You are in this long line, and you are wondering what to say when you finally reach the individuals who are grieving the death of a loved one. First, it is helpful to remember if you are in a line at a funeral home, you are already doing the most important gesture of caring. You may be uncomfortable, but you are there.
This week's featured caregiving question comes from Sue. "I'd like caregiving to become a natural part of what my family does together. How can we involve our children in caregiving? How can we especially involve teenagers?"
To respond to this question, I first want to tell a story:
Nancy Vandewater is a member of my church family and she told me several years ago the following story. I believe it embodies the keys to ensuring that our children will grow up to be compassionate caregivers.
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.
From Terry Hershey in The Power of Pause A friend told me about the nativity play at her parish. A little girl...
It was just a few more days until Christmas in San Francisco, and the shopping downtown was starting to get to us. I remember crowds of people waiting impatiently for slow-moving buses and streetcars on those little cement islands in the middle of the street.
Most of us were loaded down with packages, and it looked like many of us were beginning to wonder if all those countless friends and relatives actually deserved so many gifts in the first place.
Today’s wisdom is from God: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances.” Maybe right now your...
The following poem powerfully describes the painful feelings and issues that arise when friends (of all ages) are separated by a geographic move. It was written by a ten-year-old boy and given to his friend Jonathan Kleyn, now from Holland, Michigan.
My Best Friend
Dear Karen,
I have a friend who's elderly mother has always been emotionally controlling, abusive and just down right mean. I would describe her as "toxic", just full of venom. She seems to have never learned any other way to get her needs met. I would say she is mentally ill. Her son, my friend, is the only family member willing to make sure she is cared for. What is your advice for the son in this case... day after day, week after week subjected to the assaults to his heart, soul and humanity as he tries to do the right thing for his mother? - Sarah
