Recent Articles
02/27/2018
A note from Karen Mulder: Approximately 22 years ago Stan, my professor at Western Theological Seminary, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. For the past two years, Stan has been living in a care facility. His wife Nancy visits him on most days and has found reading to Stan a pleasurable—and even therapeutic—activity for both of […]
12/11/2017
Letty Pogrebin in her book, How to Be a Friend to a Friend Who’s Sick, gives advice on how to care for a sick friend. Her advice can be applied to all caregiving situations. One of her suggestions is: “Don’t infantilize the patient. Never speak to a grown-up the way you’d talk to a child. […]
09/06/2017
I was fortunate to know my great grandparents, to be loved by them, and for them to be a part of my life. My great grandpa was taken too soon from Alzheimer’s when I was younger, but my grandma was here physically with us until my third year of college. My great grandma Winnie was […]
03/03/2014
Dear Karen,
How do I know if my mom has Alzheimer’s disease? What are some of the early signs of this disease? -Betty
Dear Betty:
Good question, Betty. Many people, including myself, want to know what signs to look for. For wisdom on this subject I went to wonderful resource, Coach Broyles’ Playbook for Alzheimer’s Caregivers. Frank Broyles, is Athletic Director Emeritus for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. His wife, Barbara, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Frank says, “I had many questions and spent a lot of time looking for answers. What I learned is contained in my book, Playbook for Alzheimer’s Caregivers.”
One of the first topics which Coach Broyles deals with in his book is what signs to look for.
11/21/2015
Do you ever wonder what to talk about when you go to visit an elderly aunt, grandfather or parent? If so, check out Telling Life’s Stories on this website. There you will find over 70 questions to ask someone about their life. Here are a few examples: What was your favorite subject in school? Why? What […]
Do you know an elderly relative or friend and wonder what to give them for Christmas? Here are some ideas. Elderly people feel the cold more, so a cozy lap blanket, afghan, bed jacket, or a Snuggie would be a good gift. Offer to come by and decorate the Christmas tree. Bring some goodies and […]
12/13/2012
Elderly people have their own unique needs and wants to consider when deciding on what to give them for Christmas. They will be delighted to receive a present that truly reflects your love and care, because it is tailored to their specific situation.
Some elderly people still live independently in their own homes, making one type of gift appropriate, while others reside in nursing homes and have a different set of Christmas wishes.
