Supporting all who care for elders
Libby had taught the junior grades for 30 years, and she’d loved it. Certainly, she saw problems today which had been unknown when her career began, but she’s done her research and had learned new approaches. Kids were kids, after all, and they needed encouragement and for someone to believe in them. And […]
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Walter looked out the window but he didn’t notice the lush green of the garden. It had rained for three days straight, sometimes with thunderstorms, and the grey skies suited his mood. The weather had kept him inside and he couldn’t think of a thing he wanted to do. The book he had started a
How to Eradicate Boredom and Find Purpose for Elders Read More »
Unlike most of the female population, I hate shopping. Perhaps it’s more accurate to say I hate going into stores, because Amazon and I have an “up close and personal” relationship. But there is one store that will get me out of the house in a minute–my local garden centre. As
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“Each person with dementia is a person first. They are the person they were, the person they are and the person they are becoming. They may lose abilities with the disease, but they retain their personhood. This must be at the centre of our understanding, and the foremost thought in every interaction.” Ann Peachman Stewart
How to Celebrate the Personhood of the Person with Dementia Read More »
When I started working in eldercare, my work experience included my father’s pharmacy, employment in a library, and 15 years of running a daycare in my home. I loved the elders, was a good listener and had creative ideas, but I didn’t know what I was doing. The timing of my hiring came at the
How to Listen to the Dreams of Elders and Say “What If…” Read More »
Maisie leaned on her tip-toes to peek out the window at the top of the door. A tiny bird of a woman, she clung to her walker for balance. Thin grey hair, heavy brogues and tartan skirt and jacket, she presented the perfect picture of an elderly Scottish lady out for a stroll. She was
What I Learned About Closed Doors From an Elder with Dementia Read More »
Take a guess. Of all the activities and trips I planned over the years for the frail elderly population I served, which was the most popular? The garden centre. We rented a bus because it was necessary with wheelchairs, but we didn’t go far. A large garden centre situated
Including Elders in Summer Fun Doesn’t Need to be Complicated Read More »
Does ageism matter? A few jokes and memes. People poking fun at their own infirmities? Should I lighten up? It matters because ageism is the last “acceptable” prejudice. It occupies our society, our workplaces, our government, and is so invasive that we don’t recognize it a lot of the time. It becomes an
How to Recognize Ageism in Every Part of Your Life Read More »
For 35 years, Theresa got up each day and made her way to school, teaching elementary and high school children history and reading. She loved her job, loved the children, and loved making a difference in their lives. While still working, she volunteered at the nearby Rowan Museum. Dressing in period costumes, she taught children
How to Volunteer Yourself to Purpose After Retirement 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 »