Supporting all who care for elders
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 »
I stood at the top of the basement stairs, looking at what seemed to be an impossible descent. I’d recently had hip replacement surgery, and my friend washed, dried, folded and returned my laundry each week. So thankful, I knew I had to find a way to get down those stairs and become independent in
How To Find “Out-of-the-Box” Solutions Leading to Independence Read More »
Do you have a bucket list? In thinking about this, I knew I had something written in a file stored on the cloud. Probably 10 to 15 years old, curiosity sent me searching for it. What did I put on there? Some of the entries made me smile, some shake my head ruefully, and some
Do You Know the Secret Desire of Your Elder’s Heart? Read More »
I don’t consider myself an independent person. I once travelled to Disney with my sister and niece. They planned the whole excursion and I checked with them each day to find out which park or special event was on the roster. It didn’t matter to me. It was all fun, and I was happy to
How to Move Independence in Elders Beyond the Impossible Dream Read More »
Purpose in an elder’s life may be the most important aspect.
How to Bring Your Elder Purpose as Part of their Care Read More »
Dementia is much more than memory loss.
Dementia is Not All Memory Loss. Symptoms You Might Not have Considered Read More »
Did you ever participate in an old fashioned tug-of-war game? Participants line up on either side of a sturdy rope, and at the command, everyone pulls for all their worth! Those on the sidelines yell and cheer, and eventually the stronger side pulls the rope, and the people holding it, to their side. As a
How to Navigate an Emotional Tug-of-War for Care Partners Read More »
The few days before the move to long-term-care rank high among the most stressful for the care partner, and often the elder as well. Here’s a peek into the care partner’s mind: Am I doing the right thing? Should I have done it sooner? Did I wait too long?
The Scary Move to Long-Term Care: 5 Ways to Prepare Read More »
It probably started with niggling thoughts chasing themselves through your brain. Mom looks unkept. She’d never allow anyone to see her with her hair unsettled before. She seems frail, too. I wonder if she’s eating enough. From there, perhaps you made an off comment to a sibling or other family member. “How do you think
How to Navigate the Minefield of Choosing a Long-Term-Care Home Read More »