Someone Asked Me What I DO by Maryellen Kernaghan Someone recently asked me what I do. And I thought for a moment and answered “I am an elder-care coach”. Puzzled, they asked, “What is THAT”? “Someone”, I answered, “who works with the elderly, their family and their caregivers to help provide a network of support [...]
Shelley tells us March 14th was officially International Ask a Question Day, so with that in mind I wanted to ask the question… are you using your time as well as you could? Do you have the days when you pull into the driveway and think – “oh darn, I forgot mom’s prescriptions. I also [...]
Dear Friends I am sorry I have been absent for some weeks – I am sorry I have not been as prolific as usual. Life happens, things get in the way….well….hmmm….. I do hope somebody missed me . A day or so ago, I wrote on Face Book that I was feeling sad. Just that. [...]
How the Past Can Help the Present – by Maryellen Kernaghan There is a wonderful video called “Care home turns back the clock on dementia”. You can find it at www.bbc.uk and search under “health” . I highly suggest seeking it out. It talks about using the past to calm dementia patients in the present. [...]
As we come into the holiday season, many of us reflect back on the “old days” – and sometimes they seem more poignant now than when they were happening! One question that has always haunted me is what is the difference between being an elder and being elderly? Is it like the difference between a [...]
by Maryellen “I don’t know what to do with the parent/partner/friend/spouse I am caring for all day long. They are still cognizant enough to know what is going on, but I really can’t just give them a job to do , one that has any importance, unsupervised. So by time I come up with something [...]
What happens to a parent or partner or someone you are caring for when, all of a sudden, as the season changes from summer to fall, then fall to winter, they seem to get agitated and angry at a certain time of the day? I found that as the seasons changed, and the days became [...]
It was clear that during these last 18 months, when my mother needed more time than even my very understanding job could allow, I took a sabbatical from work and became her caregiver, full time, 24/7. For the last year and a half I did everything with and for her. Everything. Woke her. Gave her [...]
So came chapter 2 of mom’s new adventure. Living in NYC. With me. 24 hours a day. 7 days a week. In the bedroom next door. Now, I am divorced and have been for more years than I was married. I have been in some wonderful long term relationships with some very loving and understanding [...]
While a working professional, I have also been a caregiver to both my parents. My father died from lung cancer and was in a hospice program that taught me, as the primary caregiver, and us, as a family, the most amazing lessons. As did my father. He was only home and in the hospice program [...]
