Have you ever wondered if it’s okay to hire professionals to help you care for an aging parent? Being Chinese, my parents taught me the cultural value of caring for elders. My grandparents were treated as part of our immediate family unit and I had the opportunity to live with them for over twenty years.…
Caring for a loved one, whether a spouse, child, or aging parent, demands much from us. I know; I’ve been caring for my mother since my dad died eight years ago. At first, it involved taking her on errands and to the doctor. As her physical condition and eyesight worsened, I began walking her from…
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…
Caregiving for your aging parent or loved one in their home – Safety tips and resources Let’s face it, most people want to stay in their own home as long as possible, even when they can’t fully care for themselves. A caregiver has a responsibility is to ensure everything that can be done to make…
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…
“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…
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…
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…
Mim has been a member of the same church for over forty years. She’s served on the Women’s Ministry Council, sung in the choir, worked in the nursery, and is a prayer warrior. She’s adored by everyone who knows her. Now in her late eighties, Mim had a stroke. Her daughter flew up from Southern…
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…