Elder Care Cafe

As a caregiver, we often become mired in the day-to-day activities that come with caring for a loved one. Recently, I read a comment expressed by the poet Robert Frost: In three words I can summarize everything I’ve learned about life: It goes on. ~ Robert Frost As I pondered those words, I started thinking [...]

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There is usually enough guilt to go around in most families when a parent or elderly loved one becomes unable to take care of themselves. If you are caring for a loved one, you already know what we are talking about. Since you are doing everything you can to provide appropriate care, why should you [...]

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The longer we live, the more likely we are to suffer life-changing situations and grief in our lives that might bring on bouts of depression. We’re more vulnerable to changes and sometimes don’t have the energy or the money or any other means to change situations that happen to upend our lives. Most elderly depression [...]

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There are a couple types of depression that may show themselves in today’s economic times. Short-term depression occurs in most all of us at some time or other in our lives, but severe depression is more serious and may require some type of medical care or intervention. Severe depression is when the feelings become so agonizing [...]

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The economic decline over the last couple of years in the United States, with its accompanying number of people who have lost their jobs, their lifestyles, and often their homes, reminds me how many people could also be struggling with depression. Unfortunately, the older people are when enduring these life-changing losses, the more likely they will [...]

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Throughout the year we have the opportunity to view the national flag of the United States of America. After all, it is a well recognized symbol of freedom throughout the world. The first American flag was officially adopted on June 14, 1777 with the original 13 stars. The 50-star flag we have today was adopted [...]

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Along with the goals and objectives I am developing for the coming year as mentioned in yesterday’s post, I am also including healthy aging as a priority for both Dad and myself. As a caregiver, I need to stay healthy in order to better help the one I am caring for. Here is a brief [...]

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Every year since the early 1990s I have written down my goals for the coming year. Some years I have had great success by diligently following my goals, while other years life seemed to take its own course and the goals fell by the wayside. Unfortunately, that was the case in 2009. In one of [...]

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As caregivers soon learn, stress becomes part of their daily life. Long hours, mental and physical strain, and isolation, among other aspects, often leave the caregiver exhausted and at the breaking point. In the past, we have discussed a number of ways caregivers can de-stress when their duties seem overwhelming. Earlier this year I found [...]

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In the midst of grief, it is often difficult to find the right words to express our feelings. I recently came across Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep, which contains over 250 carefully selected poems, quotations, and readings for use when you or someone close to you has lost a loved one.

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A growing trend in recent years is to choose natural, or green, funerals and burial sites. Many cemeteries are running out of room, people are growing more aware of the impact on the environment that the typical modern funeral yields, and as funeral and burial costs rise, natural funerals and burials are becoming more attractive [...]

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Because I am still recovering from Monday’s birthday party, I thought I would stay away from serious subjects for today. There will be time for seriousness tomorrow. Today I am still slightly hunger-over from the sugar rush. The birthday cake was delicious. However, as I was relaxing and thinking about the fact that this is [...]

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Easter morn with lilies fair Fills the church with perfumes rare, As their clouds of incense rise, Sweetest offerings to the skies. Stately lilies pure and white Flooding darkness with their light, Bloom and sorrow drifts away, On this holy hallow’d day. Easter Lilies bending low in the golden afterglow, Bear a message from the [...]

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  Mind & Spirit      As a continuation of yesterdays post, here are links to the Mind & Spirit section of WebMD, a very helpful resource for aging seniors.     Recreation Waltzing Shows Heart Benefits Staying Sharp Emotional and Mental Vitality Fit Body, Fit Mind Is Your Memory Normal? Forgetfulness: It’s Not Always [...]

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As a long time fan of Debbie Macomber’s Cabot Cove and Blossom Street novels, I was thrilled when she wrote her first nonfiction book, Knit Together. The book starts out with a wonderful introduction by Liz Curtis Higgs who calls Debbie a savvy mentor who helps point the way to our God-given purpose in life. (All [...]

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