Interestingly, this post is being written on Labor Day. Historically, the first Monday in September is a creation of the labor movement devoted to the strong social and economic achievements of American (and international) workers.
Toward that end,Read More
Let’s start this week’s post by recapping where we’re at in the COMPLETE SUPPORT “Manifesto” I believe all caregivers of aging parents are entitled to.
We’ve already covered from the COMPLETE acronym the qualities of: Caring; Openness; Maturity; Partnership; Loyalty; Excellence. We’re dealing today with “T” standing for Tribe. Next week we’ll address Exacting – as in, demonstrating impeccable standards of precision.Read More
“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say: ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well’.”
Who do you think said this? If you guessedRead More
Our last couple of blogs have focused on “The Mixed Bag of Family Summers” and “How to Survive Extended Family Vacations”. The first addresses the underlying emotional dynamics that render summer holidays spent with aging parents so crazy-making. The second offers practical coping strategies – whether they’re staying with you, you with them or traveling together to a third location.Read More
Ironically but totally in keeping with today’s theme, I received a desperate outreach last week begging for insight on how to navigate Un-cope-able Medical Systems. Good luck!
The family doctor is not supporting a diagnosisRead More
Allow me to start with a quote from leadership expert, John C. Maxwell: “The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That’s the day we truly grow up.”
Provocative, eh? How many people would look upon their greatest day in this fashion? I know I didn’t when a corporate facilitator suggested the same notion almost 20 years ago. Yes to a wedding or birth or other happy occasion. Not so much for developing true personal accountability, right? Prepare to be challenged.Read More
So, are you ready to venture into the next letter of the COMPLETE SUPPORT Manifesto of Caregiver Rights to denote the treatment you deserve? It’s ‘O’ for Openness. Believe me, that question was never more relevant than this week.
Alone, three friends had dealings with doctors and hospitals whereby two are about to enter the ultra-complex labyrinth called Canada’s Healthcare Model. Did I just say that out loud? Yes. I shall be tracking their experiences with hawk-like vigilance to witness how much Openness they encounter from professionals supposedly there to strengthen them.Read More
Now that Mother’s Day is behind us and Victoria Day weekend has been celebrated in Canada while Memorial Day is being honored in the U.S., let me return to the manifesto of COMPLETE SUPPORT I propose for weary caregivers worldwide. No, make that demand.Read More
When we were last in this space, I began to set forth the likes of a Manifesto to bolster beleaguered Sandwich Generation caregivers everywhere. My purpose remains to call out those who claim to serve aging populations (in healthcare, legal, insurance, financial, automobile, real estate and funeral realms) butRead More
Who here recognizes this statement: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
A one-sentence statement bespeaking basic human dignity – considered an act of treasonRead More
