April 2nd is National Caregiver Day in Canada. To celebrate all of us and the work we do, I am sharing an article that I co-wrote with Dr. Zachary White whom you’ll know from his wonderful blog, The Unprepared Caregiver. This piece was published by Open Democracy’s Transformation E-Magazine. You
Continue readingAuthor: Donna Thomson
THE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: WITNESSING DEEP, NATURAL CARE IN THE HOSPITAL
–> A lot of what I read online about patient care and support for caregivers is negative. I read about compassion fatigue running rampant in hospitals. Or about physician burnout. I read about how, in our society today, there is no place for kindness or caring. It is almost as
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: DOCTOR, STOP TAPPING YOUR FOOT
–> About a year before Mom died, I wrote thisfrom her hospital room: Mom was hospitalised just prior to Christmas for respiratory distress. A young, bespectacled respirologist strode into the room. He smiled at Mom and began to make notes on his clipboard. “Have you ever had trouble breathing before?”
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: Mining for Truth and Meaning in Caregiving and Memory
My sister Karen Thomson painted this portrait of our Mom and she titled it Partly Who She Was. Karen painted this from a photo that we took of Mom just as she got out of the car at Hovey Manor, a lovely country hotel in the Eastern Townships of Quebec.
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: WHEN PEOPLE PRETEND TO LISTEN – LESSONS FROM A COMEDY WRITER
–> Want to laugh at black humor? Read anything by David Sedaris. I’ve just finished his latest ramble-in-a-book-form titled ‘Calypso’. It’s very funny when it’s not causing me to blush or wince. I loved it. Sedaris saves his most barbed tongue-lashings for service providers – at airports, restaurants, in taxis
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: How Different Countries Care for Seniors: A Look at Caregivers and the Elderly Around the World
Today, guest blogger Roxanne Baker gives us a world tour of eldercare attitudes and practices. I loved learning about how families in different cultures take care of older loved ones and I wonder what differing cultural practices can teach us about looking after our own. Please chime in with comments
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: One Gold Award Girl Scout’s Contribution to Azheimer’s Patients and Families
Yesterday, I was delighted to discover this message in my email inbox: Hello! My name is Isabelle Richter. I am a Bee Cave, Texas, resident. I’m a junior at my high school and a long-time Girl Scout. I am currently working on my Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: When Homes for Autonomous Seniors Aren’t Safe
Today is the fifth anniversary of a terrible fire in a Quebec seniors’ home. On the night of January 23, 2014, The Residence du Havre nursing home in L’Isle-Verte, Quebec, was consumed by fire – one that originated in the residence kitchen, but quickly became an inferno. 32 people died
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: How Our Book Became a Fabulous Short Film
Dr. Zachary White and I have co-written a new book called The Unexpected Journey of Caring: The Transformation From Loved One to Caregiver. It’s coming out on June 8th (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.) and we are really excited to begin the public conversation about our ideas! Eric Schultz and
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: Five Unexpected Rewards of Becoming a Caregiver
This is a wonderful guest post by caregiver and writer George Shannon, full of truth and wisdom. George Shannon It’s true, the life of a caregiver can be demanding, difficult and daunting. I spent seven years of my life in that role, keeping an eye on my wife’s every move.
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: I Don’t Do New Year’s Resolutions… Except For This One
The New Year is a natural time for reflection on what was and what will be. I’ve been thinking about the changes in my own caregiving over the past year: Mom died on August 16 and I still have to remind myself that I don’t need to call or visit
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: THE EMPTY CHAIR AT OUR CHRISTMAS TABLE
It’s funny how the threads of our lives intersect sometimes to create meaning, sometimes giving us a clearer view of what is before us, or what is missing. Our daughter Natalie Wright is a curatorial assistant at a Milwaukee arts research institute called The Chipstone Foundation. One of her recent projects involved writing about
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: Helping Our Loved Ones to GIVE During the Holidays!
Our loved ones have dependency needs and sometimes that can make them feel ‘superfluous’ as my Mom used to say. More than anything, my Mom wanted to feel useful – she loved helping others! Christmas in our family was one time that we could help Mom to give. (NOTE: My Mom
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: How to Save Money When Buying Mobility Aids
This week, we’ve been celebrating International Disability Day (December 3) and this year’s theme is “Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”. So there’s no better time to talk about mobility aids. (Read more…) and inclusion in community was the topic of discussion on social media all day on December 3rd.
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: A Time to Feel Grateful, Sometimes After Loss
My husband Jim and I are packing this morning – we’ve got an early morning flight tomorrow to Dayton, Ohio. Our daughter Natalie’s boyfriend grew up there and we’re all meeting at his family home to celebrate Thanksgiving. Sipping my coffee, I began to think of all things I’m grateful for
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: ADVICE FOR CAREGIVERS FROM CAREGIVERS
During this National Caregivers Month of 2018, it’s important to hear directly from YOU, caregivers on the front lines of love and commitment. Here are some tips compiled by the information and support program, Embracing Carers. THE QUESTION: How can you provide the best possible care for an aging parent
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: MEETING FEAR WITH COURAGE IN CAREGIVING
I was speaking with a friend today about fear in caregiving. The fear that we might forget something very important, the fear that dismissing a symptom now could provoke a crisis later, the fear that we are not good enough in the face of love and serious illness. As it happens, my
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: I AM NOT A CAREGIVER (BUT I COOK): NATIONAL CAREGIVER MONTH!
This year for National Caregivers Month, I want to reflect on why so many of us do not identify as caregivers. ‘Caregiver’ is a problematic word for lots of reasons, not least among them that it seems to betray the love and loyalty we feel towards those who need our
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: Three Little Words That Caregivers Long to Hear
My friend Julie Drury is the bereaved Mom of her beautiful daughter Kate who passed away after a long journey of illness and pain resulting from mitochondrial disease and the invasive efforts to cure it. The other day, Julie posted this message on Twitter: Three words I would have liked
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: What the Heck is Happening? I’m a Caregiver?
Caring for a dependent loved one is a chaotic business. There isn’t much time for reflection, let alone laundry and grocery shopping. I’m always thinking, “If we can figure out a framework for planning our days, then maybe life would be a little easier.” Some of those frameworks I’ve talked
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