We all procrastinate in one way or another. Things we know we should do, but don’t. Plans and preparations we should make, but somehow, we just never do. Generally speaking, this perpetual “stall” seems based on our expectation that life is just going to move forward without ever really changing. But expectations aren’t always accurate,…
Read more
You don’t know what you don’t know. But contrary to popular opinion, what you don’t know actually can hurt you. One Saturday a few weeks ago, my husband and I were eating a late lunch at a local restaurant. When seated, the partitions are just high enough to keep you from seeing the people in…
Read more
“There are a variety of reasons people don’t plan ahead for their estate or personal care needs: some people get busy, assuming they have lots of time left and they’ll get around to it later; others are superstitious, thinking if they start drafting documents to provide for themselves in the event of the unthinkable, then…
Read more
Why do we instantly expect ourselves to know everything when we first begin to provide care for a loved one? We don’t make such assumptions about other endeavors; for instance, doctors, teachers, lawyers, financial planners—as well as many other professionals—receive years of education before they’re even allowed to practice solo. Occupations ranging from pilots to…
Read more
Your loved one has just been diagnosed with dementia, and because the condition is so advanced the doctor has no choice but to declare them “incompetent”—meaning they are no longer able to manage their own affairs due to their medical condition. At this point, someone else is going to have to step in to do…
Read more
In my previous post, I started a blog series in order to more closely examine the estate planning documents every person should have; I began by investigating the difference between the living will and the last will and testament. This post, the second in the series, will address the delicate subject of resuscitation, specifically focusing…
Read more
The estate planning documents—vitally important but often ignored—can be a bewildering subject to tackle. As a caregiver, I saw firsthand how important it was that plans had been established before my grandparents were both diagnosed with dementia; and the more time I spent caring for them, the more I came to understand how bad it…
Read more
It became obvious that my grandparents needed my help after they had wandered two hours from their home and had to be brought back by the sheriff. What followed was a devastating diagnosis of dementia—Grandma with Alzheimer’s, and my grandfather with an unspecified dementia type. Dozens of questions swirled around in my mind, but the…
Read more
I remember being in my 20s and hearing people talk about the importance of saving for retirement. I recall how far, far away retirement seemed when I was in my 20s—so far away that it felt strange to even talk about such a thing! Now, like so many of my middle-aged contemporaries, I find myself…
Read more
FINALLY! We have a brand-new year and it’s off to a running start. There were times we weren’t sure we’d get here because the old year presented such profound challenges, but now that’s in the past. Starting today we can move forward, regarding the events of the last twelve months much like we would a…
Read more
Recent Comments