I am pleased to host today’s guest post by Maria, our regular contributor on assistive technology here at The Caregivers’ Living Room. Maria is a freelance writer currently living in Chicago. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the U…
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THE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: HEALTHY AGING WITH MODERN TECH AT HOME
I am pleased to host today’s guest post by Maria, our regular contributor on assistive technology here at The Caregivers’ Living Room. Maria is a freelance writer currently living in Chicago. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the U…
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: What Happened When Neighbors Heard a Senior Couple Weeping
A conversation I had a couple of years ago has remained vivid in my memory. My colleague came into work one day looking upset and wan. I asked him what was wrong and he told me that on his morning walk, he heard an old woman crying and calling out the …
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: What Happened When Neighbors Heard a Senior Couple Weeping
A conversation I had a couple of years ago has remained vivid in my memory. My colleague came into work one day looking upset and wan. I asked him what was wrong and he told me that on his morning walk, he heard an old woman crying and calling out the …
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: How Caregivers Can Spot Elder Abuse
I am happy to host this guest post from NY lawyer Laurence Banville. In our family, we are blessed that my Mom has never displayed signs of abuse, but we are watchful and I’m glad to know all the signs. When elders become physically weak, th…
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: How Caregivers Can Spot Elder Abuse
I am happy to host this guest post from NY lawyer Laurence Banville. In our family, we are blessed that my Mom has never displayed signs of abuse, but we are watchful and I’m glad to know all the signs. When elders become physically weak, th…
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: Consumer Report: Best Medical Alert Systems
Last Thursday, I had just arrived at the cottage to begin our summer holiday when the telephone rang. It was my niece. Mom had fallen and was in an ambulance on the way to hospital. As it happened, my sister was out of the country, so I quickly p…
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: Consumer Report: Best Medical Alert Systems
Last Thursday, I had just arrived at the cottage to begin our summer holiday when the telephone rang. It was my niece. Mom had fallen and was in an ambulance on the way to hospital. As it happened, my sister was out of the country, so I quickly put what food I could into the freezer and drove south to Montreal where my mother lives. When things settle down a bit (Mom’s still in the hospital, now waiting for a convalescent bed), I’ll blog about the last week and what it’s meant to me. But in the meantime, here is something that came to my attention recently – I’ve been thinking a lot about fall prevention and alert systems a lot, naturally! There’s loads of great consumer advice in the unabridged article – you can read it in full HERE. But here’s a snippet:
Our Picks for the Best Medical Alert Systems in 2016: Best Overall
THE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: FALL PREVENTION TECHNOLOGY – YES, IT EXISTS!
My Mom is 94 and prone to falling, so I am pleased to host this important guest post by a regular guest blogger here at the Caregivers’ Living Room. Thank you, Maria!Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries among the elderly, according t…
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: Motherhood: The Currency of Need and Love
At the moment of birth, there is suddenly stillness and a collective intake of breath. There is recognition by everyone that a momentous and transformative event has taken place – a miracle. A new baby is placed on a mother’s breast and life …
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: THE INFALLIBLE PRESENCE OF JOY
Priya Soni is a new friend and fellow caregiver. Like me, Priya has a background in theatre as well as a natural love for storytelling. Like me, she seeks meaning in her caregiving experience and wants to help others do the same. I encourage you …
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: ASSESSING THE QUALITY AND SAFETY OF NURSING HOMES
4 Tips for Finding Quality Nursing Home CareGuest Post by Andrew EganNursing homes or assisted living facilities can help take care of ailing family members or loved ones. At their best, nursing homes can provide a valuable service and essential care d…
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: Celebrating the Holidays at Home with Seniors
Guest post by Maria RamosWhile generally a time of cheer and celebration, the holidays pose their own set of challenges for seniors and those living with disabilities. The holidays are a time for family and friends, and generally everybody wants to get…
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: DOUBLE VISION in the ER – DO THEY SEE WHAT I SEE?
My friend and colleague Vickie Cammack and I are co-writing a book of reflections on caregiving. Vickie and I would love to know your thoughts about our work so far! This is the first instalment from a section we’re working on abo…
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: Taking a Risk For the Sake of Love and Family
Making dreams come true for people we love who can’t get out easily is tricky. Take my Mom – she’s a 93-year old contrarian full of youthful energy contained in a frail and unforgiving body. Mom has a dream that she won’t let go: to visit our son in another
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: Take The Pressure Off With Tech Aides at Home
Guest Post by Maria Ramos As life expectancies have grown over the years, many people are living longer than ever before. This is undoubtedly a good thing, but it places certain stresses on those who care for the elderly. Besides taking care of an aged parent or loved one, many
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: Can We Please Advocate For Caregiver Support Without Demeaning Our Loved Ones?
On the eve of the first day of National Family Caregivers Month, I’ve decided to plant a stake in the ground for the dignity of our stories in the media. Here’s what I read in my news feed this morning and what I wrote in response. ine Goldberg her mother,
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: How To Be A Resilient Caregiver – Especially When Change Hits Hard
Resilience is a word that’s thrown around a lot these days. Everyone needs it and everyone wants it, especially people giving or receiving care. And the truth is we all need resilience the most at times of big life changes or transitions. We mine our reserves of strength and optimism
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: A FABULOUS INNOVATION FOR SENIORS – I LOVE IT!
Every day I scour the internet for caregiver news and innovative products. Today I want to tell you about the best thing I’ve found in ages – this invention will help to lengthen the time seniors can live independently and it will make a real difference to our elders’ health.
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: Never Feel Alone Again
GUEST POST My parents turned 70 a few years ago. It was a wonderful celebration full of friends, laughter, food, and dancing the night away. I must admit even I, an only child who often ran away at the sight of parents’ friends, had a lot of fun. But though
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