Supporting all who care for elders
In her caregiver journey, Sharon discovered that routine was king. In the mornings, she brought her mom a cup of tea in bed after she woke. Then Mom got up, used the washroom, washed herself and brushed her teeth. Once dressed, she ate breakfast, and often had a nap in her chair. Later […]
How to Maintain an Elder’s Routines While Adding Some Christmas Magic Read More »
Sharon looked through her recipes and sighed. She’s made Christmas cookies with her mom since she had stood on a stool to reach the counter and the apron she wore dusted her feet. They’d laughed and told stories and the kitchen had filled with the amazing smells of gingerbread and shortbread cookies. But
How to Follow Your Senses to a Meaningful Christmas Read More »
As a teenager, cleaning the finished part of our basement fell to me. Dusting the bookcase was my least favourite because it contained old books, an ancient clock, the family Bible and other treasures which took forever to clean. One day, when accomplishing this hated task, I came across a brown folder full
How to Find the Passion that Leads to Purpose After Retirement Read More »
I had a plan. If I’d had a choice, I would have continued to work. I loved my job, derived great purpose from what I did and wasn’t emotionally ready to give it up. But severe arthritis and chronic pain showed me it was time. I didn’t want my team having to carry the load
How Finding Purpose After Retirement Gives Life Flavour and Sparkle Read More »
My parents both had many siblings, so when we got together for a family picnic, the aunts, uncles and cousins were everywhere. We’d gathered at a local park, and plates of salads and desserts filled the wooden picnic tables. One of the uncles stood barbecuing hot dogs nearby. Happy chaos ensued. Until it
How to Find and Celebrate the Person Behind a Dementia Diagnosis Read More »
My children refer to it as my “goose phase,” and it’s embarrassing. I’ve always been a fan of the country look. Cozy, lots of wood and crafty decor. In our first house, I had the opportunity to decorate how I liked it. When everyone else went for the straight lines of Scandinavian furniture
Looking Beyond a Dementia Diagnosis to the Person Read More »
I recently saw the pilot of a TV show that made me want to stand up and cheer. A mostly non-verbal elderly man with dementia sits in his darkened room. An aid with a cart asks him if he wants some water. Without pausing for more than a beat, she says,
How To Change How the World Sees People With Dementia Read More »
Floris, who was care partner for her husband, arranged an event she thought might be special for him. He “walked with Alzheimer’s” and had always been a baseball fan. He had a specific team he loved, and although it was challenging, she wanted to take him to a game when his team played in town.
Quality Of Life Can Be Tricky in Your Alzheimer’s Journey Read More »
When my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in her mid-fifties, the disease and all that went with it was a huge cloud of doubt to me. It was 1975, and not as much was known about the disease. There weren’t the supports for family, and we didn’t have the internet to do research.
How to Lower Your Risk of an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis. Read More »
Sometimes, when reading a novel, I come across a character who develops Alzheimer’s. Or their mother does. Or they’re a witness to a murder but are discredited because of their diagnosis. Maybe it’s my sensitivity to the subject, but it blows me away how often Alzheimer’s and other dementias show up as a
My Mother Was Diagnosed With Alzheimer’s. What Do I Do Now? Read More »