Growing up in the Native American culture and having a diverse genetic background, it seemed as if my family had an adage, proverb, or idiom for almost everything we faced in life. One of my dad’s favorites was: “One finger cannot lift a pebble.”
When we think about healthcare choices at end of life, we may already have definite ideas of what our wishes are. The bigger challenge occurs when we are asked to make end-of-life decisions for someone else who can no longer make healthcare decisions for themselves.
Assisted living facilities can be an excellent way for seniors to continue to live an independent life while being provided with help with daily life including housekeeping services, meals, and personal care. It’s a social atmosphere where residents make friends that feel like family. This closeness means the entire community mourns when a resident dies.
It was an unconventional meeting for 1957. John VanDyke had moved to Newton Falls, Ohio, to live with his brother after high school graduation. Soon after his arrival, John’s friend had heard about a local party, so they stopped by to visit. That’s where John met Rosemarie. But this was not your average party.
It has been said that behind every good man is a great woman. That has never been more true than in the case of Earl and Myrtle Mills. They met as teenagers, living on the same street in Hamilton, Ohio.
Caregiving comes with a great deal of stress and emotion – particularly when caring for a close friend or family member. Paradoxically, it can be difficult to prioritize or even justify self-care as a caregiver, yet sacrificing your own mental and physical well-being makes it nearly impossible to care for someone else.
