Supporting all who care for elders
The year after my husband died, I asked to make Christmas dinner. My sister-in-law and I went year-about with Christmas, and it was her turn. My coping mechanism, for the first few months, entailed keeping myself so busy, I didn’t have a lot of time to think. I worked full-time, made all the preparations for […]
The One Where Christmas Happened Without You And We Found A Way 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 can’t remember what I had for sale. That’s not important to the story. I posted it on Facebook, saying that my price was firm because I would be using the money to put toward a recumbent bike for my niece. She had what we thought was Parkinson’s, and couldn’t safely walk outside, but this
How Your Caregiver Journey Can Flourish With Excellent Support 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 »
Some blessings are obvious, but some can take me longer to recognize. My story: The blessing of Jean I worked at a retirement home when I first met Jean. She lived in an independent apartment upstairs and once-a-month she’d call to book a room for her church meeting. Always gracious on the phone, she remained
How to Find Blessing in the Burden of Care Read More »
We gathered at the end of one shift for some and the beginning of another for others. We were care partners, a housekeeper, dietary partners, two nurses and an advocate. We gathered to grieve. Our neighbourhood had experienced three deaths in a week. If you don’t work with us, you might think this is common and
The Care Partner’s Grief Read More »
Today, I had to write an end-of-life notice for someone who is dear to me. I struggled, deleted, started over and re-wrote. This notice is an email we send when a resident has been declared end-of-life by their doctor. The purpose is to let people know, so they can visit and say good-bye. We tell
“Nobody’s asked me how I’m doing.” The poignant words lingered in my mind long after the evening ended. I spoke to a group at church about self-care in ministry, but because I used examples from my life and work, the topic of elders in long-term care naturally rose to the surface. A lovely lady, an
“How Are You Doing?” Read More »