A Holly Day on Table Talk

This morning on Your Caregiving Journey, Holly, who cares for her husband, joined me for Table Talk. You can listen to our show via the player below. Our conversation today centered on trusting our life, which can seem utterly impossible when life seems too difficult or unfair. Holly shared that her life is better when she trusts, when she surrenders. When life seems tough to her, she’ll ask herself,...

Today’s Winner Is…

… Merry!! Congrats–look for an email from me! Today’s the last day for a chance to win our daily gift and to be entered into a chance to win one of our end-of-the-party gifts. For a chance to win, simply share a comment on our site. Thanks so much to all who visit and share. We love to hear from you. You’ve truly made our Holiday Progressive Blog Party a special event. And, today, Holly, who...

OMG Why

Hello everyone, I am so drowning right now. I am still trying to hear something back from hospice and nothing yet.  I keep trying but to no avail. The other day on Wednesday my sister had her knee surgery which went good. We were so happy that she was in such a good mood that day. She got some bad news though.  She may have a bone diease and she has to have open knee surgery next month. That makes me worry...

The Best Worst Dr Appointment

Lewy had a Neurology appointment the other day. Just a follow up. We took the 70+ mile trip in morning traffic. I really dislike early morning appointments. It takes a GOOD two hours to get us ready to walk out the door. Then there is the car loading of Hubby and wheelchair. The weather was just chilly but I brought along heavy coats , just in case. Double checked we haven’t forgotten anything. I keep a...

And the Winner Is…

…Francine! Congrats—you won yesterday’s gift. Wanna win? Just post a comment today for a chance to win our daily gift and one of our end-of-the-party prizes. Be sure to visit the sites participating in our Holiday Progressive Blog Party. See you at the party! Related Articles Holiday Progressive Blog Party Starts Today! (caregiving.com) Progressive Blog Party Participants (caregiving.com) Holiday...

Words Optional

Wednesday was another visit with my parents. Mom continued with her inquisition, focusing again on my deceased wife intermixed with adament statements about how she was not my mother. We vacillated between being siblings and being distant relatives. I tried a new track and asked them both what they wanted for Christmas. Dad didn’t answer. He barely lifted his head. Mom paused for only a second before...

Now Available: Take Comfort, the CD

You’ve read the book. Now buy the CD and let me read to the book to you. With the CD, you can take me with you: I’ll keep you company in your car, in waiting rooms and on your difficult days. Order by December 17 and you’ll receive the CDs before Christmas. In Take Comfort, Reflections of Hope for Caregivers, I take 100 words–including the unlikely blizzard, kitchen and umbrella–and...

Home Modifications for Easier Caregiving

(We welcome a guest post today from Michelle Seitzer of 101Mobility.com.) Before caregiving, when you shopped for a house, you probably had certain must-have items on your buying check-list, items like granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, shiny wood floors and custom tiling. After caregiving enters a house, you realize how hard a house, with its multiple levels, tight hallways and awkward bathrooms, can...

A Winner and Another Site

Sharon won yesterday’s gift!! And, Jenny has joined our Holiday Progressive Blog Party. If you listen to our live call-in show, you’ll know Jenny, who calls in to share her perspective on caring for her father. Here’s her site information: Jersey Jenny (Jenny W): Jenny blogs about life … which includes rescue, work, recipes and her dad’s frontotemporal degeneration condition. To visit...

Dementia to Division

Sometimes it’s so hard to concentrate on what’s going on with the kids, even when I know the reasons for some of  the challenges with my mother. Somehow amongst the rushing of dinner tonight I forgot to open my mother’s soda… All seemed to be going smoothly – groceries were put away, I’ve started organizing a bit for Christmas, phone calls for the day were made, prescriptions...

Another Winner, More Gifts, a New Site

We’re heading into our fourth day of our Holiday Progressive Blog Party. I’m so enjoying our party and I’m grateful to all who join us. Yesterday’s winner was Kaye! She’ll receive a special holiday package. Do you want to win? Just post a comment on our site every day through Saturday. You’ll have a chance to win our daily gift and one of end-of-the-party prizes. And, we’re...

