Category Family
Care for the Caregiver
Care for the caregiver and we care for the care receiver, as well. Family caregivers take on an overwhelming load of responsibility when caring for a loved one. Few are trained for the position, and the care comes with sacrifice of time, energy, and income. Caregivers, especially for ones with dementia, often are lonely. Opportunities […]
October, the Month of the Rosary
Promoting peace within ourselves promotes peace worldwide because peace grows one person at a time. Praying the rosary offers a way to do just that. This beautiful, Christ-centered devotion takes only about 20 minutes. We begin praying the rosary with the Sign of the Cross and The Apostles’ Creed, which declares our Christian beliefs. We […]
Visiting Memory Care Homes
Adding to the heartbreak of having a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented families from viewing memory care homes and seeing their loved ones once they were placed. I can only imagine how difficult this was. Visiting my husband, Marshall, as often as I wished allowed me to remain close to him […]
Who Do You Want Your Children to Follow?
Biographies are one of my favorite stories to read or watch. I’m fascinated by how we all live the life we’ve been given, overcome our challenges, and achieve our goals. When I was a child, saints topped that list of biographies. These were the people I wanted to emulate. It would be interesting to […]
Memory Lane Games
Visiting with a loved one with dementia can be complicated. We must watch what we say, how we say it, and the words we use. “Discussions” need to be basic and clear to avoid confusion and frustration for both of us. Finding activities enjoyable for both family members offers an opportunity to share time and […]
In the End, Will You Remember God?
If your faith is solid, will it carry you through your life even if you develop dementia? I believe it is possible. Your faith may even grow stronger. My husband, Marshall, was a believer raised in a devout family, but, from my observation, he did little to build on his spiritual foundation. He rarely went […]
Forgive Yourself
“Everything is clearer in retrospect. You know what or how you could have done something better when looking back. Things are not so clear or easy when you are under pressure to care for your loved one 24/7. Your responsibilities are great, and you often must perform your duties without proper rest or assistance. Most […]
Part of The Whole
If we didn’t realize it before, the COVID-19 pandemic enlightened us to our global interdependence. Shortages of supplies, travel restrictions, and the rapid and continuous spread of the virus highlighted how interconnected and dependent we are on one another. Last spring American’s experienced shortages of supplies for the first time in generations. Complete products, as […]
American Novena
Prayer works. Calling on our God for guidance, assistance, relief, and peace is always answered, as all prayers are in one way or another. And if God is with us, we are never left alone. Back-up and support comes in numerous ways. The following prayer was shared with me by my friend, Marla, who received […]
Mary K. Doyle 
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