This moment.
It is the only thing we have. This very moment.

My hope for you is that you feel well, safe, secure, and even happy in this moment.
As a family caregiver to an aging loved one, some moments are very joyful while other moments can be tough to get through. Frustration, anxiety over the uncertainty, even loneliness can appear. Guilt is usually never far away either, right?
When you catch yourself in moments that don’t feel good, please remember, and act on these two things:

1. Acknowledge your feelings. Notice them as though you are noticing the environment around you. Even say it out loud so you can hear the words. “I feel overwhelmed right now.” “I feel sad right now.” “I feel irritated right now.” These are a few examples. Say it, just simply, so you can hear it.

 

1. Then, take a few moments to be with yourself quietly after hearing those words. Don’t get into the story of why and what. Don’t project into the future of what may come around again to further escalate your feelings. Just. Be. With. Them. For. A. Few. Moments. And breathe. Imagine that feeling is like a little child and give that child a hug. Reassure and comfort that child. Use that moment to feel a feeling of comfort.

 
You are doing great! Do you know how I can say that? It’s because you are doing the best YOU can with what you have and what you know!

And when you don’t know something, you reach out to learn something new or different to try. That marks a person for greatness!

Continue to reach out. Continue to learn. Find out other ways to do things, to respond to situations, to gain a bigger perspective on it.

This moment is all we have.
This very moment.

One day it will be in the past to reflect on. I hope it makes you smile. You know, from that bigger perspective. 😊

You know what? It's ok to make time for YOU. It is NOT being selfish. More than likely, your kids are calling on you more, your spouse is calling on you more and it is becoming harder to find that special "You Time". Time to recharge and re-energize yourself. Your cup is draining quickly, and the bottom line is… you can't pour from an empty cup!

You are a family Caregiver. You love your loved one- there is no denying that. The fact is, caregiving, in all capacities, takes a lot of time, effort and physical and emotional energy, it is easy to become overwhelmed and anxious when you feel like it is all on your shoulders. It is crucial to take good care of yourself.

One way to take good care of yourself is to watch your thoughts.

Caregiving is one of those roles where you do the best you can, and all the while you need to be diligent to ensure your thoughts “won’t take you out”! I’m talking about nagging thoughts like “you’re not doing this”, “you’re doing too much of that” along with the dreaded “What if…?”

Check in with yourself when you notice these thought patterns coming up. Use your awareness of their cycling as a trigger to stop. Catch it in the act and redirect to thoughts that are more useful, peaceful and energy restoring.

Another way to take care of yourself is to take time for yourself.

It is not selfish. Start by building a Support Network around you. Take inventory of all the people you know. Reconnect with them, whatever that looks like, and share what you are looking for, what kind of support you need, the time commitment and if they are someone you could call in a pinch. Let them know that you can provide the guidance they need to be able to be a successful support with your loved one. Next, research the community supports and services in your area and phone them to see what they can offer at this time. Ask questions and get information specific to your situation. This research will help you know who is available and how they can help you and your loved one. You can build a schedule around the needs of your loved one.

Building and using a Support Network will give your loved one new interactions and experiences to enjoy while you can have some time to go out and see something new or rest and recharge. There is no prize for doing it all by yourself but huge rewards to both you and your loved one when you keep yourself well.

Reaching out and accepting help is essential for you and your loved one’s well-being, after all, Caregiving is a marathon not a sprint.

Have you ever encountered a time when the person you came to visit wasn’t contributing much to the conversation? We all know that a common way to get a conversation going is by asking a few questions –right? But after a few of your go-to questions, you just aren’t getting anywhere. So, you ask a few more questions...
 
Now you start feeling more like Barbara Walters than yourself and you’re wondering how she is feeling about all the questions too! Yikes! This is not the direction you hoped for. What to do?
 
Let’s step back and see what we can notice about this situation.
The person you are visiting may be more on the introverted side, maybe a little shy if you are new to her, or maybe she is feeling a little anxious because she’s having trouble finding the words to match her thoughts. Perhaps she is having a tougher day with more confusion and answers are harder to find. All of these can be challenging for her and for her visiting Friend.
 
Perhaps there are possibilities available that can direct a visiting Friend.
Sitting together with her in the common area of her care facility means there is usually a lot of different things you can look at together. People watching is always interesting. It can be a good way to engage in a variety of short and simple topics to observe, discuss and comment on. Pretty colors, stylish clothes, what others are doing to name a few. This can spark memories and open-ended questions. For someone introverted, it means the focus is not on her. For someone having difficulties expressing themselves, this can be an enjoyable activity that makes her feel included without the pressures of having to “know the answers”.
 
