None of them have anything to do with medicine. When I tell my caregiver story, I always start when dad was first hospitalized. That was when I was hit with being fully responsible for mom. I would lie in bed at night thinking, “Where do I start?” “What do I do next?”. What I’ve realized: 1. My caregiver role started way before I recognized it. It started when I made the … [Read more...]
A Different Type Of Grief – Why Do I Feel Like I’m losing Dad All Over Again?
It is five years since dad died and I'm finding it hard to remember our life together. I wrote this article two years ago when grief took an unexpected twist. On the 5th anniversary of dad's passing, grief has changed again. I can't believe he is gone five years already. It seems longer and at the same time it seems like yesterday. In the busyness of everyday I'm having a hard … [Read more...]
When Talking to Aging Parents – Choose Your Words Carefully
"Mom, don't you remember?" I have years of conditioning to my mother’s communication style. Mom thinks about things deeply, questions everything, and like all of us, makes assumptions. Her thought process often ends up with her having a fight with you in her head. Suddenly she is mad, and you have no idea why. Or she is thinking about something and will ask you a question that … [Read more...]
How Can Family Help Seniors Adjust to Assisted Living?
Moving to an assisted living facility, even when voluntary, can be hard for your senior. How can family members help loved ones adjust to assisted living? It is the question I put to Jennifer Sallis, who lived 1,000 miles from her mom, and still helped her to adjust. (Jump to Lessons Learned) I never met Carol Sallis, but Jennifer paints a joyous picture of her mother. … [Read more...]
Wheelchairs and Other Mobility Vehicles Can Make Your Senior Invisible
Don’t let it happen. Maybe the title of this blog should be DISABILITIES can make your senior invisible, but our experience is specific to mom in her wheelchair. Here is what I have learned over the last two years. (Jump to Lessons Learned) I first wrote about wheelchairs in early 2016. It is important to know how Medicare will help you purchase a wheelchair, you can read … [Read more...]