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Eldercare Blog
Expert advice, caregiving tips, and insights to support you on your eldercare journey.
181 posts
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Transitioning to long-term care – Selecting a care facility
Moving into a long-term care facility can feel like a rollercoaster ride for both the caregiver and the person being cared for. It is full of twists and turns...
Giving the Gift of Time with our Elders
I was about six years old when I remember visiting a nursing home. That's what my parents called Long Term Care in the 70s. Our family drove on Christmas day to...
NOT in My Family - Working with Caregivers to Reduce Elder Abuse
Over one million people in BC care for an adult relative, friend or neighbour in BC because of disease, disability or frailty due to aging. Most caregiving...
Caregivers in distress: More respite needed in BC
I’ve had the honour of hearing Isobel Mackenzie, our Seniors Advocate for the Province of British Columbia speak on seniors’ issues. Isobel weaves the personal...
What does caregiver respite look like?
This quote by Silver Donald Cameron captures the incredibly vital yet unrecognized role of family caregivers: “If Canada’s health-care system were a plant...
What's the difference between Alzheimer's and dementia?
A lot of caregivers ask me, “What’s the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease?” Dementia is an umbrella term that refers to the many...
Understanding loss - and how seniors cope with loss
I consider it a daily gift to work with people in later life; to hear about their unique footprint on earth, to celebrate their personal victories, to share in...
It's OK to be a reluctant caregiver
I was speaking to my friend, Robert, who I would describe as a “reluctant caregiver” and I was struck by the internal struggle he faces with his aging parents...
Preventing dehydration and other heat-related issues in senior
Summer is back, in all its glory. For some it also means an onslaught of heat-related issues, especially for seniors. Lethargy, dehydration, poorer sleeping... Learn more in "Preventing dehydration and other heat-related issues in senior".
5 tips to minimize family conflict while caring for an aging loved one
In my last column, I discussed the common pitfalls of family dynamics and conflict. How can we “share the care” without creating unnecessary conflict? It all...
Effective Communication Tips for Caregivers
Family caregivers often struggle with not knowing how to speak up and get their message across to key people involved with the person they are caring for. Being...
Answering the question: "What's next?"
I have a client that absolutely keeps me on my toes. And I love it! Her favourite question is, “So now what, Valerie?” It usually happens after she confides in...
Helping children understand death
I think it’s safe to say, “Death isn’t easy to deal with at any age.” So how do you explain it to your three-year-old? How do you comfort your eight-year-old...
How to prepare for successful doctor visits with the person you are caring for
When my mother had stomach cancer, I flew back to Toronto to give my siblings a reprieve and support my mom post-surgery. The procedure to remove her tumour was... Learn more in "How to prepare for successful doctor visits with the person you are caring for".
How to share eldercare with siblings - without the fisticuffs
I have a wonderful brother. Mind you, he wasn't always wonderful. In fact, I didn't officially put him in that category until he was married and had a few kids...
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... Learn more in "Grandparents - A lifetime of memories".
How to find help for your aging loved ones in your community
Are you confused or unsure about what kind of help you or your aging loved one is eligible for in the community? Congratulations! You are among the many...
Navigating the healthcare system
Mr. Jones is an 83-year-old widower living in his own home. When asked, he’ll tell you he is doing “fair to middling.” He’ll go on to tell you his legs are... Learn more in "Navigating the healthcare system".
Communicating post-stroke: Tools for coping with aphasia
I recently returned from the Canadian Stroke Congress in Vancouver. The congress was a four-day event all on stroke; from prevention to treating stroke in...
Suicide and depression are major issues among seniors
The pain was so unbearable, that had there been a shotgun in the house, I would have put myself out of misery.” For some of us, reading such a statement might...
Role reversal a common feeling in caregivers
“I feel like I’m the parent now and my mother is the child.” It's a statement I hear by many a worried and stressed out caregiver caring for an ailing parent...
Caregivers need holidays too - here's how to take one
It’s that time again – summer holidays – and for Carly and myself that means a pilgrimage to Toronto. Yes, this week’s column on caregivers taking holidays is a...
Life is never the same after a stroke
Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability in Canada, with 6,500 strokes occurring in B.C. every year. Whether you’ve had a stroke or know someone...
7 Steps to Stroke Recovery
7 Steps to Stroke Recovery The Stroke Recovery Association of BC is a provincial nonprofit organization, whose mission is to help stroke survivors and family...
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