Filtered tag: Navigating the Health Care System

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…

A big thanks to BC Housing for responding to my column on falls and the elderly by providing details on a new program for low-income seniors to make home modifications for continued independence. Would a new ramp, handrails or walk-in shower help you maintain your independence at home? BC Housing’s new Home Adaptations for Independence… Read more…

Elaine hasn’t slept well for the past week, so when the phone rings at 5:30 a.m., she doesn’t wake with a start. She’s not surprised when the person on the other end is the night care support worker at the assisted living facility where her Mom lives. This is the fourth call from the facility… Read more…

  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 long and very painful. Post-discharge, my Mom experienced severe stomach pains, difficulty sleeping and digestive problems. Heavily medicated (not me, her!) to reduce the pain,… Read more…

Mr. Smith is caring for his wife of 60 years, and although he’d be pressed to admit it, he’s finding it hard to keep his head above water. His wife has Parkinson’s disease and at the moment, she needs help with bathing, grooming and getting dressed. Mr. Smith loves his wife dearly and is happy… Read more…

  Mrs. Robson is a 92-year-old widow with Alzheimer’s disease. In her younger years, she was a schoolteacher and raised three children. She and her husband married at 20 years old and enjoyed a 60-year marriage. She was an avid hiker, gardener and enjoyed reading. She loves her home, which overlooks a nearby park, and… Read more…

  One of the most common questions we hear from seniors (and family caregivers alike) is, “How do I get someone to help me with bathing, medications or getting dressed in my home?” There is more than one answer to that question! For the purpose of simplicity, I’ll start with the program called Home and… Read more…

Are you confused about what kind of help you or your aging parent is eligible for in the community? Don’t worry! You aren’t alone. Knowing the who, what and how is challenging when you are at the start of any maze. Before entering a maze, it’s helpful to have clues at the start to help… Read more…

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 tired and wobbly and he doesn’t get out as much as he’d used to. He has a scooter, which gets him to town and… Read more…

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia can be challenging and, at times, overwhelming. We remind our clients that their feelings of frustration and anger are normal and valid emotional responses to caring for their loved ones. A certain degree of irritation is normal for anyone in a caregiving role… Read more…