to recover, and she started to feel better, although still weak. On the fifth
A Fall May Change Your Life in Surprising Ways Read More »
Janice sat at the dining room table, looking through the floor-to-ceiling windows to the garden. The pleasant view, the sun streaming in and her favourite lunchtime salad on the menu served to brighten her mood. Plus, her daughter would visit this afternoon, and perhaps one of her grandsons. She smiled as she got
The Far-reaching Effects of Falls in the Elderly Read More »
Have you ever laid awake at 2:00 or 3:00 a.m., willing yourself to go back to sleep? Trying to think of meadows of blowing grass or rolling waves–anything to induce slumber? This happens to me frequently. I fall asleep quickly, but during my first bathroom trip, a little switch in my brain trips, and I
Three Practical Ways to Improve Your Health in 2026 Read More »