About francy Dickinson

Toots and francy

I started my  Dear Francy©   Q&A postings while I was caring for my mother “full time”. I found as I faced daily challenges, I would meet other care givers that were experiencing the same issues. Each one of them said something to me; “I feel so alone.”  I decided I had to start to share my suggestions to make care giving a little easier for family and friends of seniors. I also wanted a place they could come and check in and send me questions and hear about ideas and tips for care.

I have now written two books on care giving. One is a review of general care in the home by family and the other is on the issue of anger. After reviewing the many emails that I have received from my lovely family of care givers….I tried to expand the information into books that will help the families giving care. I am very excited to say that they are both coming out spring of 2012…Yeah.

My new care book is coming out next month...Yeah!

I am also in the beginning of writing a special cookbook for seniors in-care. I am finding that my many posts about preparing food for elders in care are very popular. So, I have started to talk to others that love food and have been care givers in their lives…and I am putting together a nice collection of recipes that will be high nutrition as well as Yummy!

My Mother,”Toots”, started to need assistance when she was in her mid 80′s. Even though she still drove her car and was a busy gardener – she still needed to have someone to help her. We started with “hair day” – I would pick her up and take her to her hair appointment and then we would go to lunch or the market.  As time went on she drove only close to her home and I did all the rest of her driving to her doctor appointments, shopping or social events.  My husband George would change her light bulbs and fix her appliances. Once she was in her 90′s she started having small strokes and we would bring her over to our home to recover and spend weekends. At 95 mother fell and went into the hospital and care center and could not return to her own home. She had very limited funds for her care so she moved in with us and that began the adventure that turned into five years of giving her 24/7 care- all on my own.   She passed just a couple month shy of 100 and I am very proud of the care she received through to her life’s end.

My Georgie out for a walk

Just as I thought that it was my time again - to be me – I turned around and found my husband had developed dementia and now was experiencing the nasty ride through the steps of Alzheimer’s. It was so hard to face this after all the years of giving care to mother. I just did not want to do it. But, life does not care what you want – it just puts forth challenges that you have to learn to meet. My husband and I are working our way through Alzheimer’s like we have worked through all 30 years of our marriage…one day at a time. Our love has kept both of us going…and the experiences I have had just amaze me. I hope my sharing information helps others to not feel so alone as care givers.

I know not everyone can give intensive care, but they can be there for there loved ones, help them through things, make decisions on where good care can be found and be a supportive loving force. Those are the things I hope to share with you on my web site and in this  Dear Francy©  Q&A blog.

Please click on the right and ‘Sign-up’  and you will receive notice when a new blog is out. I would really appreciate your spreading the word about my work. Everyone knows someone that is giving care to a spouse or family member. They are living a life all alone in their home, daily trying to care for someone that is slowly sinking in their health or mind. I want to let them know they are not alone, as well as give them ideas to help them with the daily choices they have to make.

Click the button below to listen to me on the Internet Radio, my talk shows are filled with ideas to keep you going!

Blessings,   francy Dickinson

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