Supporting all who care for elders
“No.” All her life, Maggie had been in the middle of everything. A little raucous and “off the wall,” irreverent and fun, full of life. But life had almost drained from her, and as a widow, blind and in a wheelchair, she didn’t bubble as she used to. She barely simmered most days. So when […]
How to Find Variety in Community For Your Elder Read More »
We sat on our swing on the deck. At mid-afternoon it looked like dusk. Our solar lights sprung to life and an eerie stillness descended. We wore our special glasses and watched with awe as the eclipse of 2024 slipped across the sky. As awed as I was by the whole event, something else struck
How Loneliness and Isolation Are Toxic for Elders Read More »
Have you ever been in a room with a loudmouth? Maybe at work, or a party? I met one in a bus shelter once. A loudmouth has opinions and loves to expound them. They have no interest in listening, little agenda for hearing or understanding your opinion, and they are “full of themselves.” Their opinion
How to Outsmart Chronic Pain so it Sits in the Back Read More »
I have a companion who travels with me 24/7. I can’t call him friend, and even companion sounds a little too cozy. Gremlin? Hanger-oner? Pest? He won’t kill me, but if given the chance, he’ll steal parts of me, a little each day. If he wins, he will leave me incapacitated, so I must fight
How to Keep Chronic Pain From Stealing Your Life Read More »
We’re working on a project. It’s a secret at the moment, but I can’t remember when I’ve had so much fun. It involves a bucketload of creativity, the gifts of both my husband and myself, and some reaching outside several boxes to figure things out. Ideas for it wake me at night and encroach on
Finding Ways to Create with Joy with Your Elder Read More »
“What happens in knitting group stays in knitting group.” Seriously? What crimes could possibly be committed in knitting group? Perhaps not crimes, but lots of interesting stories and long held secrets emerged while needles clacked. What? I can’t tell, because, what happens in knitting group… Last week we looked at the benefits of creativity for
Finding Creativity for Your Elder in Unexpected Places Read More »
Barbara had a bad attitude her entire life, and it didn’t improve when she struggled with dementia. Snarky, sometimes mean, but also needy and wanting all the attention all the time, she’d always looked after herself. Now she couldn’t, and she wasn’t gracious about it. Even her dementia didn’t stop her from making snide remarks
How Creativity Opens New Worlds for Elders with Dementia Read More »
Back in our “poverty days,” which seemed to last for years, we had no dental insurance for a period of time while my husband changed jobs. As soon as we had coverage again, I got the kids to the dentist, but didn’t go myself. My internal dialogue ran like this: “I’ve gone this long without
One Key to Success With Exercise and My Secret Inspiration Read More »
I remember when my niece, Jenn, discovered marathon running. After four children, she was heavier than she wanted to be, and wanted to be her healthiest self. She’d always been a person of incredible discipline, and she brought this to running. She completed a 5 km. run, then a half marathon, then full marathons. She
Why I Hate Exercise But I Do It Anyway Read More »
It’s almost here, and I’d better share quickly so you can use these ideas for the big event. Or pass them on. Or maybe next year. On the Ninth Day of Christmas, Dementia Gave to Me…Christmas Cards I can’t remember the last time I sent physical Christmas cards. Many years ago, I switched to a
On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, Dementia Gave to Me… Read More »