Thanksgiving 2009
posted 10 days ago | 1 comment
Although it's been a very tough year for me, I have so many things that I'm thankful for this year.
First, after being out of work for a year, I finally started a new job in a whole new field, caregiving. I met some wonderful elderly patients and ...
First, after being out of work for a year, I finally started a new job in a whole new field, caregiving. I met some wonderful elderly patients and ...
Why Does Everything Have To Be So Hard??
posted about 1 month ago | 6 comments
Usually, I am very upbeat, even though I've been wading through lemons for a long time now and have tried to make lemonade out of them. But I've just been dealt a blow that has rocked my world.
I've been working with an Alzheimer's patient for a c...
I've been working with an Alzheimer's patient for a c...
A Caregiver's Revolving Door
posted 2 months ago | 4 comments
I'm learning that the hardest part of being a caregiver is the moment when you realize that you can't take care of a particular patient anymore and have to say good-bye. It's not a decision you can make lightly, because older people do not like ch...
Barbie and Ken: Chapter 4: Settling Into A Routine
posted 2 months ago, updated 6 minutes later | 2 comments
Barbie and I are getting in sync with each other now. As soon as I get there, I fix her lunch. Then we get Sierra, the big (did I mention, BIG?) Labrador Retriever and take her out for a long walk.
Apparently, there must be one plus for having Alz...
Apparently, there must be one plus for having Alz...
Barbie and Ken: Chapter 3: An Amazing Woman
posted 3 months ago | 3 comments
How prophetic it was of me to say that from the moment I met Barbie, I felt this assignment was going to be life-changing for me and it has been.
This lady has such a clean and pure spirit. I just love being with her.
We are settling into a daily ...
This lady has such a clean and pure spirit. I just love being with her.
We are settling into a daily ...
Barbie and Ken: Chapter 2: We Love Lucy!
posted 3 months ago, updated 1 minute later | 2 comments
Today, I brought my "Dancing with the Stars Cardio-Workout" DVD to my new patient, Barbie's house. They exercise the heck out of you while teaching you the Cha-Cha, the Paso Doble, the Jive and the Samba. We did the warm-up, the Cha-Cha and the Ji...
Barbie and Ken: Chapter 1
posted 3 months ago, updated 4 minutes later | 0 comments
I am loving my new patient, Barbie. She's like a little girl and pretty much communicates like a little girl. She loses her train of thought as fast as she gets the first word out and then she just goes, "and..and..and..and..," and can't remember....
Barbie and Ken: The Real Years
posted 3 months ago | 1 comment
Tomorrow, Monday, Aug 17th, I start my new case. I don't know much yet, but I have a feeling this is going to be a life-changing case for me.
Barbie is not my patient's real name to protect her privacy.
I got to meet Barbie and her husband and tw...
Barbie is not my patient's real name to protect her privacy.
I got to meet Barbie and her husband and tw...
Who Is Flying This Plane?
posted 3 months ago, updated 5 days later | 4 comments
You all know the struggles I've had in quitting smoking. I hate to even blog about it for the umpteenth time, but for me, writing is how I deal with stress.
So, here we go again. I've quit again and I'm praying that God will give me the strength I...
So, here we go again. I've quit again and I'm praying that God will give me the strength I...
Jack and his Beanstalk
posted 3 months ago, updated about 10 hours later | 3 comments
Most of my home health patients have been women. I had one man previously, which I wrote about earlier in "The Professor and Maude."
Last week, I had my second experience in helping out an elderly man. I'll call him Jack. Jack is a very sweet old ...
Last week, I had my second experience in helping out an elderly man. I'll call him Jack. Jack is a very sweet old ...
