Autumn colors, leaves falling, daylight savings; these are signs the season has changed from the lazy days of summer. There are signs of the changes in the caregiving season as well. • Your aging parent is becoming more forgetful • Your loved one is showing more fear of going out or falling down • He…
Dementia Resources for Caregivers – Parenting your Parents
Do you carry the tough challenge of caring for a parent as their health and memory deteriorates? What are the key signs to know when my fears are justified or just paranoia? Is her forgetfulness normal? What is the difference between regular ole’ dementia vs. Alzheimers? Learn more about Alzheimer’s vs Dementia with the resources…
When Life Becomes Too Much
“Your mother is dying.” My mind understood the doctor’s words, but my heart refused to believe them. Only a few days prior, my ninety-four-year old mother had taken a day trip to Reno with my husband. How could she be dying? Why now, God? This was supposed to be the weekend I would put the…
Boundaries…What Boundaries?
When Mike and I first talked about moving in with my mom after her stroke, my sister in law gave us some advice. “Talk to a counselor. You need to make sure all of you understand boundaries.” At the time, I thought she was making something out of nothing. I could handle Mom and her…
A Mother’s Day Tribute: My Mother’s Hands
My mother gave me her ring. She can’t wear it anymore. Her once slender fingers have become swollen with arthritis. Four perfectly matched diamonds are mounted in a row on a gold band. I always thought it was her wedding ring because she’s worn it for as long as I can remember. She recently told…
10 Essential Steps in Creating a Safer Bathroom
According to the National Council on Aging, one in four seniors (aged 65 and up) falls each year, making it the leading cause of fatal injury in America. And when considering the wet conditions of the bathroom, it isn’t much surprise that this area has been called the most dangerous room of them all. Of…
Grouchiness, Aging and Dementia
Question from a reader: My aging grandmother is becoming more grouchy and pushy. She doesn’t hesitate to voice whatever she thinks, whether or not it’s rude. How does a Christian deal with that? The Bible says to honor our father and mother, so how do we honor our aging loved ones when they act like…
Caring for an aging loved one
Have you ever flipped through old photos? Many times I don’t recognize the people whose picture I captured years ago. People pass in and out of our lives. We move. We change jobs or churches. We no longer have common interests. Sometimes a death occurs. With the result that a photo taken years ago no…
Exercises for you and your aging loved one – keep them moving!
An Inside Job… Caring for your aging loved one is an inside job, for the most part. Usually, by the time they need us to care for them, they are dependent on walkers, scooters, or wheelchairs. At this stage, it’s rare that we get to enjoy the pleasure of strolling with them in the park,…
A New Season of Caregiving – Part 3
The move in with my mom is a work in process. A very slow process. I’m finding out how easy it is to gather stuff. For instance, I have enough rags to fill a garbage bin. Do they reproduce while in the dark linen closet? I’ve compartmentalized the emotional part of the move. It’s there,…