Jeremiah Mora

PriarieDogSWEEPSTAKES RULES v1 (2)

Blog by Jane Barton

I can think of many times during the period when I was taking care of my parents and needed to speak out much more than is my nature. Whether it was informing the housing director that Dad needed more care after an emergency room visit or clearing up issues about my mom with the beauty salon or reminding a certified nurse assistant to check on a new prescription for my dad, I knew I had to be the one to intercede. Certainly my parents wouldn’t! I had to stand my ground with my parents too. Once I took my father shopping for a birthday present for his great-grandson. Dad, age 95 and ¾ had just begun walking with the assistance of a cane and his gait was very slow. We arrived at a Target superstore and I pulled out a cart so that Dad could ride rather than walk. “I am not going to get in this cart,” he said defiantly. “Oh yes you are,” I said equally defiantly. He had already resisted manning a cart at the grocery store during an earlier incident. Several verbal exchanges between us occurred. Finally he gave in when I offered my last plea. “It’s just like a golf cart.” At that point he knew he had lost and reluctantly he got into the cart and, after a few simple instructions from me, he was off and running. I had to quicken my pace to keep up and direct him to the toy section several aisles down. He had a big smile on his face and displayed a sense of power in his demeanor as he gripped the steering wheel, and pushed the pedal. I think the whole experience reminded him of driving the car he had only given up operating a few months prior. We arrived at our destination where he happily and deliberately chose a shiny red Hot Wheels car, proceeded to the card aisle and selected the only great-grandson birthday card on the stand. With great satisfaction we checked out. Dad got out of the cart and resumed walking with his cane and we headed home. I was proud of myself for standing my ground. I think Dad was happy too.

Blog by Jane Barton

Congratulations Marcia, completing the Colfax 1/2 Marathon in 3:28!

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Blog by Jane Barton

A Man of No Importance

A few years ago when I was taking care of my 90 year-old mom and my 95 year-old dad, articles and books were just beginning to be written about the importance of taking care of yourself if you were the primary caregiver. At that point I was so wrapped up in the day-to-day demands of supervising Mom and Dad that I couldn’t really read much. It amazes me that I did attempt to take care of myself instinctively without realizing the concept of what the experts were trying to convey. I tried to stay true to my regular exercise schedule as much as possible; I spent time with my grandchildren who always made me smile; and occasionally I even went out for a quiet dinner with just my husband. My favorite “me” memory took place around the time of Mother’s Day soon after I had moved Mom, age 90 and Dad, age 95 from Chicago to Denver where I live. I had gone to the grocery store to buy some dinner that I could make quickly (probably a rotisserie chicken) and there at the entrance to the store was a beautiful display of orange star plants all lined up in a row just in time for Mothers’ Day. Normally I would have admired the plants and then passed up purchasing one because they were too expensive. But on this day, relieved that Mom was comfortably ensconced in her new dementia unit and Dad was temporarily situated at our house and not complaining, I spontaneously took the plunge and purchased a plant with a profusion of gorgeous orange five-star blossoms. I placed it in my kitchen where it brightened my spirits for many days. As time went on, it became more difficult to balance out my parents’ needs with some time for myself, and too expensive to keep on buying beautiful houseplants, but I continued to make the effort to take time off for myself. Doing so made me more able to cope with all the crises that came along. And you know what? I continue this practice even now that both my parents have passed away. It works.

SWEEPSTAKES RULES