You can try an experiment like “going fishing”!
I’m not talking about bringing Hip Waders and tackle to your next visit. What I mean is to bring along something that is interesting and active –say knitting or a simple but repetitive craft. Something that involves action while being seated and some sort of materials. [This is baiting the hook.] Sitting at a table together in a common area, you take out this activity and invite her to join you. If she declines but is interested in what you are doing, that is fine! Keep doing it. You will find in a short period of time other residents will be attracted to your table. [Reeling them in.] They will be curious to know what you are doing. With these additional people around, the conversations will take off. You and the one you are visiting will be engaged and it will be on her own terms. The pressure will be off her and there will be lots to enjoy and take in. Including her in the conversation, gives others a chance to get to know her. Giving her time to speak up and share if she wants to, takes the pressure off, and makes it a wonderful and inclusive time for her, for you and the others. You are creating an opportunity for her to be part of something bigger. This is especially good if she was having troubles meeting others or was new to the facility.
 
So, save your questions, notice what cues and clues she is giving you and don’t be afraid to try some experimentation. A little creativity can open a whole new world for her and you both will have fun!

So, who are you? A realist? And optimist? A pessimist? A creative? A butcher, baker or candlestick maker?

For most people, they will answer… “well, it depends.”

Sure, it does! It can depend on the time of day, your mood, the traffic, the current circumstances you find yourself in, your thoughts of how others are (or will be) when you interact with them later that day, and more.

As a family caregiver for an aging loved one, you probably have them “all figured out” –right?! After all, you have been with this person your whole life!
Consider that you have been with many different versions of this person your whole life.

So what? You ask.

So, if there can be many different versions of a person, then there is room for possibilities, for potential, for exploration.

Offering a wider range of engaging activities for your loved one, may spark wider interests, untapped capabilities, and new opportunities for them to thrive in. Most importantly, the added enjoyment in their day or even just in the present moment, does a wonder of good for their overall well-being and health.

Go ahead and explore or reinvent from the big ol’ tub of possibilities! Half the fun is in the journey to discovery! Need some help with this? Just reach out, there is a lot of “gold” we can find together.

Everyone wants to feel of value. They want to be included and they want to participate especially when they know they can succeed.
When a loved one is living with dementia or any challenge(s), at times they (like everyone else on this planet) may need a bit of help accessing something they know they can succeed at! Using a little creativity and a whole lotta playfulness (maybe a little muscle power too!) means that their contribution is absolutely what is needed to help out!

When a loved one is living with dementia or any challenge(s), at times they (like everyone else on this planet) may exhibit challenging or concerning behaviour. Having a curious mind and building your desire to understand what the person is trying to accomplish or... Click on the youtube video below to see more!
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With the seasons changing from Summer to Autumn, the weather undoubtedly takes a turn too which means the time with your loved one switches from outdoors to indoors. Finding activities to do indoors can be challenging. When a loved one is living with dementia or any challenge(s), finding the right activities and presenting them in such a way so they are so they are fulfilling and successful. Watch my first "Facebook Live" where I talk about my own personal experiences when it comes to deconstructing activities for success.

