How Caregivers Are Changing the Whole World
April 2nd is National Caregiver Day in Canada. To celebrate all of us and the work we do, I am sharing an article that I co-wrote with Dr. Zachary White…
Donna Thomson
WITNESSING DEEP, NATURAL CARE IN THE HOSPITAL
--> A lot of what I read online about patient care and support for caregivers is negative. I read about compassion fatigue running rampant in hospitals. Or about physician burnout.…
DOCTOR, STOP TAPPING YOUR FOOT
--> About a year before Mom died, I wrote thisfrom her hospital room: Mom was hospitalised just prior to Christmas for respiratory distress. A young, bespectacled respirologist strode into the…
Mining for Truth and Meaning in Caregiving and Memory
My sister Karen Thomson painted this portrait of our Mom and she titled it Partly Who She Was. Karen painted this from a photo that we took of Mom just…
WHEN PEOPLE PRETEND TO LISTEN – LESSONS FROM A COMEDY WRITER
--> Want to laugh at black humor? Read anything by David Sedaris. I’ve just finished his latest ramble-in-a-book-form titled ‘Calypso’. It’s very funny when it’s not causing me to blush…
How Different Countries Care for Seniors: A Look at Caregivers and the Elderly Around the World
Today, guest blogger Roxanne Baker gives us a world tour of eldercare attitudes and practices. I loved learning about how families in different cultures take care of older loved ones…
One Gold Award Girl Scout’s Contribution to Azheimer’s Patients and Families
Yesterday, I was delighted to discover this message in my email inbox: Hello! My name is Isabelle Richter. I am a Bee Cave, Texas, resident. I’m a junior at my…
When Homes for Autonomous Seniors Aren’t Safe
Today is the fifth anniversary of a terrible fire in a Quebec seniors’ home. On the night of January 23, 2014, The Residence du Havre nursing home in L’Isle-Verte, Quebec,…
Five Unexpected Rewards of Becoming a Caregiver
This is a wonderful guest post by caregiver and writer George Shannon, full of truth and wisdom. George Shannon It’s true, the life of a caregiver can be demanding, difficult…
I Don’t Do New Year’s Resolutions… Except For This One
The New Year is a natural time for reflection on what was and what will be. I’ve been thinking about the changes in my own caregiving over the past year:…
THE EMPTY CHAIR AT OUR CHRISTMAS TABLE
It’s funny how the threads of our lives intersect sometimes to create meaning, sometimes giving us a clearer view of what is before us, or what is missing. Our daughter…
Helping Our Loved Ones to GIVE During the Holidays!
Our loved ones have dependency needs and sometimes that can make them feel ‘superfluous’ as my Mom used to say. More than anything, my Mom wanted to feel useful –…
How to Save Money When Buying Mobility Aids
This week, we’ve been celebrating International Disability Day (December 3) and this year’s theme is “Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”. So there’s no better time to…
A Time to Feel Grateful, Sometimes After Loss
My husband Jim and I are packing this morning – we’ve got an early morning flight tomorrow to Dayton, Ohio. Our daughter Natalie’s boyfriend grew up there and we’re all…
ADVICE FOR CAREGIVERS FROM CAREGIVERS
During this National Caregivers Month of 2018, it’s important to hear directly from YOU, caregivers on the front lines of love and commitment. Here are some tips compiled by the…
MEETING FEAR WITH COURAGE IN CAREGIVING
I was speaking with a friend today about fear in caregiving. The fear that we might forget something very important, the fear that dismissing a symptom now could provoke a…
I AM NOT A CAREGIVER (BUT I COOK): NATIONAL CAREGIVER MONTH!
This year for National Caregivers Month, I want to reflect on why so many of us do not identify as caregivers. ‘Caregiver’ is a problematic word for lots of reasons,…
Three Little Words That Caregivers Long to Hear
My friend Julie Drury is the bereaved Mom of her beautiful daughter Kate who passed away after a long journey of illness and pain resulting from mitochondrial disease and the…
What the Heck is Happening? I’m a Caregiver?
Caring for a dependent loved one is a chaotic business. There isn’t much time for reflection, let alone laundry and grocery shopping. I’m always thinking, “If we can figure out…