Caregiving can be both an opportunity and a burden. It’s often a long journey with no end in sight. Few people face more daily challenges or overcome more obstacles than caregivers. During the COVID pandemic, the challenges of caregiving have been exacerbated for many who receive care and those who provide it.
by Pat Brandenstein I recently visited a local store to purchase Halloween candy. And to what to my wandering eyes did I see, but a Santa Claus and 12 tiny reindeer. What?! We haven’t had Thanksgiving yet and there are Christmas ornaments. I guess I better start planning, I hadn’t even thought about the holidays. People grieving the recent loss …
The legendary late great pitcher Satchel Paige is credited with asking, “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?” In your own mind, what age are you? Be honest. If you’re like me, your answer depends on the time of day and how you’re feeling at that particular moment! Our traditional idea of aging is …
This week I had the privilege to celebrate the life of a good friend, Cornelia Frank. She was 101 years old and was one of the first persons I met when I moved to Winchester 20 years ago. It is difficult moving into a small town and getting acquainted after you have retired. Everyone has their circle of friends. However, the first Sunday I attended Winchester First United Methodist Church, Cornelia came up to me, introduced herself, and invited me to deliver Meals on Wheels with her. I was her co-pilot delivering some 10 meals together each week.
Grandparents play significant roles in families and there is an ever-increasing number of grandparents who are primary caregivers or raising grandchildren. According to Generations United, approximately 2.7 million children in the U.S. live in grandfamilies or kinship families — families in which grandparents, other adult family members, or close family friends are raising children — with no parents in the home.
Funded by the Golden Cross Foundation, two videos from Alzheimer’s Tennessee can help adult Sunday school classes and other groups start or continue conversations about Alzheimer’s Disease.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15. It’s a day set aside to raise awareness and to better understand the abuse and exploitation older adults may experience. Although elder abuse is a tough topic, it’s certainly one that deserves our attention. Abuse and exploitation against older adults can happen in many different ways. For example, financial exploitation can occur in the form of scams targeting older adults or stolen identity to access banking information. Neglect can stem from caregivers denying basic necessities like assistance with hygiene, nutritious food, medications, or safety.
In my lifetime I have had to move several times. Moving is hard. While the physical labor is hard, I believe the emotional pain is even harder. And the hardest for me was the loss of dear friendships due to miles of separation. Some widows lose 75 percent of their friendships after their spouse’s death. The loss of your best friend and companion can be overwhelming. Add to that the loss of friends, and it can be devastating.
As the pandemic continues, so do concerns about older adults and their mental and emotional health. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and it’s a good time to shine a light on issues and resources for older adults and their families and caregivers.
Have you ever noticed after marriage couples seem to adapt to various divisions of labor? Often the man does the yard work, car repairs, and finances whereas the woman usually does the grocery shopping, house cleaning, and cooking (although I have known some men who are better cooks). After years of marriage, couples don’t think about these divisions of labor. They just do them. This changes when someone experiences the death, divorce, desertion, or imprisonment of a spouse. All of a sudden, the person’s world is turned upside down and he or she has to assume all of the roles.