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A Good Enough DaughterAs a professional in the field of aging, Sara had seen it all—until her own mother broke her hip at the age of 88 and became profoundly confused, unable to live in her own home. Join Sara on her journey through the strangeness that is dementia while trying to make sense of it all and finding humor in the details. [Editor's note: Sara no longer contributes to Silver Planet, but we have made her archived blog entries available as a service to our readers.]
Posted 11/23/2009
Respite Care: Available Wherever You Live
This is somewhat of a rant
By Sara Myers
Taking care of a frail, possibly demented older person or a young, significantly dependent younger person is hard work. Would a mechanic try to work on a car without tools? Would a doctor try to set a bone without an x-ray? Would an architect try to build a building without plans? I think not. We all need tools to do the job, and respite for caregivers is an essential tool in the caregiver toolbox. Read More >>
Posted 11/16/2009
A Good Enough Daughter’s Tips for Enjoying the Holiday Season
Making things as easy and stress free as possible
By Sara Myers
Tips to enjoy the season with your old, frail, possibly demented family member are easy to find on the Internet. Just type “ caregiver holiday tips” into your search engine, and a long list of Web site options will be displayed on your screen.
While I have tremendous respect for anyone who develops a holiday tip list, I find that many of those tips don’t apply to my situation. My mother lives in a dementia-oriented assisted living center in Seattle and may not have far to go. Read More >>
While I have tremendous respect for anyone who develops a holiday tip list, I find that many of those tips don’t apply to my situation. My mother lives in a dementia-oriented assisted living center in Seattle and may not have far to go. Read More >>
Posted 11/09/2009
Going Shopping with Mom
The power of the bargain
By Sara Myers
Assisted living regulations require that residents’ clothing be washed in very hot soapy water and dried in very hot dryers. As a result, clothing gets really beaten up and wears out fast. After a year at Gaffney House, my mother needed some new clothes, so I thought we would go shopping. Read More >>
Posted 10/31/2009
I Have the Power to Withhold Mom’s Medical Treatment
So why can’t I exercise her political voice?
By Sara Myers
Can I complete my mother’s mail-in ballot, voting as her proxy? While the answer may seem obvious, I wasn’t sure if it was legal or not. I know how she would vote in most cases. For those candidates and issues in doubt, I would not cast a vote. Read More >>
Posted 10/25/2009
Caregiving Plans
One person’s good idea is another’s disaster in waiting
By Sara Myers
My friend Irene is now in charge of managing care for her mother-in-law. Other family members are in the area, including a son, but the job has gone to Irene. In her typically intelligent fashion, Irene did the research, called the experts, and asked a lot of questions. She gained a good understanding of the process and is prepared for the task. That said, I think she has set up a caregiving situation that, from my perspective, is fraught with problems. Read More >>
