Random Thoughts on Color, Race, and Prejudice
This will probably get me in trouble…
The Pepto Bismal House
Who paints a house that shade of pink? I walked by it every day on my way to work. I couldn’t pass it without thinking about its similarity to the noxious liquid my mother made me drink when I had an upset tummy as a child. As if having that thick gunk sliding down my…
Signs of change in the Caregiving Season
Autumn colors, leaves falling, daylight savings – these are signs the season has changed from the lazy days of summer. There are signs of 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…
Finding a new perspective when you care for your aging parents, an interview with Jane S Daly
I had the privilege of talking with Dr. Freda Crews last spring about my book, The Caregiving Season. It was especially poignant for her, as she helped care for her aging parents before their deaths. How have you faced your changing role while caring for your parents? Dr. Freda V. Crews, D. Min., Ph.D., is…
Everyone I know Is Dead – Part 2
Aging and isolation, helping elders cope with seclusion when they start losing loved ones. I met Alene when she lived with her son, Greg and his wife. She is another elderly woman who struggled with loss and loneliness, but her story is different. When Alene became too frail for Greg and his wife to provide…
Reduce caregiving stress over the Holidays
Several years ago, our family gathered for the traditional Christmas dinner. We were at the home of my brother and sister-in-law. An argument ensued over a proposed expansion of a nearby Catholic Church. My dad, who was in a wheelchair, started complaining about being cold. My nephew, who has autism, started muttering loudly. I remember…
Homebound for the Holidays – Caregiving Challenges
What are your plans for Christmas and New Year’s? Do they include a house-bound parent, spouse, or child? Do you dream of going away for the holidays, but can’t because of caregiving responsibilities? My mother’s birthday is Christmas Eve. She’ll be ninety-three this year. Mom expects a big family dinner on her birthday. How…
When Love is not Enough
A Guest Post By Dawn Justice Please understand, When I call and check on my loved one each day, It is not because I do not trust your care for her. It is because for the last nineteen years, My mom and I have either seen each other, And or spoken to each other, Every…
Kuleana and Caregiving
At a conference I attended, a speaker used a Hawaiian word I’d never heard before: kuleana. It means a responsibility, but it’s more than a duty or task. It also carries a connotation of privilege. I wondered if I could apply this to caring for my mother. Could I adjust my perspective, and view this…