Look for a Memory Cafe like Friends Circle. “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.” One soft voice coming out of the corner of the room turned into an impromptu chorus of more than 30 people singing along. Anna (name changed), a regular at Friends Circle, loves music. Seated in her chair, she claps and sings along with the musical entertainment every time we gather. On days … [Read more...]
Dad should be using an automated pill dispenser. How can I get him to agree to this technology?
Technology can increase quality of life and independence. Let’s face it, finding the right technology solution for an aging loved one is often confusing and overwhelming. Whether you are worried about medications being taken correctly or are concerned about a fall, simply googling these topics can turn up 100’s of products to evaluate. Then there is the problem of getting … [Read more...]
“Mom is Living With Dementia, Not Suffering From It.”
Words Matter. One of the biggest and best caregiving lessons I’ve learned over the last five years is words matter. Starting a discussion with “You must”, “You should” get’s me nowhere with my mother. The concept is so central to how mom and I interact, that I devote an entire chapter on having hard conversations in my book "Your Caregiver Relationship Contract.” But the … [Read more...]
Medical Marijuana: Quality of Life at the End of Life.
Finally, Access in New Jersey Has Eased. For individuals on hospice, medical marijuana may be the only drug that brings relief from pain while giving quality of life at the end-of-life. This was the experience of Jake Honig, a little boy who died at the age of seven after living with brain cancer for five years. During those years, Jake went through two surgeries, 61 rounds … [Read more...]
So Much of Caregiving Has Great Joy and Sorrow. How Do We Live In the Dissonance?
I am struggling right now to reconcile deep grief with great joy. In this struggle, I don’t know how to feel. Often, I just feel numb. In the last six weeks, I’ve been to four wakes and two funerals. It started with the death of my uncle, Dad’s brother, who lived in Florida. He was ill so it wasn’t a complete surprise. Nevertheless, no one in the family was able to make it … [Read more...]