I have a gift idea for your parents that will change their lives – and yours. By now Mom and Dad (and Gramma) probably have everything they ever wanted and needed. And giving them more stuff only adds to the pile of unwanted items. They tell you that they have everything they need in life. […]
Birthday coming up? What do you give aging parents who have everything? Read More »
You get along fine with Mom and Dad. You have your life, and they have theirs. You do what you want and so do they. Sometimes that means your parents spend their entire day doing nothing more than sitting around the house watching TV, reading the newspaper, making something to eat, taking naps, and watching
Attention Adult Children: Got an Aging Parent Who Does Nothing All Day? Read More »
Author, Damon Brown writes, “’Projects, people and passions can keep us on the move, but there is a distinct difference between busyness and productivity. Productivity feels like you do not want to stop. Busyness feels like you cannot stop.” Busyness fulfils the ego. Busyness becomes a measurement of worth. Busyness fulfills guilt. Not taking a
Family Caregivers: Are you addicted to busyness? Read More »
Managing the care of parents and others requires updating our mindsets to fit the situation. On any given day we grapple with questions like: Who makes the decisions? Who pays for what? We also ride the daily emotional rollercoaster, simultaneously feeling sad, angry, guilty, loving and helpless and often wonder if we are “losing it.”
Caring for Aging Parents? How Can I Be In Two Place At Once? Read More »
Part 1 of this series offers ideas about arranging effective locations to have sensitive eldercare conversations. This post discusses conversation timing strategies. When you decide to initiate a conversation, and you know that the discussion has the potential to be emotionally explosive, ask yourself these questions ahead of time: Am I over-tired or stressed out
Holidays Are NOT the Ideal Time to Talk About Eldercare – Part 2 Read More »
With the holiday season fast approaching, you may think this is an ideal time to openly discuss eldercare needs with the people in your immediate family. And I think otherwise. You’ve probably heard the expression, “timing is everything.” That statement is especially true when it comes to holiday family gatherings. Think about a past situation
Holidays Are NOT the Ideal Time to Talk About Eldercare – Part 1 Read More »
When I walked into Mom’s apartment, she was sitting on the sofa with a bag of ice on her arm. Seeing her sitting there looking sad and out of sorts stopped me dead in my tracks. As I was trying to process the situation, she said, “Aren’t you going to feel sorry for me?” I
When eldercare comes knocking at the door, many people run in the opposite direction; but not you. Just as childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, and middle age are developmental phases of life, you acknowledge that someone you care about is going to get old and that someone is going to need care and attention. You may
Worried about your aging parents? We Don’t Choose Eldercare. Eldercare Chooses Us. Read More »
Out of nowhere comes an emergency phone call. “Come quick. Your mother fell.” Now you are the one who is thrown off balance. Unquestionably the emotional climate surrounding a medical emergency is highly charged. Suddenly the appointed caregiver is you. Your game plan in an eldercare emergency is to reduce confusion and runaway emotions. Keep
Caught off Guard? Suddenly You’re a Family Caregiver: 5 Things To Do Right Now. Read More »
I HATE aging for many reasons: The more time that goes by, the more people I love die. And what the heck is going on with the bottom of my feet? There’s not enough foot lotion in the world to keep them from becoming dry just like my grandmother’s soles used to be. At the