Resources

The past few columns have dealt with the sticky topic of opening up the lines of communications with aging loved ones about future care and what role family members play in providing support and care. “So now what, Wendy?” This is exactly what a family friend, Mary, asked over the phone last week. She confided… Read more…

Two weeks ago, we spoke about accepting a right to live at risk as it relates to our aging loved ones while continuing to give support and care for them. Many caregivers can feel they are doing everything in their power to provide the best care and circumstances for their aging parents or spouse. When… Read more…

“I’ll do it, thank you very much. Just sit down and worry about that precious cargo of yours.” Gulp. What could I, a 36-week pregnant woman say to my 82-year-old widowed family friend, who insists on making me fresh tea, requiring her to wobble up and down the rickety stairs to the backyard patio? With… Read more…

What is Caregier Burnout? At first most caregivers accept their new role as caregiver with a sense of idealism, hope and eagerness to do well. As time goes on fatigue may set in, disappointments and frustrations can and do occur. Caregiver burnout or compassion fatigue is a sense of being completely overwhelmed and unrewarded (Carter,… Read more…

There may come a time when your aging loved one or as an older adult, the decision to move or downsize is the right one. Most families think the hardest part is making the decision to move. That may true, however, understanding the breadth of seniors housing options is a close second! The Comox Valley… Read more…

There may come a time when your aging loved one or as an older adult, the decision to move or downsize is the right one. Most families think the hardest part is making the decision to move. That may true, however, understanding the breadth of seniors housing options is a close second! The Comox Valley… Read more…

  Raise your hand if taking your aging loved one to his or her physician causes a great deal of stress? Raise your other hand if your frustration levels skyrocket when your Mom can’t remember what her doctor said about her test results or what new medication she is taking for her high blood pressure.… Read more…

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…

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…

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…