Category Archives: Uncategorized

Thanks to the contacts app on my phone, I know very few phone numbers. But not everyone enjoys the convenience of a contact list with the caller’s photo attached. My husband remembers everyone’s phone number, so he answers calls based on number recognition. Granted, that doesn’t always work, but he refuses to use an appContinue reading “Singing with Sinatra”

Whenever they had a substitute teacher, my students proved that behavior change needs to be intrinsic rather than extrinsic. My practice of hanging onto a checklist of behaviors and attempting to monitor nearly 30 students all day, every weekday, was tiresome. So, I changed tactics. Rather than trying to put a check by little Johnny’sContinue reading “Check Yourself”

Caregivers sometimes go it alone, thinking that no one else understands or that no one else cares. No two situations are alike, but there are similarities in caregiving that can bring people together. Try Googling ‘support groups for caregivers,’ and you will find many options to sort through. Find the group that best meets yourContinue reading “Are You a Groupie?”

Life has a way of ignoring your plans. Your agenda for the day sits there, nicely completed, and maybe even color-coded. At the very least, it’s in your head. You know what time you are picking up whom, what time you need to leave the house, and even when you expect to be back. ButContinue reading “Agenda Busters”

A recent conversation with a friend whose husband now has Alzheimer’s reminded me that caring for someone with this disease is like trying to navigate unchartered waters.   Since June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, I encourage you to visit the Alzheimer’s Association website at https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/stages (or send a friend there) for information on the stages of Alzheimer’s.Continue reading “Awareness”

When my son was young, I would periodically take him to an ice cream shop whose specialty was its 21 flavors. After he had spent a lengthy amount of time looking at all the options, he would select vanilla. It drove me crazy! But come to think of it, I always selected the one flavorContinue reading “Limit Options to Lessen Frustration”

We all know the commercial that ends with, “You’re in good hands with___.” I remember a time when I must have thought my name went in that blank. My mother had gone from eating everything on her plate to eventually barely eating or drinking anything at all. I had been trying everything I knew toContinue reading “Whose Hands?”

I recently read an article that encouraged people to focus on what they can do rather than give in to what they can’t do. That may sound reasonable, but the truth is, there are just some things we don’t even want to do. The first time I had to take care of my mother’s personalContinue reading “When You Don’t Have The Mind”