Dr. Tracy Daniel-Hardy is the author of “The Adventures of Butch and Ruby: Chronicles of a Caregiver” and director of technology for Gulfport School District. She may be contacted at tracy@drtracydanielhardy.com.
Being a primary caregiver for both my parents takes lots of time, patience and assistance from loved ones. It requires me to be organized, timely and flexible, especially when unexpected circumstances arise (the unexpected always happens when time is limited). Leveraging technology aids me in caregiving, and I also take advantage of other resources that […]
For some reason, my mother always wanted to be “thick,” to have a little weight on her. I could not relate because I’ve always been “round” (as she calls me). Food and a kiss solved everything, or at least that’s what momma led us to believe. When we slammed our hand in the door or […]
I have heard my mother and late grandmother (and even some church ladies) say, “Just keep on living!” Momma usually says that when it takes her longer than usual to do something that I, or a younger person, could do more quickly or she previously could accomplish with less effort. As I have entered middle […]
Being responsible for the care of another person is one of the most arduous roads to travel. You easily can find yourself stuck in a caregiving rut, as there is very little time and energy left after administering medicines, preparing or delivering meals, bathing, dressing, transporting to and from appointments, being a medical advocate and […]
We use technology in nearly every facet of life. Our televisions are no longer just TVs; we can use them to browse the internet, access apps and much more. Many people now have smart homes with lights, appliances, doors, thermostats and security cameras that can be controlled remotely. There are even app-controlled pacemakers and other […]
Some may wonder why I let my parents slowly complete a task that I could accomplish much faster. In truth, I’m just helping them maintain their independence as safely as possible. When I empty the many small trash cans around my parents’ home, I often hand momma and daddy a bag so they can help […]
The Beatles said it best: “All you need is love.” There is good reason to believe that spirituality and love improve seniors’ quality of life. They give them hope, companionship, support and a sense of purpose. Over the past few weeks, I’ve taken to social media to share my parents’ sappiness (how loving and romantic […]
Keeping all my obligations straight can be a daunting task, as I work full time, am actively involved in several organizations and am the primary caregiver for my elderly parents. I leverage technology to help me be more organized and efficient, allowing me more time to engage in self-care and reducing stress on everyone involved. […]
I was preparing to cook a breakfast of pancakes, bacon, grits and eggs recently one Saturday morning for us, my parents, and my brother who was in town visiting. Normally breakfast does not consist of pancakes and grits. However, my husband and I wanted pancakes, and my brother always requests that I prepare grits and […]
