Filtered tag: Eldercare

Questions to ask yourself when considering future eldercare planning

In my line of work as a private geriatric case manager, there are few days that go by where I’m not reminded of the consequences of “not having one’s affairs in order.” In my last column, I spoke first-hand about my family’s personal experience with having to make difficult end-of-life decisions when my Dad was Read more…

Giving yourself permission to grieve a loss

When I was 34 years old, my Nana Cumming died after very slow death from Alzheimer’s disease. I was 36 weeks pregnant at the time and was unable to travel back to Ontario. In many ways, I said my “goodbye” many years before her death. I remember grieving most when her dementia was progressing and Read more…

Get your affairs in order

It’s highly plausible that some readers assume I’m extremely well organized and that every file in my house has a home. If my husband is reading this, he’ll be laughing out loud. Anyone who works with me will also have a smirk on their face. Theoretically, I fully understand the importance of filing and keeping Read more…

Where there’s a will there’s a way: The importance of a written will and advance care planning

  All of us know the expression, “Where there is a will, there is a way” and perhaps we’ve even used it when we want to motivate someone, (maybe ourselves), that with determination achieving something or anything is possible. As I thought about a topic for this week’s column, it struck me that the same Read more…

The four Ps of productive adult family meetings

  Growing up with three siblings made for unique and highly entertaining family meetings. Given my Dad, the late Greg Johnstone was a criminal lawyer, these meetings were often coined the Johnstone judiciary proceedings. The most common crime in the Johnstone household: stealing food. In his own way, Judge Greg provided our family with a Read more…

Patient as Partners working group buzzing with excitement

The Patient as Partners – Working Dialogue Group held its two-day conference in Vancouver last week. The BC Ministry of Health recently identified patient-centered care as one of their priorities and the purpose of this conference was to receive input from stakeholder on what patient-centered care should look like in BC. I was lucky enough Read more…

The ins and outs of private home care

In the past month, I’ve had numerous calls from individuals asking about various private home-care agencies and the ins and outs of private care. It seems like a good time to reprint this column, with a few updates. Mrs. Robson is a 92-year-old widow with Alzheimer’s disease. In her younger years, she was a schoolteacher Read more…

The ins and outs of private home care

  In the past month, I’ve had numerous calls from individuals asking about various private home-care agencies and the ins and outs of private care. It seems like a good time to reprint this column, with a few updates. Mrs. Robson is a 92-year-old widow with Alzheimer’s disease. In her younger years, she was a Read more…

Caregiving can take its toll – beware caregiver burnout

For most of us, February finally feels like life is back to normal and we are back into the swing of a more even-perhaps-less-busy routine. However, for family caregivers caring for a spouse or older parent, life is always busy juggling the many demands of caregiving and everyday life. Family members who are feeling overwhelmed Read more…

Recognize your priorities when caring for an aging relative

  In my previous column, we met Mr. Tinsel and discussed the importance of goal-setting as it relates to continued independence. If you missed the column, you can find it here. The seniors and family members I meet in my work all have unique circumstances leading up to a life transition. A common denominator is Read more…

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“You are amazing! What I tried to do in 2 months, you did in 1 week. You’ve helped us navigate the system, made sense of Mom’s disease, and gave back her independence and control. Thank you for making such a difference in Mom’s life and giving us, her family, complete peace of mind.”

– Mike G., Nanaimo, BC

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