Originally posted @allaboutestates.ca One of the hardest things that an adult child caregiver has to deal with, is placement of a parent; specifically, a parent with advancing dementia.  There is no roadmap and every situation is unique however there are common threads that we see on a daily basis.  We know that if it was possible, that most of us would want to support  their parent in their own home and not require them to move- especially to a retirement residence and certainly NOT to Long Term Care (LTC). Parents often want their children to promise to not place the ..read more

Originally posted at allaboutestates.ca This is a common refrain that I hear and one that my trust colleagues do as well. In today’s blog I would like to discuss the role and importance of naming an Attorney for Personal Care.    [Note:  Of course this is in addition to naming either a trust company, which is my preference or another person as the attorney for property]. As I work with many older individuals who have NOT appointed an attorney for Personal Care, for fear of ‘not wanting to burden anyone’, instead of actually being helpful or considerate, the opposite occurs ..read more

Originally posted for allaboutestates.ca Yesterday was the first night of Chanukah and it was welcomed along with the first real, ground covering snow fall. Today the sun is shining and I am hopeful that all of the lovely white stuff, that is no longer white today, will melt away. I baked holiday cookies yesterday and had a wonderful family dinner eating too many latkes. For many of us, traditions are a good thing; they are familiar and offer continuity between generations. From our grandparents, to our parents, to ourselves and to our children- the songs, the foods and the traditions hold str ..read more

Originally posted @ allaboutestates.ca Which is the deadliest room in the house?”  Of course, falls can occur anywhere and at any time, so the best approach is prevention. Accreditation Canada  requires organizations that provide home care services to incorporate falls prevention as part of their staff training. Generally, safety proofing the home includes identifying and then correcting tripping hazards such as improving poor lighting, removing or taping down scatter rugs, and removing telephone/electric cords that pose a risk. It also includes checking for slippery and uneven surfa ..read more

Originally posted @allaboutestates.ca Son:     Mom, turn a light on, it’s getting dark outside. Mom:   It’s ok, I’ll just sit here in the dark.  Son:     Mom, it’s cold and raining outside.  I will call a taxi for you. Mom:   It’s senior’s day at Shoppers, I will take the bus.  Son:     Now that dad has passed away, this big old house must be getting a lot to handle. Do you think we could start talking about some options and things to make it easier? Mom:   No, I have lived here for 50 year ..read more

Originally posted @allaboutestatates.ca May is National Caregivers Month. Now more than ever, the challenge of being a caregiver feels more of a ‘challenge’ than any other word that I can think of. It can be joyful, rewarding, an honor, an opportunity and an obligation. Caregivers come in all shapes and sizes and age.  There are young carers  who are children themselves and they are the ones looking after a sibling or a parent. There are those of us in the sandwich generation who may support and look after a parent and may still be caring for their children; there are older ..read more

Originally posted @allaboutestates.ca While the sun did shine  yesterday, it  was still a difficult day for many of us. Not just because we can’t be outdoors, or play golf or volleyball but because for many, we continue to be restricted from seeing, and hugging our mothers. It is the 2nd  Mother’s  Day of being restricted; some distanced by emergency stay at home orders and  some  like me, separated by death. Another of the firsts… I re-read some of  my earlier blogs, including those about Mother’s Day and it is so evident to me the role that mother’s can pla ..read more

Originally posted @allaboutestates.ca Further to my fellow blogger’s April 4, 2021 read, I thought I would continue the discussion on the importance of appointing an attorney for property and my particular area of interest, care.  Have you ever wondered what would happen if you didn’t have a family member who could assume the role of power of attorney for care and finance? Who would look after your best interests and keep your personal wishes at the forefront? Family doesn’t have to be the first choice when it comes to making the important and difficult decision of who will be your a ..read more

Originally posted @allaboutestates.ca But for many seniors, their  PSW becomes their best and closest support person. One of the major contributing factors to the  poor conditions typically found within Long Term Care has been the shortage of Personal Support Workers.  Simply not enough qualified hands to do the needed and necessary work of looking after and caring for frail seniors.  This was a problem before Covid and sadly it took many deaths before the government  started listening. The Ford government has promised to invest more than $115 million to train Personal ..read more

Originally posted @allaboutestates.ca Friday, January 29, 2021 was ‘Bell Let’s Talk’ day and I forgot to tweet about it.   This is very surprising for me so I am reminding those of you who might have missed it as well.  Most of us are talking much more about good mental health and the toll that Covid has taken on our wellbeing. This year, Bell Canada had 159,173,435 interactions from people tweeting, calling, posting on Instagram, viewing a Facebook video or texting – all raising awareness of mental health issues. For each of these interactions, Bell donated .5 cents raising $7 ..read more