Supporting all who care for elders
My dad asked me to take mom shopping. They planned a road trip out west to visit my sister and family, and mom needed new camisoles. He’d become a reluctant caregiver when she developed Alzheimer’s, but that kind of shopping gave him chills. I looked forward to a fun time with mom, who loved to […]
How do I navigate the struggle to find good care? Read More »
This time of year I work hard on my mental health. In spring, everything is bursting with life and the promise of so much fun in the garden. In the summer, family visits and new adventures abound, and I usually get to go fishing. And although the colours this time of year stun and amaze me,
How to Recognize the Plague of Caregiver Stress Before it Kills You Read More »
Vera sat in the easy chair in her room and allowed her mind to wander to the many times she’d felt she had no control of her life. Even when her physical body could bounce back, she’d struggled emotionally with the feeling before. Her mind took her back to when her first husband left her
Has Our Solution to Hospital Overcrowding Created Painful Loneliness for Elders? Read More »
During the winter of 2020, I thought I was going to die. Although pandemic hysteria ripped through every news broadcast and social media, I took all the precautions and didn’t think I would die of Covid. Loneliness was the virus that attacked my body, my emotions and my mental health and led me to despair,
The dangers of aching loneliness in elders and how to help Read More »
The first time I held one, it immediately slipped out of my hand. A tube filled with liquid, it slid down the middle of itself and gravity sent it flying to the ground. Afraid I’d broken the thing, I picked it up, only to have it slip out again. Long before fidget toys were invented,
Why Diagnosing Depression in Elders is Like Holding a Wiggly Fidget Toy Read More »
“Will you be my neighbour?” Fred Rogers’ winsome question prodded a generation to think beyond their cultural norms. Neighbours were the same age, colour and religion as me. They were adults, they didn’t have wheelchairs or (gasp!) mental health issues. When we did something for them, they gave back. Yeah, we could be neighbours with
Will You Be My (Elderly) Neighbour? How to Connect 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 »
“You are lazy.” I understand. When my mother spat those words at me, she felt frustrated. I’d been asked to clean my room, and I’d started with the bookcase–a grave mistake. She found my 14-year-old body sprawled across the bed, deeply engrossed in one of the familiar volumes, oblivious to the mess piled around me.
The Small Miracle of Rest–How to Embrace Rest as a Friend Read More »
