In sickness and in health Wedding vows don’t include the sickness and health of a spouse’s parents. I suppose it’s implied, but it wasn’t something that we considered or discussed until we were confronted with choices. Joe and I were like a small business partnership. We had been collaborating on life’s twists and turns and […]
Caregiving as a Couple: Our Keys to Collaboration Read More »
Memory lane As I tripped down Dad’s memory lane, I found he and I, arm in arm, skipping to the beat of a familiar tune. As I read more of Dad’s journal entries, I was astonished and saddened at how unhappy he seemed. Caregiving has received due attention recently. It is not an easy path
Sustainable Families: Have the Talk Now Read More »
Discussing end-of-life is not comfortable, and our society does not prepare us well for conversations about death. It is a part of life, but like aging is often not faced until it is a forced confrontation. It is never too early to have a heart-to-heart conversation with your parents about their end-of-life wishes. In fact,
Heart to Heart Conversation: End-of-Life Wishes Read More »
From experience, I knew that the palliative care provided by a hospice agency could be an empowering resource to maintain quality of life at home for what could extend to years. I was aware that while some families involved hospice care at end of a family member’s life, their services extended far beyond, actually prior
Hospice: The decision Read More »
Coming to terms with the fact that my travel opportunities were going to be curtailed for an unknown amount of time was one of the most challenging parts of accepting the assignment as Dad’s caregiver. When I realized that adventures in life take many forms, I was able to embrace my role without resentment. The
The Caregiving Journey: How to Prepare and Make the Most of Your Adventure Read More »
