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  We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey. -Kenji Miyazawa This past week I took care of a younger woman who had a long list of co-morbidities ranging from depression and morbid obesity to cervical cancer. But it was her 51 year old mother who I felt needed most of the attention during the patient’s stay. Betty’s Story  In 1899 the Commissioner of the U.S. Patent Office, Charles H. Duell, was reported to have said: “Everything that can be invented has been invented.” I almost feel this way about the topic of caregiving;

  Life’s most rewarding challenge lies in defeating the temptation to merely exist. - Laurie Harper,  A Taste for Life (1983)   I called my friend Frances the other day; she’s in her 90’s and residing in a traditional nursing home. Our conversation always gets around to her anguish over being “stuck in this “godforsaken place.” Her home defined her in a very real sense; it was her life’s purpose. She now depends on a wheelchair for mobility and her mind has atrophied from the lack of stimulation. I miss our challenging conversations in her home office and watching

    The home should be the treasure chest of living. -Le Corbusier Once in a while I’m delighted by someone else’s thoughts; so much so, I’d wish I had written them. This is such a case…A guest post by Ronny Wiskin:    Home, a place with familiar surroundings having provided years of memorable events. Staying in your home might still be your best option. Why are so many mature adults moving after investing a considerable amount of time and resources into their properties? Before making that decision, why not investigate options that are available to

 (Photo Reuters) The lover is a monotheist who knows that other people worship different gods but cannot himself imagine that there could be other gods. -Theodor Reik, Of Love and Lust, 1957 When I was working as a nurse’s aide during my under-graduate days in a nursing home we had a resident with a girlfriend who made conjugal visits. We all were aware of the scheduled times and pulled the curtain on his semi-private room during these encounters. Even his roommate “Sam” who’s stroke left him in a wheelchair with

    You can't hide your true colors as you approach the autumn of your life. - Author Unknown   The Fall is coming The soft-late-summer-sun streamed through the cracked door the other morning; illuminating a dark corner of the gym. Along with the weakened glow, the first sign of fall blew in as crumpled golden and red leaves, intruding and dispersing haphazardly amongst the dumbbells. This reminded me of the pending change of season just off shore. In an attempt to hold off the inevitable (fall) I closed the door. This served only to