“SIGH”, she says as she steps up on her soapbox once again. While trying to maintain a positive attitude that people are waking up to the unacceptable state of elder care in our country, yesterday I was so disappointed in our disjointed, fragmented healthcare system. I received a call from a memory care community where… Continue reading Caution: rant ahead
Category: caregiver
Dear dementia
Dear dementia, today I add to my list of things that care partners (caregivers + people with dementia) need right now. It has been less than one month since I pressed my first list. Long story short, we need to improve the medical appointment experience for healthcare providers and their patients with dementia. In the spirit of relentlessly… Continue reading Dear dementia
5 things caregivers and their loved ones need right now
Last Friday, mid-morning, I took a client to a department store and to lunch. My client lives in a memory care facility. She has dementia. She also is an 80 year retired English Literature professor, a mom, an aunt, a sister, a friend. She had a career before career women were common. My client likes… Continue reading 5 things caregivers and their loved ones need right now
The weight of guilt
Guilt is a 4-letter word in disguise. It is a bad feeling that can tear us down and leave us in a soggy mess, mired down by the weight of it. Family caregivers wrestle with feelings of guilt frequently. Sometimes guilt is like jet lag from a non-stop cross country flight, depriving us of rest,… Continue reading The weight of guilt
Grateful
This week I completed my internship to fulfill requirements of my geriatric care management coursework. The time I’ve spent with my preceptor and care manager mentors has flown by and I’m grateful for the time and wisdom they have shared with me. I’m most grateful to their clients and family members who agreed to share… Continue reading Grateful
The Golden Rule
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you This seems like such a no brainer rule of life. Sadly, imperfect human beings that we are, none of us always treats others as kindly as we wish to be treated. I had the extremely good fortune to hear Melanie Bunn, RN, MS, GNP,… Continue reading The Golden Rule
So God made a dog
Alzheimer’s Service Dogs Excerpted from an excellent article about Alzheimer’s. Follow this link to read more about coping with this disease http://www.fadetoblank.org/#/?part=view-from-inside ************************************************************************************************ Mind Readers: Canines are 100 times more sensitive to electromagnetic energy than humans. They can sense subtle changes in brainwaves that forecast Alzheimer’s outbursts. If Rick becomes anxious while out walking with… Continue reading So God made a dog
Let there be light
As October zips by, the nights grow longer and daylight hours are to be cherished. This is a difficult time of year for folks, especially those who are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and those who suffer with low vision challenges. Take a few minutes and think about the older adults in your lives. … Continue reading Let there be light
Mantra for a dementia patient’s caregiver
I found this quote by Bridget Hunt while surfing a few blogs online. I’ve embraced the message and keep it close to remind me that how you make someone feel demonstrates your level of respect for that person. Folks with dementia aren’t trying to provoke an argument or start a fight. The disease is a ∞
Driving Miss Daisy
My elderly mom needed a change of scenery last Sunday. The walls of her independent living complex were closing in plus it was a beautiful October day that I wanted to share with her. On my weekend To Do list was a trip to the NC State Farmer’s Market to buy some crisp NC apples… Continue reading Driving Miss Daisy
