Supporting all who care for elders
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 »
They had planned well for Annie’s 100th birthday. Her sister and nieces had flown in from the other end of the country. The table looked festive with balloons and a table centre resembling fireworks. They’d ordered a chocolate cake (her favourite) big enough to feed the entire dining room. Everyone was poised to sing. They
On the Fifth Day of Christmas, Dementia Gave to Me… Read More »
The whole song leaves me wondering. Partridges are small for eating, pear trees are dormant in winter and as for the leaping lords and milking maids…forget it. (The five golden rings have possibilities, but I got a golden engagement ring in March and a golden wedding band in September, so I’m good for rings as
On the First Day of Christmas, Dementia Gave To Me… Read More »
The year after my husband died, I asked to make Christmas dinner. My sister-in-law and I went year-about with Christmas, and it was her turn. My coping mechanism, for the first few months, entailed keeping myself so busy, I didn’t have a lot of time to think. I worked full-time, made all the preparations for
The One Where Christmas Happened Without You And We Found A Way Read More »