What Steve Said

After I posted my last blog, Speaking Off The Cuff and From the Heart, Denise asked me if I would share what Steve said when we spoke to the attendees at a class put on by the Alzheimer’s Association. I’ll do my best. It was a week ago, and I know part of the time Steve was talking, I was trying to wipe away tears and remembering a recent photo where I was doing that at our son’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor....

Moving Day

I don’t know how or why it happened but Lewy’s lid boiled over splattering everywhere and leaving me an emotional mess. I did something I didn’t think I would. I moved out of our bedroom. I moved for a couple 3 or 4 reasons. In Hubby’s reality he does not remember me as the woman he married. He has knowledge that we are married because everyone says we are but he doesn’t remember the...

Oh My

I can’t seem to get a response on hospice but I will prevail. Haha. I will call and text so I can get a little guidance in how to better care for Mom and Dad. My sister’s surgery is tomorrow and I hope everything is okay.  She has heart problems so I worry and even the cardiologist worries some. I am so glad that we have prayer. It helps me to keep going. What motivates me is that I don’t want to...

Never a Dull Moment

Last Friday Mom was released from the hospital. It seems that day at 3 p.m. we found out her Medicaid was not recertified. We were under the impression that the prior nursing home had taken care of everything and we never received anything in the mail stating she needed to be recertified. Apparently it needed to be done in May. I have no idea who has been picking up the costs since then and we haven’t...

Join Us for Journaling and a Good Start

Join me for three-week classes that help you manage your caregiving experience. Our school is about you and your caregiving experience, to help feel better where you are right now. Our classes conveniently take place over the phone (“teleclasses”). Teleclasses are a great way to learn, share and support—without leaving your house. In this session, we’ve got two courses from which to choose. Register for one...

And Today’s Winner Is…

…Amy! Congrats! You won a holiday package as part of our Holiday Progressive Blog Party. Look for an email from me. I hope everyone is enjoying our blog party! Be sure to visit our participating sites and post a comment on Caregiving.com for a chance to win today’s gift. Have fun!! Related Articles Blog Party Update: A New Site and a Winner (caregiving.com) Holiday Progressive Blog Party Starts Today!...

Dementia Continues to Introduce Us to the Unknown

When we have a headache we take ibuprofen. When we have a cold, we take cold medicine. For an infection, we take an antibiotic. So why am I having a difficult time with this… Four-thirty in the afternoon seems to be the time when my mother begins to change. Her personality changes, her demeanor changes; she’s afraid. Nearly two weeks ago, I talked with hospice about this as well as my mother’s ...

Helpful Sites…

Hi.. I was given these two sites today and after reading many of the concerns you all have maybe you can use these too: Patient Advocate Foundation: www.patientadvocate.org NeedyMeds: www.needymeds.org I have not called either yet…but the top one looks really exciting and they do a lot. I am planning to call it for bills, meds and advocacy, hopefully by Thursday. If you can use these and like this kind of...

When Will It Be Me?

Hey everyone, I have not been feeling well lately but can’t relax for a second. I am tired of feeling like that I hold my family together. I can’t do it my own but no one helps. I wish I could have a day or two for me. I don’t even know what they would do if I did go away. I want someone to look after me when I don’t feel well. My dad is so sick right now. He is not even getting out of bed...

Insights and Blessings…

I wasn’t sure what to name this blog. I finally got a chance to listen to the last cal- in show about caregiving and holiday stress. Once again, Bette makes me think and realize things that I didn’t and/or don’t. She was talking about her mom wanting to stay up on Thanksgiving because they had company but that routines are so important. This came at the right time. We had company for the weekend...

“La, La…On the Road Again”

Geez, I hope not. I’m posting this now, though, because you might not understand if I suddenly disappear from posting. Among my husband’s many conditions is syringomyelia, which means cysts form inside of the spinal column between the sheath and the cord itself. If they get big enough they stop the flow of spinal fluid and then things like quadriplegia and brain damage, etc. can occur. He has already...