Caregiving

A matter of heart
Tribute to Adriana: A role model with a heart which moves the world

It was a beautiful day for Sunday brunch with Adriana Iwinski and her daughter, Alexa, in Santa Rosa, a small town in the mountains known for its gorgeous pottery. Elevation: 7356 feet. Since January 2020 – before the pandemic lockdowns began – Adriana has provided me with support as a private [...]

Finding our compassion
Aiding her dying husband, a geriatrician learns the emotional and physical toll of caregiving

"Reading about caregiving of this kind was one thing. Experiencing it was entirely different." -  Dr. Rebecca Elon, an experienced geriatrician, speaking with author Judith Graham.   Author: Judith Graham May 18, 2021 The loss of a husband. The death of a sister. Taking in an elderly mother with dementia. [...]

2022-08-02T23:56:52-05:00July 27th, 2022|Categories: General, Mindful Presence|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

Mindful Presence
How a Friend’s Discernment Led to Dad’s Hospice Experience

In 2003, we were many miles apart but still in touch – two decades after being colleagues in a Chicago-area hospital. Stephanie Mayercik, my “wise sage” during our employment years, possessed finely-tuned listening skills, common sense and abundant practical wisdom, a quick wit and sense of humor, and buoyant and [...]

Mindful Presence
Hope and Hopelessness – How A Friend’s Academic Research Contributes to Culture Change

We came from similar rural backgrounds in the Midwest, and eventually, we became part of some of the same networks.  Following undergraduate studies at the same college, our paths were linked via the alumni network for which she and Ramzi, her spouse, were later named as recipients of the [...]

Creating Community
Human Rights Violations of Elders With Dementia Led to Suffering and Death

I was simply stunned. This time, it hit close to home. My deceased father had been in a highly invisible group of people ... a group which, in many cultures, is revered and held in esteem. Writing this in a chaotic post-truth era, the words of the Acting White [...]

Creating Community
Amazon #1 Best Seller – Luminous and Scholarly

I learned about The Chalice and The Blade during a 1987 dinner meeting of Women in Management in Chicago's downtown chapter. The book is now considered a classic.  It is an important historical review of the shaping of human culture, comparing two basic models of society – the dominator [...]

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