Supporting all who care for elders
Doesn’t this dog have guilt written all over his face? I can be easily motivated by guilt. “Grandma, we haven’t come over in so long. I miss you.” Immediately, plans are changed or cancelled. How had I let time slip by without seeing my precious girls? “How long since you’ve had your ducts cleaned?” (Ummm, […]
Are There Practical Weapons to Attack Feelings of Loneliness in Elders? Read More »
Vera sat in the easy chair in her room and allowed her mind to wander to the many times she’d felt she had no control of her life. Even when her physical body could bounce back, she’d struggled emotionally with the feeling before. Her mind took her back to when her first husband left her
Has Our Solution to Hospital Overcrowding Created Painful Loneliness for Elders? Read More »
During the winter of 2020, I thought I was going to die. Although pandemic hysteria ripped through every news broadcast and social media, I took all the precautions and didn’t think I would die of Covid. Loneliness was the virus that attacked my body, my emotions and my mental health and led me to despair,
The dangers of aching loneliness in elders and how to help Read More »
On a hectic trip to the local drug store, I picked up several items and headed to the checkout. I also needed stamps, which I knew can be obtained at the cash register. While I am placing my items on the desk, the cashier begins to fire questions at me. Do I want a bag?
How to offer respect to people with dementia Read More »
I drove to my friend’s house for a visit and to deliver some homemade jam she was buying from me. As I started to make my exit from the car, I did my normal “dance.” I got my body out, reached back for the bag of jams, my purse and my cane and got everything
How Ageism Affects You and Your Elder and What To Do About It Read More »
It’s hot and muggy and I am dripping sweat with the smallest exertion. I’d like to deep-dive into my favourite lake on Manitoulin Island. I’ll be doing that soon, but in the meantime, I’m going to deep-dive in the topic of respect. What is respect? What is ageism and why is it so harmful? How
A Deep-Dive Into How To Give the Gift of Respect to Your Elder Read More »
The unused patio looked a little pathetic. A long, rectangular space, no one enjoyed it because the planters were full of weeds, needed to be repositioned and you could only sit if you had a wheelchair or carried a kitchen chair out. The door was narrow and the lip at the bottom made it a
With a Little Creativity, Dinner Can Be a Fun Experience Read More »
“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Want to turn this mild mannered grandma into a fire-breathing maniac? It will happen if you use this worn out cliche in respect to elders. Besides the utter disrespect of it (“Old dog?” Ex-cuse me??) it’s not true. Not even a little bit. Although it’s true that
How to Beat Depression in Elders with “New Tricks” Read More »
The first time I held one, it immediately slipped out of my hand. A tube filled with liquid, it slid down the middle of itself and gravity sent it flying to the ground. Afraid I’d broken the thing, I picked it up, only to have it slip out again. Long before fidget toys were invented,
Why Diagnosing Depression in Elders is Like Holding a Wiggly Fidget Toy Read More »
When I think of wise people, Gertrude comes to mind. A simple lady without post-secondary education, she became best friends with Evelyn. I sometimes wonder if she sat in the blue lounge chair in her room one night and thought, “Evelyn needs me.” and set out to help. Quiet and gentle, she was also blind,
How to Defeat the Monster of Depression in Your Elder Read More »