THE MAKING OF A CAREGIVER
In this recipe, the essence of the caregiver is kept aside, similar to the starter in sour dough bread. This ‘starter’ will be needed to make and re-make the caregiver…
Donna Thomson
Slivers of Time
I’ve been thinking lately that we caregivers experience our days in slivers of time. The byproduct of giving care is….interruptions. Maybe our motto should be, “Wait, what?” When my children…
Our Role in The Circle of Life: What’s Your Title?
Over the holidays this year, I’ve been thinking a lot about birth, mortality and all that’s in between. I guess you’d say, I’ve been pondering the circle of life and…
A New Year’s Resolution That’s Actually Fun!
I am so pleased to host this guest post by writer, Karen Weeks. Karen perfectly captures why the arts are so important to us all – at any age! I’ve…
THE 12 DAYS OF A CAREGIVER CHRISTMAS
My words to the carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas” are fun, but they reveal a truth about caregiving, too. We all begin with a task or two. “Oh, it’s…
TREVOR’S STORY: FROM ADDICTION TO CAREGIVER
If you told me a decade ago that I’d be responsible for someone else’s life, I’d probably have laughed. Back then, I was barely able to take care of myself.…
Helping Your Loved One to Give During the Holidays
I posted this two years ago, but the message is still just as vital, I think. How can we help our loved ones to give during the Holidays? Giving is…
SELF CARE? YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING.
Last evening I presented a workshop on self-care for caregivers in my city of Ottawa, Canada. Going in, I knew that this group had huge challenges at home and that…
DIANE’S STORY
I am so pleased to share a personal caregiver story from Diane today. Diane’s husband Bob had a devastating stroke and sadly passed away in 2015. Diane shares her wisdom…
I Never Identify a Problem Without Suggesting a Solution!
In my last post, I talked about how we can easily move from being caregiver to being perceived by medical professionals as ‘a family from hell’. This breakdown of relationships…
How We Go From Competent Caregiver to ‘Family From Hell’
Last week an article circulated among my caregiver friends called Ask the Expert: Managing the Relative From Hell. This shocking ‘advice’ column for care home professionals who struggle with worried…
HELP FOR ALZHEIMER’S CAREGIVERS
I am pleased to host this guest post by Lydia Chan, whose Mom suffers from Alzheimer’s. Lydia writes for Alzheimerscaregiver.net. The data is in, and there’s no doubt that Alzheimer’s…
A CAREGIVER TWITTER CHALLENGE TO BREAK THE INTERNET
I’m not an original thinker. I know it. But hey, I know what I am good at: stealing other peoples’ great ideas and mixing them up differently for a caregiver…
TV Stars are Caregivers Too – Meet Leeza Gibbons
November is National Caregivers Month and to kick off, I’ve interviewed TV personality and caregiver activist, Leeza Gibbons. Leeza Gibbons is an Emmy Award winner TV personality who has become…
A NEW SHORT FILM ABOUT DEMENTIA – SNEAK PEAK!
I always get excited when I hear about a new film about caregiving concerns. Today, I’d like to suggest that we all mark our calendars on November 6 with a…
Advice You’ve Never Thought Of! Tips for Travelling with an Older Parent
My Mom grew up summering in Kennebunk Port in Maine – all her best memories are of playing in the sand and surf with her brothers and sister there. Now…