The Before and DURING of Caregiving Relationships
Yesterday, the co-author of our book The Unexpected Journey of Caring, Dr. Zachary White and I were chatting about a workshop that he gave to spousal caregivers attending the Well…
The Caregivers' Living Room
NEED TO KNOW INFO ON MOBILITY SCOOTERS
I am pleased to host this guest post about mobility scooters - what kind of questions to ask a salesperson and how to locate funding assistance, no matter where you…
Happy Thanksgiving!
To everyone who celebrates with family this week, Happy Thanksgiving! A Caregiver’s Thanksgiving Blessing Thank you for the good days and for the strength to get through the bad ones.…
The Month of November – It’s Important for Two Reasons
November is a sombre month. The leaves have fallen where I live, and the skies are steely gray. Rain changes to sleet and then back to rain again. Geese cry…
The Cost of Silencing Yourself
Yesterday I was driving home from a hospital clinic appointment for our son (it was routine and went fine) and as usual, I was listening to the radio. I began…
COME LEARN WITH US FOR FREE!
Recently Dr. Zachary White and I gave a webinar as part of a series of free, supportive learning events for caregivers sponsored by the Department of Continuing Education at McMaster…
The Caregiver Easy But Effective Exercise Routine
I always feel SO much better when I move my body, even it’s just five minutes of stretching. And I have always loved sports – my favourites as a child…
18 HOURS
A Guest Post From a Tired Caregiver With a short break for sleep, my teenaged daughter Lily has screamed, shouted, ranted and thrown household objects for 18 hours straight. She…
You Have to Read This – A Beautiful Fable for Caregivers
About a year ago, I opened an email message from someone I’d never met called Diane S. who wrote to tell me that this blog was meaningful to her. It…
When a Real Grade 6 Class Moves Into A Nursing Home
I’ve blogged before about the Eden Alternative approach to eldercare. I’ve blogged before about the benefits of benefits of bringing children into long-term care homes. But I’ve never blogged about…
A Personal Conversation About Caring with Mark Stolow of HUDDOL
Yesterday I had the pleasure and privilege of chatting with my friend and colleague in caregiving, Mark Stolow. Mark is the founder of HUDDOL.COM, a terrific resource for caregivers everywhere.I…
THE CAREGIVING CHALLENGE THAT NO ONE TALKS ABOUT
There’s a huge upheaval that many caregivers experience but hardly never talk about. It’s when caregivers leave their own families in order to move in with aging parents. Or, they…
THE LATEST CHANGES IN MEDICARE FOR RESPITE CARE
I am delighted to host this very informative guest post by guest expert, Danielle K. Roberts about recent changes to respite benefits in US Medicare. According to the National Alliance…
FAMILY IS ESSENTIAL IN HEALTH CARE – LET’S START SAYING THAT
Imagine a newborn baby in a hospital emergency room. Or a loved one who is elderly, frail and in pain. ERs are very unsafe places for vulnerable patients. The frail…
LET’S TALK: THE UNEXPECTED JOURNEY OF CARING
Hi Everyone Here in the Caregivers’ Living Room!Zachary White and I have been very busy recently promoting our new book, The Unexpected Journey of Caring: The Transformation From Loved One…
A Wonderful Father – It’s About Love and Security
This is my father, James “Babe” Thomson. I miss him so much – he passed away after a series of strokes in 1975. From my Dad, I learned to feel…
4 TIPS FOR GETTING BETTER SLEEP DURING TIMES OF GRIEF
Grief is part of the caregiving experience and when a loved one passes away, unbearable sadness and loneliness can overwhelm. Today, I am happy to host this guest post by…
A BURDEN AND A JOY
A BURDEN AND A JOY: AUTHOR DONNA THOMSON UNPACKS THE DUALITY OF CAREGIVING FOR SICK FAMILY I gave this interview about some of the ideas in our new book to…
WHICH HAT AM I WEARING?
Every day, I learn something new from another caregiver. Today, I was reading a conversation in a support group for spousal caregivers. “How can I cope with the resentment and…