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Browsing All posts tagged under »Social work«
Dear Mama,
Diwali has come and gone. It was a tough week as usual. I missed you so much. I don’t know how to live my life without you. I don’t know how to be happy on these “days” that are supposed to be about family and togetherness. All I feel is so much pain and darkness. […]
How to find a great therapist
December 8, 2017
An introduction to reflecting on one’s mental wellness needs I am one of those people not just saved by therapy, but also who has blossomed under therapy. The negative rap that therapy gets is so uncalled for. Literally, therapy does nothing by save people! Also, don’t go telling me about all the whackadoodles out there. I […]
I, a therapist, go to therapy
October 10, 2017
And it’s the best form of self care I have ever practiced! Here’s me — doing my bit to End the Stigma on World Mental Health Day I have been going to therapy for a few months now. When I started, it was because I wasn’t doing so well — physically and mentally. Being Type A isn’t easy. The pressure […]
She’s still here — A late stage dementia story
August 1, 2017
One of my favourite clients, Mary, is now in the later stages of dementia. She spends most of her time asleep. She barely says a few words, if we’re lucky. She used to respond to touch very well, but over the last few months, that has disappeared. It takes longer and longer to reach her. […]
Paying my respects to clients who died last year
July 9, 2017
As part of my role, I work out of a day program once a week. I provide support to people living with dementia (PLWD) and their families through a partnership with a community agency. Over the last two years, I have formed a bond with many of them and you might have read some of […]
Becoming “Unity” – A Dementia Story
July 6, 2017
I have always hated my name. The name given by my parents. Ekta. As a teen, I went by a childhood moniker, Sweets. But that didn’t go with the bad girl image I wanted to portray in college, so I switched it back to Ekta. Then, in 2004, Henri was born. Henri was my alter […]
Melting Together: A Story by People l/w Dementia
May 4, 2017
My friend Romina and I co-created The Boomers Club, a wellness program at the Alzheimer Society of Toronto, for people living with Young Onset Dementia (under age 65) and their family care partners. We focus on physical exercise and cognitive stimulation. The group has a strong component of peer support for people living with dementia […]
10 Lessons from People l/w Dementia
March 8, 2017
There are innumerable myths about what dementia is and how it diminishes a person. I vehemently differ from this opinion. I wanted to list down all the things I have learned, relearned and had reinforced as a direct result of working and loving people living with dementia.
Between a Hug and a Hard Place
February 8, 2017
The day program I go to weekly serves adults with cognitive difficulties. This includes dementia, developmental delays, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), Down’s Syndrome, etc. I met Lulu* there. It’s hard to tell Lulu’s age. I am guessing she’s in her 40s. She is of a robust constitution and a quiet demeanour. She seems reserved and […]
Responding to a friend in crisis
January 23, 2017
Friends are the first line of support for most people these days. As friends, how can we best support someone that confides in us? Here are a few tips from me.
10 Things You Need to Know About Suicide
November 21, 2016
Disclaimer: This post is not an expert opinion, rather a collection of my observations through my volunteer work. This post does not provide medical or crisis prevention advice. For the last two years, I have been volunteering with the Survivor Support Program (SSP) with Toronto Distress Centre. It is a free program that provides supportive […]
Living Well W/ Dementia
October 16, 2016
The views in this article are my own. They do not represent the views of my employer in any way. Note – PLWD: People Living W/ Dementia “Living well with dementia” is all the buzz now, and rightly so. There is much stigma attached to a diagnosis of dementia. People are forced to hide because […]
Show and Tell & People l/w Dementia
September 16, 2016
Yesterday at our group (for people living with Young Onset Dementias – under 65 – and their care partners) we did a round of show-and-tell. We had asked them to bring an object that meant something special to them. Each time one of them spoke, we learned something new about them. Each time they spoke, […]
My 81-year old twin
August 31, 2016
I met Jean* and her daughter, Alice* for coffee at a nearby Starbucks today. Jean loves the ‘Bucks cappuccino as do I! I saw her sitting at a table while her daughter was getting their beverages. Jean looked so elegant in her black broad-legged linen capris and matching shirt. She wore a loose denim cape […]
Conversations with a 96-year old
May 17, 2016
The first day I met Jay, he asked me, “Guess how old I am!” I said, “85”. “No, I am 95,” he said proudly. He turned 96 this past December. He does everything himself, without assistance. He bathes, eats, uses the washroom by himself. He walks independently with the help of a cane. He is proud […]
When Words Fail…
April 6, 2016
When I first met Mary*, what struck me most was her loud, shrill voice. She had this deliberate way of talking – enunciating every word she spoke. It’s hard to tell her age, but my guess is 70s at least. She has very short salt and pepper hair, more pepper surprisingly. She is in a […]
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- On the Other Side of the 20s
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- 10 Lessons from People l/w Dementia
- My Journey w/ Chronic Pain & Yoga
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- A Crack at "Pop" Psychology
- On Love, Laughter, Sushi & Dementia
- Reflecting on a year of gratitude and self care
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Comments
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| Preeti on A Diwali Miracle |
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| Ekta on Tea Meditation |
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| Preeti on Unexpected expense |
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| Ekta on A Journal Entry from 1997 |
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Archives
Blogs I Follow
- YogiDeets.com
- Highland Mindfulness Group
- Dalit Nation - The Only Authentic Voice of Dalits
- The Curvy Yogi
- Crutches and Spice
- KAFILA - COLLECTIVE EXPLORATIONS SINCE 2006
- Yoga4U
- Dementia: Sharing The Good Times
- When The Fog Lifts
- Shreya Vikram
- Woman, Interrupted
- BlueMonkey
- Unforgettable
- Yoga 5:50
- Sincerely Kate
- The Bipolar Writer Mental Health Blog
- Defining Yellow
- Welcome
- she's a seeker
- Unity Mindfulness
- Diary of a Not-So-Angry Asian Adoptee
- Conundrum.
- Joint Purpose
- Skillfully Well & Painfully Aware
- Maranda Elizabeth
- Hey WriterGrrl!
- The Catalysts for Change
- A Moreno Blogs
- everlasting smile wisdom
- vivaran
- Pigs, Figs & Higgs
- shradds76
- Wet Casements
- Damyanti Biswas
- kateswaffer.wordpress.com/
- Pies Lies And Thighs
- off~peak
- due ink...
- The Vindication of Verbosity
- Under Reconstruction
From Outside The Mall 
November 14, 2018
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