Independence/Choice

Do You Know the Secret Desire of Your Elder’s Heart?

Do you have a bucket list? In thinking about this, I knew I had something written in a file stored on the cloud. Probably 10 to 15 years old, curiosity sent me searching for it. What did I put on there? Some of the entries made me smile, some shake my head ruefully, and some […]

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How to Move Independence in Elders Beyond the Impossible Dream

I don’t consider myself an independent person. I once travelled to Disney with my sister and niece. They planned the whole excursion and I checked with them each day to find out which park or special event was on the roster. It didn’t matter to me. It was all fun, and I was happy to

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How to Navigate Being A Sudden Care Partner

Have you ever had your life change in a single night? We were coming home from a birthday celebration. The event, special in itself, had been more blessed by the presence of a beloved aunt. The ride home should have been a time to happily relive the event. The pain in my husband’s foot, of

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Six Reasons To Say “No” To A Hospital Visit

“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,

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How I Learned Authentic Lessons From Being in Chronic Pain

They are everywhere but you may not know them. It might be the person in the next office at work, ahead of you in the grocery line-up or living on your street. They might be your friends or your parents. They are living with chronic pain, and you may not be aware. If you are,

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A Behind the Scenes Look at Walking with Chronic Pain

“Others have it worse than you.” I’m aware of this. People who struggle with diseases that may kill them, and which debilitate them along the way, carry a heavier load. Who am I to whine about pain and disability, especially when it may be temporary? We need to be careful with statements like this. Although

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Three Practical Reasons Which Inspire Me To Deny Choice

Offering choice to elders presents many problems. Is it worth it? You decide. Choice is expensive In our dining room at lunch there are two choices of soup, several options of main course, including one bland and one vegetarian and a whole cart full of desserts. Don’t like the soup options? We can make you

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The Agony and Inspiration of Elders Losing Independence

What I learned about me The day my car died, I learned an important lesson about myself. And about the elders I serve. In fact, about life in general. My car began to reach that unfortunate stage where it was costing me money. You’ve all been there. You pay for “one last repair” and make

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