Does Caring For Aging Parents Have You Caught In The Middle?

Editor’s Note: Good morning. Wendy Johnstone is on site discussing the Sandwich Generation and offers up some tips on how to manage this time in your life. Here she is:
Being a parent gives new meaning to the word exhausted. When my three-and-a-half-year-old, falls to the ground after a quick trip to the grocery store and says, [...]

Improving Our Community One Elder at a Time

Editor’s Note: Good morning readers. First I’d like to announce that Stacey, Kathy and Melanie won the fantastic cookbooks from yesterday. Yay! Now, we are excited to reveal a new direction for Wendy’s Grand-Parents column this morning, as we move toward a long-term discussion about planning for different stages in our lives and ways to [...]

Helping Children Understand Dementia

Editor’s Note: Good morning! Today we have Wendy Johnstone on site helping us help our kids understand dementia. Here she is:
“I do remember, and then when I try to remember, I forget.” – Winnie-the-Pooh
“Why does Nana call me your name Mommy instead of mine?” “How come Grandpa doesn’t know how to use his knife or [...]

Memorable Care Home Visits with Aging Family

Editor’s Note: Good morning. Today we have Wendy Johnstone with us discussing communication with an aging loved one, as well as tips and tools on communicating with those who have an impairment and/or challenge. Here she is:
“I’m among the forgetters. But I’m not an empty shell“. ~ Richard Taylor, author of Alzheimer’s from the INSIDE [...]

Helping Children With the Loss of a Grandparent

Editor’s Note: Good morning. The loss of loved ones is such a hard thing to talk about, especially with children. This morning Wendy Johnstone is hear to help us all learn a bit more about helping our children deal with the passing of a grandparent. Here she is:
I think it’s safe to say, “Death isn’t [...]

The Greatness of Grandparents & Grandfriends

Editor’s Note: This morning we have Wendy Johnstone on site reminding us of the value of grandparents and grandfriends. Here she is:
A note from Wendy to readers: My trip to Toronto was fantastic – thank you for the well wishes. I have to admit I was greatly relieved that the garbage strike was over by the [...]

Traditions for Long-Distance Grandparents

Editor’s Note: Today we have Wendy Johnstone discussing long-distance grandparenting. Here she is:
It’s been a flurry of activity and excitement for Carly around our house for the past 3 weeks.  (Actually, if any of you know me personally, there’s never a shortage of excitement and flurry in our house).  However, the charge in our house is [...]

Food Through the Generations

Editor’s Note: Bite-Sized Specialty Foods is going to be at Brambles from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. There is some serious yumminess going on, so I would head in the direction of downtown Courtenay and check it out.
I would also like to encourage you to take some time out at Noon today and attend [...]

Connect Kids to Grandparents-Living Legacy

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

As my great-Aunt Adelaide would say, “My cup runneth over”.   It was an honour and a privilege to read your comments and stories about your own grandparents last month.  Thank you for [...]

Grand Parents – A Love That Defines Generations

Editor’s Note: Good Morning. I am over the moon to have Solutions for Seniors Eldercare Planning’s Wendy Johnstone here this morning to kick off our new Grant Parents column.
Wendy brings with her a lovely, warm, soulful perspective on learning, love and compassion through the generations and I am truly honoured that she has agreed to [...]

Mommy Talk – The Grandparent Effect

Today is Grandma’s birthday.
July happens to be a big month in the being born universe here (five family birthdays).
And, Ken’s Mom kicks it all off in style.
While I know she will be stomping up the stairs and kicking me in the head for announcing her big day in a public forum, she will be doing [...]