Supporting all who care for elders
Eric thought he cared for his elderly Dad. Since Eric’s mother had died, he visited once a week, got him groceries, made sure his prescriptions were refilled and took him for appointments. Once in a while, they’d go to a sporting event together. If you asked him how his dad was […]
How to Ask the Right Questions Before Becoming A Caregiver Read More »
Decisions. More decisions. Agonizing, frightening decisions. Besides the emotional tsunami of losing a love one, end-of-life contains so many difficult choices. I remember panic rolling through me as I thought, “What do I do? I don’t know what to do.” This week, we are going to look at these decisions and try to take the
How to Prepare For End-of-life With Your Elder Read More »
One day, your task as a care partner will end. You know this. Perhaps, on a day full of appointments and crises and decisions, you long for that day. In a secret place in your heart, you might think, “My elder has suffered enough and I’m tired. I’m ready for the end.” Then a nurse
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It’s hard to say “goodbye.” My four-year-old granddaughter stood with her eyes brimming. We’d had a magical weekend together at a cottage, and because they lived so far away, this kind of time almost never happened. We were going to see them again in a month when they came to our house to visit, so
How to Face “Good-bye” When the Time Comes Read More »
The answer to today’s Wordle puzzle was “ninja.” Immediately, tears pricked my eyes and a thousand memories flooded my brain. I miss my favourite ninja. You may have read about the passing of my lovely niece, Jenn, this last August. https://smallmiracles.online/the-not-so-small-miracle-of-jenn-a-life-well-lived/ As a marathon runner, she would get up before sunrise during Manitoba winters to
The One Where We Lost Someone, And Christmas Came Anyway Read More »
“I have never had a day that didn’t sparkle in some way.” Jennifer Dawn Shearer (1974-2023) Forty-nine years ago, I worked as a teenager among the troubled youth in Ontario housing. I received a call one day that changed my life. It made me grin
The (not so) Small Miracle of Jenn. A Life Well Lived. Read More »
An apple a day.. “Eat your vegetables!” Love at first bite. Life is uncertain, eat dessert first. You are what you eat. Ever think about how much of our life is obsessed with food? That’s not a bad thing, as obviously we need to eat to live, and proper nutrition is important. Beyond that, food
Everything You Know About Food Changes at End-of-Life Read More »
End-of-life decisions are gut-wrenching. That’s why it’s important to have current information and communicate. Knowing your elder’s wishes makes difficult choices possible. If you are in the position of making a decision for someone who isn’t able to tell you their wishes, having clear, up-to-date information gives you the best tools. DNR (Do Not Resuscitate)
How to Navigate Agonizing End-of-Life Decisions Read More »
“We can’t deal with this problem here. She needs to go to hospital.” They are all looking at you. The doctor, the nurses, the care staff, your family. As your mother’s care partner and power of attorney, the next decision is yours. Maybe she has pneumonia which isn’t responding to the antibiotics she’s been given,
Six Reasons To Say “No” To A Hospital Visit Read More »
We all have our own version of comfort food. For me it’s rich Greek yogurt almost anytime, or homemade soup with almond bread, toasted, on a cold night. Maybe an herbal tea, but only the fruity kind. None of the green stuff. Or comfort clothes. In this hot weather it’s shorts and a loose top
How to face your elder’s last days with courage Read More »