Supporting all who care for elders
My favourite times at work were when I could step away from the computer, the meetings and all the other responsibilities and sit and chat with the ladies. We were doing just that one afternoon when the conversation turned to Christmas cake. A long-ago memory bubbled to the surface for me, of a time as […]
How to Honour Your Elders With Dementia With a Sense of Purpose Read More »
Chances are, you’ve already found at least one area of your life which excites you, makes you forget to eat (I’m sorry, I’m passionate about many things but I seldom forget to eat…) and fills your cup. Life is full, worth the effort, even fun sometimes because of __________. Here are a few facts you
Authentic Ways to Boost Purpose in Your Elder’s Life Read More »
Sheryl slumped against the back of the couch. The world felt like such a scary place. New variants of the virus, thousands of deaths in India and now the U.K.’s numbers were escalating. Her own community faced a lockdown which the government had extended before the last one ended. Were the schools safe for her
Pandemic Mental Health–How to Focus on What You Can Control Read More »
Nora wiggled her small frame in her chair, obviously anxious about something. Her straight, white hair framed her face, set in a permanent look of dissatisfaction. Although blind, I got the feeling that her look came from years of feeling that we could all do better, not her blindness. The piano tuner was making his
How A Delightful Sense of Humour Can Be the Caregiver’s Secret Weapon Read More »
Sometimes the best laid plans fail. This is true in life in general, but reaches a whole new dimension when working with elders. Even when dementia isn’t a factor, sometimes it falls flatter than a busted balloon. Speaking of balloons…even though Muriel was the grumpiest person I knew with no family and only one friend,
An Epic Care Partner Fail–How to Survive and Learn Read More »
Raise your hand if you’ve ever experienced “mommy guilt.” Every hand of every mother reading this should be raised. It’s that common. Some of us experienced it every day. Consider this scenerio: It’s your 5-year-old’s birthday, and although you were up several times in the night with a teething baby, you got up early to
How To Be An Amazing Care Partner–Even When You Fail Read More »
When the pandemic started, we panicked. Each day, the numbers of those getting sick–horribly, devastatingly sick, and dying, were climbing. Messages bombarded us from all sides about how to stay safe and we listened to them all. Wash your hands unceasingly, don’t touch your face, wash your groceries or leave them in the garage for
Newsflash! Loneliness More Deadly Than Pneumonia in the Elderly Read More »
Do you find life kind of creeps up on you at times? As we approach the one-year anniversary of the global pandemic, I thought about how I felt last year at this time. Newly retired, I was already dealing with the isolation of being at home alone after the stimulation of my workplace. Then came
Could social distancing be hazardous to your elder’s health? Read More »
It was time to say good-bye. The activation student had been with us two days a week for several months and on his last day, we took him out to lunch. He had grown, matured and learned so much over the weeks. As we chatted together, my supervisor asked him, “What was the best experience you
Surprising Ways Those with Dementia Can Care For You Read More »
I watched my favourite show with a sinking heart. Rebecca, a widow and the mother of grown triplets, lost her phone and became unreasonably flustered. She mentioned that Miguel, her second husband, had just replaced this phone as she’d lost its predecessor. In the next scene, she goes shopping and can’t find her way home.
Why Is It So Hard To Think Of Receiving Care From My Loved One? Read More »