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“This is what makes us different.” The wife of one of the residents stood by my desk with a glowing face. “You’re not perfect. Nobody’s perfect. But this…” she waved her hand, “this is wonderful. Special. This is what makes us different.” She was referring to the many staff in all departments who dressed in […]

They can’t learn anything new. When I started working with frail elderly people almost 18 years ago, this was the first and most absolute lesson taught to me about people with dementia. Don’t try to introduce any new information. It will only frustrate. This is why, when I first learned about the domain of growth,

When I hear the question, “What is the meaning of life?” I think of someone climbing a mountain, asking a sage for the answer. After the wisdom is given, the person climbs down, ponders, and goes forth to live their life as a better person. Right? There aren’t any mountains where I live, and sages

Imagine George. He moved to senior’s facility with his wife several years ago, and they enjoyed their lovely apartment, the many activities and their friends among the community. It was a good life. Then Betty died. George felt like his right arm and half his brain was missing. And all of his heart. His family

It was a desperate time. My husband was in the cardiac intensive care unit of a Toronto hospital, fighting for his life. His heart was large and floppy and not doing what hearts should do. He was on the list for a heart transplant, and various methods were being used to get him through each

Have you ever gone somewhere where you didn’t know a single person? For an introvert like myself, that’s a stretching experience that leaves me feeling exhausted. My first writer’s conference, I flew into a huge city alone, and found my way to the shuttle bus at the airport. The hotel was overpowering, with moving sidewalks

I first went to camp when I was 12, and it changed me. I discovered this suburban girl had a country heart, and was totally at home in the woods, by the lake and near a campfire. I lived in a cabin with seven other girls, and they became my best friends and confidants over

What makes life worth living?(If you answered “coffee in the morning” I’m with you on that, but we’re going a little deeper here.)What are the essential elements that make you feel complete, fulfilled, contented, whole? Do you need to have full mental capacity to have quality of life? Does it disappear after a certain age?The

I remember the day I brought my eldest daughter home from the hospital. All I’d ever wanted was to be a mother, and now I was, and I was terrified. My husband had to work that first night, and I was totally responsible for this little person. What if, what if, what if played through

Claudia sharing a hug with one of our residents, Jean —a guest post by Claudia Osmond. Thank you, Claudia, for helping me celebrate my 200th blog post! Have you ever felt insulted by someone saying these kinds of things to you: “You haven’t changed a bit!” “Twenty-nine and counting…” “There’s no way you have a