Welcome. Be sure to to get your free Daily Inspirational Thoughts by going to www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com/Inspiration.. Thanks for visiting!Mothers often share knitting and inspirational thoughts with their daughters. Today I wrote a Mother’s Day post on The Knitting Yarn, and am sharing it with you here. Did you first learn to knit from your mother or grandmother? Many knitters did. Like many crafts, it connects the generations. Today is Mother’s Day, and I found a poem I thought you might enjoy…   A Mother’s LoveThere are times when only a mother’s loveCan... (Read More ...)

Whether you are searching for the right senior community for yourself or loved ones, the process is similar. Finding the right one is often based mostly on your family’s financial needs. While financial needs are important – and may be your most important consideration – they are not the only consideration.  In making your loved ones’ or your own retirement wishes come true, you also should consider other needs important to you and your family. When Eric was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, his wife Marie knew she had to find a specialized senior living community.  And quickly. She... (Read More ...)

Do you realize that many times elder care is not fun? You only have to do it for a very short time to realize how hard it is. Wondering if there’s an alternative? Yes!  One way to start is by finding the humor in situations, which can greatly relieve your caregiving stress and make caregiving less burdensome… When my mother was undergoing radiation therapy, it was a stressful time.  It was the middle of a cold, wet winter. Midway through the treatments, she lost her appetite and became depressed.  We worried she was losing her will to live.  The only thing that seemed to generate... (Read More ...)

The death this week of Coach Joe Paterno, longtime head football coach at Penn State seemed sudden. I don’t know that it was, or any more about the circumstances than have been reported.  Still, coming about two months after his reportedly abrupt dismissal, I have to wonder… One of my uncles was a middle manager for a large corporation for most of his career.  When the company started downsizing, he was encouraged to take early retirement.  When he refused initially, eventually he was forced into it. And died about two years later of complications from a heart attack.  Or more... (Read More ...)

One of the unintended consequences of the holiday season is the isolation caregivers often feel. I first learned this the hard way as an intern.  On the day of the staff Christmas party, one of my favorite patients coded and died.  I felt alone. Very alone. Since then I’ve spent many Christmases working.  Often the holiday calls fell to me.  And the lessons I learned about how isolated forgotten caregivers and patients can feel during the holidays will remain with me always. This recent article shows what caregivers often really want — and meaningful ways to remember them you won’t... (Read More ...)