Filtered tag: Family Caregivers

“I feel like I’m the parent now and my mother is the child” is a statement I hear by many a worried and stressed out caregiver caring for an ailing parent. When my father had his first of three strokes, a defining moment in how he was cared for is forever etched in memory. We… Read more…

  It’s 5:30 pm on a Monday and I’m interrupted from a Board Meeting by a colleague. She says, “It’s your brother from Toronto calling.” The conversation is choppy. It’s Dad. He’s had a massive stroke. Don’t fly home. He was a candidate for surgery and is recovering in hospital. He should be fine. My… Read more…

What kind of sandwich did you order today? Whether a vegetarian, classic club or low-carb choice, many baby boomers have a full plate for lunch these days. Usually between 45 and 60 years old, Sandwich Generationers are raising children younger than 25 years and caring for aging parents older than 75 years. Some are also… Read more…

“I do remember, and then when I try to remember, I forget.” – Winnie-the-Pooh “Why does Nana call me your name Mommy instead of mine?” “How come Grandpa doesn’t know how to use his knife or fork anymore?” “Dad, what’s wrong with Grandma? She called the toaster a counter and tried to toast her apple.”… Read more…

  “I’m among the forgetters. But I’m not an empty shell”. – Richard Taylor, author of Alzheimer’s from the INSIDE OUT Do you remember the first time you stepped into a residential care facility (or in my day, we referred to them as nursing homes, old folk’s homes or lodges)? Was it positive or negative… Read more…

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 when their grandparent dies? How comfortable are you with the whole concept of death? What are you beliefs regarding after-life, if any? How do you… Read more…

It’s been a flurry of activity and excitement for Carly around our house for the past 3 weeks. (Actually, if any of you know me personally, there’s never a shortage of excitement and flurry in our house). However, the charge in our house is different than the normal daily wattage. WHY? Carly and I are… Read more…