No one told me, that aging is cumulative! That means the older we get the greater the impact of whatever we do. Overeat? The pounds will accumulate drastically. Have an extra drink of alcohol? Phew, didn’t expect to get so tipsy so soon, did ya’? Run a marathon? Ouch! I did and my knees [...]
“Read” The NEW Caregiver’s Voice I cdnuolt blveiee that I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd what I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in what oerdr the ltteres in a word are, the olny iproamtnt tih[...]
When dementia strikes, even the simplest things can be overwhelming. This was the case with my father who had a habit of postponing making decisions until later. When I think of it, my father constantly put things off until later. My mother used to remind my father (he called it nagging) to take car[...]
Comfort food for Caregivers by Chef Tinky In addition to other jobs, caregivers are often called upon to put food on the table for their companions and themselves. While caring for my late mother, I tried to involve her in food preparation as much as possible. She had always cooked and wanted to hel[...]
…even if we have to clean. Is it springtime yet? It’s gotta be there somewhere under all the snow in the Midwest and Eastern U.S.! Despite the unusual weather we’ve had this year, the longer days trigger in us an annual ritual. What do we do each spring? With the longer days[...]
Are we ready for a blood test predicting Alzheimer’s? This is GREAT! After all, it casts light on what we need–greater awareness of dementia, which was identified recently as the third leading killer behind heart disease and cancer. Not so fast. The research results are great, but what d[...]
My father’s walk through Alzheimer’s is nearing the end. The following is an excerpt from “Where’s my shoes?” My Father’s Walk through Alzheimer’s. Each time there is a change in Mardig’s condition, I get a call. (We called my father by his first name in Armenian&[...]
Having “The Talk” with your parents Guest article by Attorney Christine Brown Although there may be several awkward “talks” we have with our parents in our lifetime, the one regarding their estate planning documents and financial situation is certainly one of the most importa[...]
Caregiver in New York Reminisces with Maria Guest article by Lynette Wilson Juul Seven years ago, I had the privilege of working with a colorful, charismatic woman named Maria. Maria was eighty and living with dementia. She had lived in the Hudson Valley Region of New York State for many years, and [...]
When do you have the talk? No, not that talk! When do you have the talk with your parents about their estate plan? Answer: Now. When my husband and I created our estate plan a decade ago, our attorney recommended we review our plan once every five years. After the markets declined, who has any money[...]
After gestating for months, the embryo of our book on STUFF (clutter) has developed and is ready to be born. Please JOIN my book husband (co-author), Eric Riddle and me as we enjoy a baby shower (book launch) for STUFFology 101: Get Your Mind Out of the Clutter. North Star Books is extending a speci[...]
Do I Matter if I’m a Caregiver? Family caregivers and professionals matter. I thought I mattered while I was a full-time caregiver, though not everyone agreed. And despite the thousands of caregiver-authored books (mine included) and hundreds of speeches given each year (including mine), we re[...]
