Supporting all who care for elders
They had planned well for Annie’s 100th birthday. Her sister and nieces had flown in from the other end of the country. The table looked festive with balloons and a table centre resembling fireworks. They’d ordered a chocolate cake (her favourite) big enough to feed the entire dining room. Everyone was poised to sing. They […]
On the Fifth Day of Christmas, Dementia Gave to Me… 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 »
My mother-in-law had a secret recipe for plum pudding. Every Christmas it would be served with a choice of hard sauce or rum sauce, and my husband loved it. I wasn’t a fan, but understood that it remained a family favourite. My sister-in-law begged her mother for the recipe, but the reply always came that
My Secret Recipe For Successful Elderhood Read More »
I can’t stand it when I read about how I should get more sleep. That lack of sleep is dangerous to my physical, mental and emotional health. I might actually be sending myself to an early grave with my sleeping habits. “Thanks,” I want to retort. “That’s helpful.” (Insert sarcastic tone here.) “I’ll be sure to
Why is Caregiver Stress Scary and What Should You Do? 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 »
In celebration of National Caregiver’s Month in Canada, we are going to explore what care partners need. Have you ever felt invisible? As a shy introvert, it happens to me all the time. And truthfully, I’m not comfortable in groups and I’m usually happy to listen to the rest of you. But once in a
What do Care Partners Need? They Need to be Seen. Read More »
We all have our own version of comfort food. For me it’s rich Greek yogurt almost anytime, or homemade soup with almond bread, toasted, on a cold night. Maybe an herbal tea, but only the fruity kind. None of the green stuff. Or comfort clothes. In this hot weather it’s shorts and a loose top
How to face your elder’s last days with courage Read More »
Sheryl couldn’t believe she hadn’t thought of this before. She’d been caring for Dan for over two years and never once had it occurred to her. “What would happen if I got sick?” She ate healthy, slept reasonably well and kept her stress as low as someone could who dealt with dementia every day. She
When a Caregiver is Sick. How to Plan for 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 »
