Transitioning a loved one to long-term care

Making the decision to move a spouse or aging parent into long term care is one of the most difficult decisions families have to make. A few weeks back, I started a series on how to manage the transition to long term care. So here we are, post-holidays and into a New Year. Let’s pick… Read more…

Everyone copes with grief in their own way

Thank you to Steve Hill, Pastoral Care Chaplain at St. Joseph’s Hospital, for bringing his expertise and knowledge on coping with grief. My fingerprint is unique. So is yours. I cope with grief in my way, in my time. So do you. And, that’s OK. I have found helpful wisdom in an old Latin phrase,… Read more…

Living proof that stroke recovery is possible

I was going to write about stroke prevention for today’s column. Then I met Ben. Ben is a 44-year-old father, self-made cook and a community support worker. Ben had a stroke in 2008 at age 37; his kids were 12, 9, 6 at the time of his stroke. I met Ben through my work with… Read more…

Osteoporosis: ‘the silent thief’

Make no bones about it, you are more likely to break a bone from osteoporosis than you are to have a heart attack, stroke or be diagnosed with breast cancer. Kim Hamilton is back to “break it” down for us and give great tips on how to reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis. Kim is… Read more…

Get organized with Eldercare Planning Workbook

Before I became a geriatric case manager and gerontologist, I can honestly say I didn’t understand the value of good personal organization and record keeping. I remember waiting impatiently as my Nana would meticulously keep her financial records in perfect balance. Looking over her bifocals she would sternly advise me to always have all my… Read more…

Coping with the transition to long term care

  One of greatest challenges of my work is servicing clients who reside in a Residential Care facility, or commonly referred to long term care or a nursing home. It brings up a lot of difficult memories of visiting my grandmother who suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease and spent 4 years in facility care. My grandmother… Read more…

Resources for unpaid caregivers in BC

  Unpaid caregivers, which are typically family but also include friends and neighbours remain an invisible pillar in B.C. health care system and yet make up over 25 per cent of our population. Canadian statistics on caregiving paint a very clear picture — “It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when you… Read more…

Grandparents – A lifetime of memories

“What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humour, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies.” ~Rudolph Giuliani I’ve just finished baking cookies. As I pull out the ooey-gooey tray of sinful delights, I can’t help but think of my grandmother and a rush… Read more…

Denial Is Not A Strategy – Planning for Unexpected Eldercare Challenges

There are days where being in denial is better than coming face to face with reality. Like when your child is so misbehaved in the grocery store, you actually believe this small evil person is not your next of kin and you start looking for the mother with the rest of the passersby. Or when… Read more…

Denial Is Not A Strategy – Planning for Unexpected Eldercare Challenges

There are days where being in denial is better than coming face to face with reality. Like when your child is so misbehaved in the grocery store, you actually believe this small evil person is not your next of kin and you start looking for the mother with the rest of the passersby. Or when… Read more…