In order to keep my car in its best shape, I trust the good folks at BG Automotive. I trust them because they know cars, they know my car, and they know how to keep it in good shape by preventing problems with proper maintenance. And when my car begins to rattle or sputter, I am confident that BG Automotive…
When the end of life grows closer, we often ponder the essence of life. Being closer to the end of life is a regular context within the work we do with folks who are older and often living with chronic health issues. And I wonder, could we (as a society) not be seeing the forest for the trees? Could it…
My friend Dottie. I’ve written about her before. She recently turned 97 years old and I was honored to be with her that day…when her family and beloved friends were not able to be with her because of Covid restrictions. The sad reality is that few residents of senior living facilities have regular visits from family and beloved friends. But…
My good friend Lola is 88 years old and has dementia. She says, “BUSY is the new 4-letter word.” Blaise Pascal, French mathematician, philosopher, and defender of Catholic Christianity in the 1600’s said, “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room.” 100% of my good friends with dementia, given a dementia-aware environment to enjoy,…
You may know that the Better People Care “tag line”, or motto, is: “Helping Older Folks Live Fully in Their Own Homes.” To be sure, sometimes “their own homes” refers to one of the senior facilities in which folks now live. But moreso, “their own homes” means the homes in which they live within the community. Homes they often live…
Colorado State Senator Joann Ginal and a purr-ito named Cheese I wish I had a way to show everyone what happens when you put a kitten, wrapped in their soft blanket “purr-ito”, into the arms of a person with dementia. You see, when we bring appropriate sensory and social stimulation into the day’s experience of someone with dementia, we give…
Last week, about twenty residents of a nursing and rehabilitation facility in Greeley, Colorado, held a protest against Covid restrictions on the sidewalks outside their facility. Their hand-made signs said things like, “Rather die of Covid than loneliness”, and “where are our rights as residents?”. The Governor of Colorado’s statement following this protest was “We absolutely understand how difficult it…
In the 1980’s, the United States education system transitioned from the common practice of institutionalizing children with disabilities, to “mainstreaming” It seems that the goal was “inclusion”; helping children with disabilities be included and welcomed among fellow students who did not have disabilities, and helping students without disabilities become comfortable with kids with disabilities. I suppose that the idea was…
I am very grateful for the valuable life lessons shared with me in my young years. These childhood lessons that form character have a powerful impact, and build a foundation in our lives. Young hearts and minds are the perfect training ground to learn about generosity, respect for others, responsibility, honesty, compassion, the importance of good work and good play,…
I have a question. Or maybe it’s a couple of questions. Questions that I’ve had since the world shut down due to Covid-19. Questions that need to be asked, and discussed, before it’s too late. You see, my friend Dottie turned 97 today. I had the privilege of spending time with her because I am an Occupational Therapist; an “essential…
