I wrote about this last week, however this is such a rich topic that shows up so frequently in our lives, yet we are scarcely aware of it. When I was coaching parents and developed the UnParenting Paradigms, I had no idea that what I had really developed were overall relationship paradigms. Parent/Child, Romantic, Elder/Adult [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Archive for December, 2008
How to Stay Centered After Lilah’s Stroke
It really threw me. Having grown accustomed to the comings and imminent goings of the friends I’ve made in the nursing home where my mother resides, the reaction I had to Lilah’s stroke was unexpected. There are some things that transcend explanation in this life, and this might be one of them. However, learning how [...]
Read the rest of this entry »How To Accept the Decisions of Others
This is a tough one. I just read an article about siblings who have very different responses to their mother going through the changes that Alzheimer’s brings. One is ultra attentive, another won’t visit. Is one the more appropriate response? At first blush it’s tempting to say that the attentive sibling is doing the ‘right’ [...]
Read the rest of this entry »As we get older, we find different ways to deal with life
Any information we can gather that will help us understand the later developmental stages of life are helpful. A recent study suggests that as we get older, our brain finds ways of adapting to negative influences. http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2008/12/16/brain-adjusts-to-cope-with-lifes-upsets.html Spend time with elders and you’ll agree with the study. Information is processed differently at 70 vs. 80 [...]
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Dementia up close
This is not a medical assessment. This is not even based on hard, scientific evidence. These are real-life experiences I’ve had over the past two and a half years while observing the very mysterious condition called dementia. My mother has taught me to love it, her resident neighbors have taught me of its inherent wonder. [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Resources for caregivers
The AARP has this on their site: (Click here to get the planner) By providing your email address below, we provide you with our free guide, Time to Talk: Help Your Family Prepare to Care. In this handy guide you will learn: How to create your own personal checklist and plan of action; How to [...]
Read the rest of this entry »How we affect others
Validation: A short film / Click here Keep in mind as you watch this that we have great power. But if we become attached to that power, it can have a downward spiraling effect. It’s wise to find a way to detach from outcomes. This film isn’t about elders, however this blog is so I’ll [...]
Read the rest of this entry »My party list
In meditation this morning I began visualizing all the incredible people I’ve spent time with the past couple of years at UHC. As my mind traced each face I longed to be there, knowing how I can elevate my mood with each person. I: Joke with Molly Sing with Neil Get silly with my mother [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Power of Positive Thought
You’ve got a computer, a printer and a word processing or power point program, right? Printing out signs with a few words of wellness and posting them within reading view of your elder (and yourself!) can do wonders. Suggestions: My health and vitality increase everyday I am healthy and energetic I feel awake, alert and [...]
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