Well Worn Age

Sending out some love

A shoutout to all caregivers:  There is a bridge.  It’s easy to get lost in the daily grind of giving care.  Remember…love.  Love is the bridge. Don’t forget to be kind to yourself–even if it’s 4 minutes to listen to a favorite song or read a poem.  

Failure to improve–An OT response to the NY Times article on Jimmo vs Sebelius.

NY Times Article: Failure to Improve Let’s start with the basics:  Medicare A will cover 100 days of SNF stay at 80% after the first 20 (or 21), which they pay at 100%.  After 100 days, you will need to not utilize Medicare A services (Hospital, SNF/rehab, home health) for 60 days and then you are re-eligible for another 100 days.  If you are still in SNF/rehab, you can continue to be seen…

Validation Therapy vs Reality Orientation

This.  From Kim Warchol’s fabuous team at Dementia Care Specialists: Validation Therapy: Should You Enter Your Client’s World and Agree With Their Reality?

Grief Comes in Waves

“Alright, here goes. I’m old. What that means is that I’ve survived (so far) and a lot of people I’ve known and loved did not. I’ve lost friends, best friends, acquaintances, co-workers, grandparents, mom, relatives, teachers, mentors, students, neighbors, and a host of other folks. I have no children, and I can’t imagine the pain it must be to lose a child. But here’s my two cents. “I wish I…

Holding Space,  “ What does it mean to hold space for someone else? It means that we are willing to walk alongside another person in whatever journey they’re on without judging them, making them feel inadequate, trying to fix them, or trying to impact the outcome. When we hold space for other people, we open our hearts, offer unconditional support, and let go of judgement and control.”

Caregiving the Nonagenarian and Bad Advice

I became an OT later in life and during school shifted my interest to older adults.  Some of my classmates expressed fear of the diseases of old age, as if they were contagious.  My parents were aging and I felt that kind hearts were needed to work with this population and whatever I learned on the job would be useful in helping aging parents and in-laws. My father passed away leaving Mom alone…