Supporting all who care for elders
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 »
“Someone stole my purse!” Barbara pushed her walker into the dining room to make her announcement with as much volume as she could muster. Her eyebrows jumped and her eyes bugged to emphasize the seriousness of the accusation. Several residents peered down the hall, perhaps expecting to see the culprit racing away with the purse
What Happens When Your Purse is Stolen Read More »
When moving someone into long-term-care, there’s so much to think about. From finding the right place to preparing your elder to making the move and getting them settled. So many details. Is it any wonder people forget about one of the most important resources until several weeks into the experience? It’s not too late, but
How to Find Your New Best Friends Among the Staff Read More »
Barbara sat in her car in the parking lot of her mother’s new home, staring at her hands and feeling like the worst daughter ever. About a month ago, they’d moved her mom, Hazel, into long-term-care. From the first conversation, through downsizing, the move itself and beyond, they’d worked as a family team with minimal
How to Overcome the Struggle to Let Go Read More »
Hazel looked around her bedroom from the proximity of her pillow. Bins and boxes lay piled in one corner, and the knowledge that she’d just had her last sleep in this room sat heavily on her chest. Not that she had strong ties to the room, but today she moved to long-term-care and she knew
Practical Tips to Prepare for the Big Move Read More »
Hazel smiled, remembering the day she’d had a meltdown in her kitchen. Thank goodness she’d been alone. Her son had called with good news. The place they’d picked for her to live, their top choice of many, had called to say she’d been accepted and was on a waiting list. She knew the stark reality
The Big Move: What Is the Most Essential Ingredient? Read More »
After my husband died, my friends would often take me shopping with them. I’ve always hated shopping, but I needed companionship so I’d follow them around the stores like a lost puppy. On one of these excursions to a craft store, my friend went in search of what she needed and I wandered the aisles
“Not in Kansas Any More!” How to Find Your Way In A Move to Long-Term-Care Read More »
It was time. Hazel knew it and she felt sure her family knew it. No significant conversations about the topic had occurred, but her son had asked her to dinner tonight and the rest of the family would be there. Hazel had a sense she would be the topic of conversation. She knew her kids
Finding Your Way in a Move to Long-Term-Care Read More »