Family and Care

A Caregiver’s Journey: Finding a Way When You Don’t Make a Plan

Leave a Comment / Age-Related Memory Loss, Alzheimer's Disease, Care Partners, Community, Dementia, Elderhood, Exercise, Family and Care, Independence/Choice, Respect, Stress /

     From last week: Eric’s caregiver journey began when his elderly father, who lived alone, fell and broke a hip and wrist. The doctor tells Eric he thinks his dad may suffer from mild dementia and suggests he gets tested.      Read last week’s blog here: https://smallmiracles.online/how-to-ask-the-right-questions-before-becoming-a-caregiver/      After meeting with the […]

A Caregiver’s Journey: Finding a Way When You Don’t Make a Plan Read More »

How to Ask the Right Questions Before Becoming A Caregiver

Leave a Comment / Alzheimer's Disease, Care Partners, Dementia, End of Life, Family and Care, Independence/Choice, Long-Term-Care, Stress /

    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 »

How to Fight Loneliness by Making Connections

Leave a Comment / Anxiety, Care Partners, Community, Depression, Elderhood, Exercise, Family and Care, Independence/Choice, Loneliness, Mental Health, Purpose, Respect, Stress, Support /

    Libby had taught the junior grades for 30 years, and she’d loved it. Certainly, she saw problems today which had been unknown when her career began, but she’s done her research and had learned new approaches. Kids were kids, after all, and they needed encouragement and for someone to believe in them. And

How to Fight Loneliness by Making Connections Read More »

How to Eradicate Boredom and Find Purpose for Elders

Leave a Comment / Anxiety, Care Partners, Chronic Pain, Depression, Exercise, Family and Care, Grief, Loneliness, Long-Term-Care, Mental Health, Purpose /

 Walter looked out the window but he didn’t notice the lush green of the garden. It had rained for three days straight, sometimes with thunderstorms, and the grey skies suited his mood. The weather had kept him inside and he couldn’t think of a thing he wanted to do. The book he had started a

How to Eradicate Boredom and Find Purpose for Elders Read More »

Practical Ways to Turn Helplessness into Independence

2 Comments / Alzheimer's Disease, Anxiety, Care Partners, Community, Depression, Elderhood, Exercise, Family and Care, Independence/Choice, Loneliness, Mental Health, Purpose, Respect /

     Unlike most of the female population, I hate shopping. Perhaps it’s more accurate to say I hate going into stores, because Amazon and I have an “up close and personal” relationship. But there is one store that will get me out of the house in a minute–my local garden centre.       As

Practical Ways to Turn Helplessness into Independence Read More »

How to Celebrate the Personhood of the Person with Dementia

Alzheimer's Disease, Anxiety, Care Partners, Community, Dementia, Elderhood, Family and Care, Independence/Choice, Mental Health, Purpose, Respect /

“Each person with dementia is a person first. They are the person they were, the person they are and the person they are becoming. They may lose abilities with the disease, but they retain their personhood. This must be at the centre of our understanding, and the foremost thought in every interaction.”  Ann Peachman Stewart

How to Celebrate the Personhood of the Person with Dementia Read More »

How to Listen to the Dreams of Elders and Say “What If…”

4 Comments / Care Partners, Chronic Pain, Culture Change, Dementia, Elderhood, Family and Care, Independence/Choice, Mental Health, Purpose, Respect /

When I started working in eldercare, my work experience included my father’s pharmacy, employment in a library, and 15 years of running a daycare in my home. I loved the elders, was a good listener and had creative ideas, but I didn’t know what I was doing. The timing of my hiring  came at the

How to Listen to the Dreams of Elders and Say “What If…” Read More »

What I Learned About Closed Doors From an Elder with Dementia

Age-Related Memory Loss, Alzheimer's Disease, Care Partners, Community, Dementia, Elderhood, Family and Care, Independence/Choice, Mental Health, Purpose, Respect, Stress /

Maisie leaned on her tip-toes to peek out the window at the top of the door. A tiny bird of a woman, she clung to her walker for balance. Thin grey hair, heavy brogues and tartan skirt and jacket, she presented the perfect picture of an elderly Scottish lady out for a stroll. She was

What I Learned About Closed Doors From an Elder with Dementia Read More »

How to Plan Summer Family Celebrations Which Include Your Elder

Age-Related Memory Loss, Alzheimer's Disease, Anxiety, Behavioural Disturbances, Care Partners, Celebration, Community, Dementia, Elderhood, Family and Care, Independence/Choice, Interventions, Love, Respect, Stress, Support /

    Some memories are all about the emotions. It was 50 years ago, but the anger and indignity I felt still surface.      As a kid, I’d loved family reunions. Usually held beside water, I could swim, run around with the three cousins who were close to my age and snack all day

How to Plan Summer Family Celebrations Which Include Your Elder Read More »

How to Make Your Summer Celebrations Sparkle by Including Elders

Ageism, Alzheimer's Disease, Care Partners, Celebration, Dementia, Exercise, Family and Care, Independence/Choice, Respect /

   Everything in me, body and soul, yearns for this time of year. The green grass, the budding trees, the garden. Maybe you don’t love spring with quite the same fervour, but most people look forward to the many celebrations and get-togethers of summer. It’s time to shed the layers and have some fun.    

How to Make Your Summer Celebrations Sparkle by Including Elders Read More »