Supporting all who care for elders
“Who’s looking after me tonight?” “Amelia” “I don’t know Amelia. Where’s Tracy?” (her regular care partner) “Tracy’s on vacation, but Amelia has looked after you many times. She knows what to do.” “But I don’t know what to do.” “You don’t have to know. Amelia will look after you. She knows what to do.” “Is it […]
5 Tips to Retain Your Sanity Read More »
If you talk to anyone living in Southern Ontario this week, there is only one topic. The weather. Friday ‘s grey skies turned to snow Friday night, ice pellets on Saturday, freezing rain on Sunday and torrential rain on Monday. Everything was coated in ice, including my car, driveway and the roads. I remained glued
How to Cope When You Feel Overwhelmed Read More »
Why is it so hard to look after ourselves? We all know we should. We can hear our mother’s voices expounding the litany of advice we loved to ignore. “Eat your vegetables. Dress warmly when you go out in the winter. Get enough sleep. Don’t eat junk food. Exercise.” And if our mothers didn’t tell
The Tricky Business of Self-Care Read More »
No, do more than hug. Give them the gift of your time. Today began with falling snow and baking muffins and joy. Somewhere around noon, it all fell apart. One of my residents was unresponsive and I worried that I was seeing stroke symptoms. Another with serious heart issues was unwell. We were trying to
Hug A Care Partner Today Read More »
“I should be able to do this.” What this well-dressed, beautiful senior lady was referring to was moving herself and her husband from the home they had lived in for most of their married years. The initial decision to move was one she had to make alone. He was no longer able to participate. All
Care Partners: The Magic of Not Trying to Do It All Read More »
Care partner stress is real, sometimes intense and wearing. When you are in the middle of the battle, you don’t want to hear “10 Ways to Beat Caregiver Stress” because most of them don’t speak to your situation, and you already know that stuff anyway. You want to hear how to get through today. I
Lobster, Lasagna and Memories Read More »
Have you ever listened to your mind? Mine was a tornado of wildly whirling thoughts as I stood waiting for the train this morning. Here’s a tiny peek inside my brain: The renovations are starting today on my basement. Have we removed everything? Will they go smoothly? Will they be done by the time I
The Small Miracle of Listening to Birds Read More »