Gifts of the Season: The Best Ones Keep On Giving

Posted by Kathy Dreyer on Nov 29, 2020 7:31:49 PM

It happened every year during the holiday season. My classmates and I would dress up in our coats, hats, and gloves, with gifts in hand. We would walk down the street to the nearby nursing home. When we arrived, we were put into a room with residents and staff members.

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Topics: Senior Care Professionals

Gratitude Now: Are You Feeling Half Full or Half Empty?

Posted by Kathy Dreyer on Nov 23, 2020 7:26:51 AM

This week we celebrate Thanksgiving. It is the time for gratitude. Typically, we take a moment to consider the blessings we have. This year has been memorable in a lot of ways. Finding reasons to be grateful depends on your perspective.

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Topics: Senior Care Professionals

Grief During the Holiday Season: Making It Through

Posted by Kathy Dreyer on Nov 15, 2020 6:14:13 PM

This year has been a challenging one to say the least. Grief over lost time with loved ones in long-term care is understandable. Also, not being able to say goodbye to a loved one due to quarantine restrictions certainly causes pain and anguish. The holiday season can amplify these feelings.

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Topics: The Family Caregiver, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, Faith Community

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Posted by Julie Boggess on Nov 10, 2020 2:10:43 PM
The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team. Phil Jackson
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Topics: Senior Care Professionals, AGE-u-cate Training Insitute

Dementia and the Holidays: Managing Celebrations and Expectations

Posted by Kathy Dreyer on Nov 8, 2020 5:56:51 PM

It’s that time of year again. The holiday and the accompanying celebrations are nearly upon us. Christmas is already up in most stores, just after Halloween. Thanksgiving is a little over two weeks away.

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Topics: Senior Care Professionals

Caregiving in COVID-19: Honoring Caregivers Through Policy Changes

Posted by Kathy Dreyer on Nov 1, 2020 3:45:08 PM

Last week’s blog looked at caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic. For the most part, choices for caregiving for a loved one in long-term care or at home has been difficult. It is never easy under the best circumstances. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the challenges faced by caregivers, both formal and informal. This week, we review situations faced by caregivers and potential policies that could help alleviate the caregiving burden.

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Topics: Senior Care Professionals

Tough Choices from Tender Hearts: Caregiving During a Pandemic

Posted by Kathy Dreyer on Oct 25, 2020 7:33:35 PM

About a month ago, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new guidelines that advocate family visitors to return to nursing homes. At this time only three states are not allowing visits. The guidelines provide specifics on how to visit a family member while remaining safe. Unfortunately, it still means making tough choices between a resident's mental and physical health.

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Topics: The Faith Community, The Family Caregiver, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, Elders, Professional Caregiver, caregiving, Faith Community, aging, faith communities, families

People with Dementia: Wanting to Be Anywhere but Here

Posted by Kathy Dreyer on Oct 18, 2020 5:09:32 PM

In reading news or blogs online, you can find people expressing one of two opinions. Some people express a desire to go back to the time before COVID-19. Others note feeling restless until COVID-19 is over. It’s as though we want to ‘be’ somewhere else. It is natural that we feel lost. We feel we have limited or no control. We are prohibited from doing what we would like to do.  Reflecting on these valid feelings, it is easier to understand how people with dementia must feel on a daily basis.

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Topics: Senior Care Professionals

Life and Caregiving: Thoughts from Dr. Seuss' Book

Posted by Kathy Dreyer on Oct 12, 2020 7:39:02 AM

Dr. Seuss’ book, Oh! The Places You’ll Go! is a gift that is given at special occasions. Usually, it’s suitable for graduation or another momentous event. The reader is given an encouraging review of life’s ups and downs. It makes me think that this book might be a good resource for caregivers and caregiving.

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Topics: Senior Care Professionals, Caregiver, caregivers, caregiving

Carrying the Load: Keeping Motivated in Trying Times

Posted by Kathy Dreyer on Oct 4, 2020 8:29:38 PM

Carrying the load of the COVID-19 quarantine continues on. There are some signs of hope on the horizon for those living in long-term care communities.  States are permitting visits, with a handful of states still only allowing compassionate care visits.  But with a majority of restrictions still in place. keeping motivated to carry on is difficult.

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Topics: Senior Care Professionals

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