If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
Sometimes it is fairly easy to figure out what is going on. Sometimes it may seem impossible. But there is always a reason -- a reason other than, "It's the dementia."
"Because nature is calming to the mind and uplifting to the mood, it can shift both the caregiver and care recipient into a place where simply being present together feels rewarding."
If you're worrying about your mom falling and needing help, one of the most frequently used products over the years for seniors living alone is a medical alert device -- also known as a personal emergency response system, or PERS.
I want the mother back who was born sad and could not climb out of her sadness, but who managed a spectacular life. The woman who was born at the wrong time, married the wrong man and had the wrong children. The mother who gathered friends like an abundance of autumn leaves.
Truly, nurses are everyday heroes that provide the round-the-clock care and comfort that so many patients need. Whether it is for the elderly, the new born or the newly injured, nurses -- male and female -- deserve our highest respect for their enormous contribution to society.
While many years of medical training made me an effective professional caregiver, I was completely unprepared to assume this role in my personal life. Despite my eight years of medical training, and three years of experience in private practice, I could not actively heal my wife.
I will always wonder what life would have been like if my mother hadn't developed this devastating disease.
The words are reflective and powerful. Patchett made me see the universality of "what now?" as a byproduct of ordinary living (read: time management), but the question of course resonates at a far deeper level. Isn't there something essential about answering to "what now?"
I am not angry at my doctor. I feel compassion for her, because she was trained in the mechanical model, but I write this today for myself, as a reminder that it is okay to take my time and listen to my body, even if there are time pressures and the schedules of others to accommodate.
National Nurses Week is welcome reminder to acknowledge the highly-skilled, attentive and compassionate nurses and other health professionals who keep our homebound elders living and aging at their best.
The goal of the day was to introduce golf to those who had never played before and to reacquaint players who had suffered a stroke and now had to deal with their disabilities. The positive attitude, encouragement and upbeat mood of the pros, health professionals and staff was evident and transferred to the participants. T
This is National Nurses Week, and a perfect moment to highlight the special training, ability and insights that distinguish hospice nurses in truly remarkable ways.
Cleaning out my mother's house has been both painful and eye-opening. Her photos, keepsakes and written words remind me of the amazing woman she once was, and highlight the glaring contrast between her then and now.
Recently, I have been visiting my old friend and literary colleague, Anita Cornwell, 89, who has dementia and is in a nursing home. She has been several stages of care at the same nursing home and is now in hospice. Anita is one of the lucky ones.
According to Kulreet Chaudhary, M.D., the optimal response to Parkinson's disease is adopting an attitude of "life improvement" instead of disease management.
There are women who are trying to figure out the best way to be a caregiver while also being a wife. I am not alone. So why do I feel alone?
