News
Grief Management When a Loved One Enters Hospice
Your elderly mother rests comfortably in her bed upstairs, while a gathering of family members sit crying in the living room downstairs. A hospice nurse has just made her first home visit and administered some medication to quell a nasty coughing fit. Mom’s terminal illness has progressed greatly in recent weeks, and it’s clear to […]
5 Ways to Deal with Caregiver Stress
You stare into the bathroom mirror with your aging mother in the next room calling for breakfast. You don’t like the reflection you see. You’re tired, on edge, and you need to eat, too. You’ve barely had the chance to put in some dry shampoo and brush your hair. You’re feeling caregiver stress … and […]
What are the Types of Dementia?
Dementia is a thief. Just ask my life partner/care partner, Brian, who has Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. It’s an armed robber that steals memories, mostly in reverse chronological order, so what happened weeks, days, hours or even seconds ago can be a complete mystery. Some folks regress to the point they’re “mentally present” in […]
Aphasia: ‘I Couldn’t Speak and I was Terrified’
I woke up Saturday morning just like any other day. Maureen, my life partner/care partner, was up before me, of course, as she moves like a lightning bolt and I take my sweet time. The gentle waves of Tampa Bay just outside our bedroom window glistened in the morning sunlight. So relaxing and peaceful, a […]
Dementia Communication Strategies: Talking When Talking Doesn’t Work
Brian needed to say something. Something simple. He struggled. It made me sad. I’m used to it. So is he. We’re prepared for this. But as experts in dementia care — him living it and me helping many care-partner teams who contend with it daily — even we battle with daily trials. My life partner, Brian, is the smartest […]
Enjoying the Golden Years with Our Loved Ones
The clear lake water laps gently against the dock where you and your father stand in silence. He gazes across the water toward the setting sun. He appears deep in thought. “A beautiful, golden sunset to kick off my golden years,” he says. You smile. It’s a moment out of a Robert Frost poem. “Nature’s […]