Good or Bad “She smiled and acknowledged us. It was a good visit.” My friend Ira described a 15-minute interaction with his mother who was confined in a memory care facility during the height of the pandemic. With plexiglass restrictions and no-touch rules, it was especially heartbreaking. That Sunday, receiving a smile from his mother […]
(Time Period: In the last few months of my mother’s life while she received hospice care.) The Gentle Reminder In the final months of my mother’s life, I sat by her bedside while she rested, played soft music and even watched a bit of the Food Network with her when she was up for it. […]
(Time Period: Two days after moving my parents to Arizona, in a relative early phase of Mom’s progression with Alzheimer’s.) Bedtime It was 10:00 p.m. Dad was downstairs watching TV and Jess and I had just gotten into bed. Light from the guest bathroom down the hall was streaming through the small window above our […]
To my readers: A note about occasional faith references that are within the With Grace story: The faith language contained in some posts under the With Grace topic is an integral part of my mother’s story and that is the context in which I share it. If it differs from your faith tradition or spirituality, I […]
In Part 1, I relayed two stories about strangers who offered the joy of connection during periods of difficulty and crisis. Today’s post is about opportunities for connection that exist in everyday interactions. You’re Going to Need a New Chicken I was at Joseph’s, one of our favorite neighborhood markets and in a rush. On […]
Strangers Who Understand (Time Period: Within the last ten months of my mother’s life, under hospice care.) Dinner was about to be served and it was time to wrap up our visit. As Jess and I were on our way out, we turned to see Gabriel wheeling Mom to the head of the table. Rather […]
A New View About six months ago, I was talking with three of my coach friends from Connecticut. We’ve been “meeting virtually” on a monthly basis for many years and long before Zoom existed. I was in the midst of giving an update on a project that, for a variety of reasons, was taking longer […]
(Time Period: About two years after moving to the care home.) Gabriel answered the door with a warm smile. As he walked me into the family room, he gave me the report: “Grace had a restless night.” Though she could no longer walk on her own, Mom often managed to get herself out of bed […]
During the first few weeks of visiting Mom in the group home, I noticed how each of the residents was at a different stage, in terms of the progression of dementia. Along the U-shape of reclining chairs in the family room, Arlene and Elizabeth were the two ladies who sat across from Mom and Shirley. […]
On Saturday mornings, I’d arrive at Mom’s and we’d go sit in her private room while her caregivers vacuumed and picked up the house. Her room was very pleasant, well-lit by natural sunlight and with a window overlooking the pool – “the oceanfront room,” as Tim and Cristina, the owners of the group home, lightheartedly […]