Having a loved one in hospital is one of the most stressful experiences a caregiver can have. It’s often fraught with fear, confusion, frustration and disappointment—but it can also be a productive learning experience that enhances a senior’s life. What makes the difference? Continue reading →

How many male caregivers do you know? Are they husbands, sons, extended family or friends? Are they caregivers to the elderly or to those with cancer, multiple sclerosis, dementia or AIDS? I am curious to learn more about who they are, what they do and what they tell us about being caregivers. My curiosity about male caregivers stems from my own personal experiences, three of which I would like to share with you Continue reading →

It’s in the weekend papers and Boomer magazines—top tips for downsizing and de-cluttering. Useful advice, of course, but what is it really all about? Is it just another to-do list, a rite of passage or a major life event?
In… (Read more)

I hear so many horror stories about long waits in emergency rooms. Is there any point in even taking my elderly parents there? How can I be sure they are seen quickly?
It’s important to understand how emergency departments are… (Read more)

Unlike some medical conditions characterized by clear onsets and hopefully adequate resolutions, once dementia is diagnosed, it becomes apparent to those who know what is entailed that there will be a long journey from the time of diagnosis until the… (Read more)

Mrs. S’s “diaper rash” defied diagnosis, until she confessed to a church friend, “I daren’t use the retirement home call button because it costs money—and my daughter says I must save my pennies.”
Ms. B spent hours dodging her boss… (Read more)

Caregiving is like being in a dramatic movie where the inevitable end is already known but the story itself is unpredictable and full of twists and turns, highs and lows, peaks of joy and sorrow, high anxiety and quiet satisfaction.… (Read more)

Meet Jamie
Ask Jamie about his life and he will mostly likely start the conversation by saying, “If only.”
Fourteen months ago, Jamie’s parents had quite stable lives. His mother was living in a long-term… (Read more)