Good morning! (Fingers crossed it will still be morning when I finish this post. . . ) We’ve had a lot going on recently, and since Ben is finally napping and Gram doesn’t need anything at the moment, I’m completely ignoring the housework to write for a bit. This post contains affiliate links, see the … Read more
1.We already live a life that is pretty socially distanced, thanks to my introverted nature, the kids’ ages, and our homeschooling, so I wasn’t expecting a huuuuge difference in our day to day life, but then I got sick, and realized that I had underestimated the anxiety that goes along with an unknown virus being … Read more
Taking care of Gram is a blessing and a joy, but it does require some adjustments and some work, especially around the holidays. Gram’s dementia means that routine and stability are paramount to her happiness, and she is always less anxious when everything is the same. Holiday visits from families, extra activity in the house, … Read more
We are an inter-generational household. Three and a half years ago, we moved my grandmother in with us. Mark and I both firmly believe in the sanctity of all human life, from conception to natural death, and we believe that all people deserve to be loved and cared for with dignity. We have the means … Read more
Elder care is hard. It can be exhausting. And dementia care, well that’s a whole other ball game. Dementia doesn’t just affect a person’s memories, it affects their emotional state too. Lately when we’ve been going out with Gram, especially when it’s somewhere new, she’s been lashing out at me on the way there. Today, … Read more
Where there is no honor to the elderly, there is no future for the young. — General audience, St. Peter’s Square, March 4, 2015 I stumbled upon this quote from Pope Francis recently, and it made me realize that it’s been awhile since I’ve posted an update on how Gram is doing and what elder … Read more
It’s true about children, and it’s true about the elderly. I learn and grow every single day of caring for Gram. Sometimes I wish there was a “100 Things You Need to Know About Caring for the Elderly” book or a “5 Things to Do to Keep a Peaceful Inter-generational Home” article, a quick and … Read more
Gram has struggled with bouts of depression for a long time. At least since moving here, probably longer. At 96 she’s lost more friends and family members than she has left. She’s outlived two of her children. I’m the first to admit that I can’t understand the depth of those losses because I haven’t lived … Read more
It’s been about two weeks since we rearranged our home with everyone (save Gram) sleeping in the same room, so I thought I’d give a little update on how our crazy experiment is going. In short, it’s been fabulous. While I am the first to admit that it is only a temporary solution to our … Read more
One of the hardest parts of elder care, at least for me, is finding the right balance between what Gram is capable of and what she needs help with. As she’s gotten older, we’ve seen new losses of capacity, most of which happened gradually, though looking back at where she was 4 years ago and … Read more