The last days of summer aren’t guaranteed.
I wanted to a do a little writing on this Sunday afternoon of the long weekend. The weather is pretty nice. Rather than grab a laptop and get it all setup, I opted for a simple pen and paper. After all, I’m just going to jot down a few notes outside in the backyard, in the shade of our tree.
I decide to let the dog and the cat out too. Our cat is confined to only our backyard and only when someone is outside with him. He likes to explore the garden and I’m sure in his mind becomes invisible or maybe he is satisfying some primal instinct of being a great hunter.
Anyways, this is the plan.
Procrastination has been on my mind lately and I notice an inner struggle. All the things that need to be done, take time to do and somewhere in all of that is the need to rest.
I’m practicing observing. Observing how I feel when thoughts come up. I’m also practicing detachment. Key word = practicing. This is so I don’t let a thought take me down a rabbit hole and bring along my feelings and emotions with it. Nope, writing will be good to do today, even if I just get a couple of topics or a few lines done. It will be a start and that will feel good.
I set up my chair in the shade of our tree. I notice the waterfall for our little pond in the garden is not running. That can be left for another day because I’m going to write and relax outside in my backyard.
Where’s the cat?
I get up to look in the garden and he is behind the pond. I see all the leaves in the water, which caused the pump to stop working. I see a dead baby bird in the water. My goodness, so sad. I bless it and decide that it can’t wait, the pond must be cleaned right now.
The baby bird didn’t have his eyes opened yet, just little. There are trees around but no nests. I assume it was dropped after a raid. I scoop him up and remove the debris. The water is sucked up with the wet vac. Fresh water is replaced and with a little work, the pump gets the water flowing again.
Where’s the cat?
Ah! Still exploring the backyard. I take the garbage to the alley and go in to wash up. I can’t wait to sit outside and do some writing!
I come back with a glass of water and put it beside my chair in the shade. The dog comes over. He would like some attention. Not now, I’m going to sit in the shade and do some writing. So, I grab his toy, a snack dispensing ball and get a handful of kibbles to put in it. He happily knocks it around the lawn hoping a kibble falls out as a reward for his effort. I don’t like the feel and smell of the kibble on my hand, so I go in yet again to quickly wash up. I’m so looking forward to sitting in my chair, in the shade to do some writing. I open the door and the cat is running my way. He’s ready to come back inside and that is fine by me. I get to now sit in the shade, in my chair and do some writing. It’s going to feel great!
I move my chair, yet again to ensure I will be in the shade for some time as the sun moves throughout this afternoon. I sit down and our old, secondhand lawn chair rips so badly that half of my bottom is right through the canvas. I look up and I laugh! Holding onto my pen and paper so they don’t blow away, I struggle to get out of the broken, reclined chair. I fold it up, put it aside and grabbed the other chair from the matching set. Yes, it did occur to me that the odds may not be in my favor, but I was going to sit in my chair, in the shade and do some writing this afternoon. And I was going to feel great!
The second chair holds! I am finally about to start writing and my husband, now home from work, opens the back door and greets me! I laugh again and he asks what’s going on. I said, “You have to sit here while I tell you what has gone on for the last 45 minutes or so.” We laughed and he goes back inside.
With the dog asleep at my feet, I now have been writing outside while sitting in my chair in the shade and it does feel great!
How does this relate to being a caregiver?
We know that well intentioned plans can sometimes get derailed –whether momentarily or for longer and that is ok.
Sometimes we need to keep trying despite obstacles and other times to just let go. Even though we know it is better to detach from outcomes, it can be hard to keep that objective. We may find ourselves down that rabbit hole without even realizing it, even when it gets silly and all you can do is laugh.
And lastly, taking some downtime just for you is necessary. To replenish your energy, stamina and take care of your needs for a little while. It is easy to look after one more thing, two more things, but before you know it the shade has passed, your butt is stuck in a lawn chair and the dog is wondering what the heck is wrong with you. The last days of summer, in the shade and all you can do is laugh at it all. 

The time is now to preserve your loved one's teachings, stories, memories and more! As a living link between your parents and your children, you can keep your Dad's stories and jokes alive to share with your children and their children when the time comes.  Don't break that chain! ​

In a world that never sleeps, where more is perceived as better, where most things today are disposable and what others think of you online or in the all-too-rare “face-to-face” encounters, I believe a significant lesson can be learned from our more vulnerable seniors. The lesson is to slow down and make a conscious and deliberate choice to be present in the moment with not only yourself but also the other human beings around you.

There’s something unseen that’s exchanged when this happens. The experience can be with or without words and the activity itself is really secondary to the feelings that develop when two human beings really connect. I feel we, as a society, have forgotten this. It’s a wonderful experience to return to when we decide that it really does matter.

Another lesson (and there are so many!) we can learn from seniors is remembering to appreciate the small things. While visiting a gentleman in a Calgary facility, I couldn’t help but smile so wide, I was sure it was ear to ear the whole time I was with him. I took him out for a drive around the area and he was so impressed by everything he saw, it was as if it were the first time seeing it. The other vehicles on the highway and how far technology has advanced! The children at the playground and how inquisitive and smart they were! The size and architecture of the building he lived in – when we returned, all of it was amazing! He appreciated everything he saw without judgment and with so much gratitude for it simply being as it was! It was infectious and made a big impression on me and everyone he came in contact with. The world changes when we see things as miraculous.