Recent posts about Family on Typepad

...t is so hard to see our parents get older. As they become more physically and/or cognitively challenged, it’s only natural to wish we could take away their struggles. We can offer love and support. We can do our best to anticipate and meet their needs. But, we can’t take away Read more

Become a Friend of the Show! – join our Patreon community We're giving ourselves a month to complete a few big projects and by the magic of audio engineering you can see how we did. Plus we chat about the... Read more

Stage 1: No Impairment: Research now reveals that AD begins years, if not decades, before the onset of noticeable symptoms. Genetic research and much more sophisticated medical science Read more

...There was no time to fully contemplate the far-reaching implications of Dad’s abrupt change in health. Hard decisions had to be made and there was so much to be done that we couldn’t have anticipated. Where should he live now? What kind of immediate care does he need and Read more

Dear GM: Doctors are trained to cure, which is admirable if a cure is feasible. In many instances, though, giving a patient, particularly an older patient, “more time” at the expense of comfort and family time extends suffering Read more

...Each time I visited and saw him in such an agitated state, I would hurry from his room back out into the hall to talk with his nurse, Sarita. Had the doctor been in yet? Had he seen Dad like this? Would he please help us get Dad on hospice? Read more

...This is admirable yet unrealistic thinking. Recent research shows that the average duration of caregiving is a whopping 4.5 years. As time goes by and our loved ones’ care needs mount, we find ourselves spread thinner and thinner. Eventually, we are forced to admit that we can’t raise our families, work our jobs, care for ourselves and provide full-time hands-on care over the long term. So, we regretfully start looking into other options. They need more care than we can single-handedly provide, so we start by making some kind of change to their care plan such as hiring in-home care or enrolling them in adult day care. Read more

...“It is much easier to prevent digestive issues than treat them after the fact,” English urges. “In this case, prevention comes in the form of proper diet (including lots of fiber and water), regular exercise, paying attention to personal ‘normal’ bowel functions, and seeking prompt medical advice.” Read more

Have you ever thought about how to integrate chess into your Montessori environment? My two older children learnt to play chess at their (Montessori) schools. Many of their schools also had chess clubs, so they could practice playing with their... Read more

Become a Friend of the Show! – join our Patreon community We're excited to announce the launch of our Patreon community which gives listeners a way to financially support the show plus have access to bonus episodes and live virtual... Read more