There is a time in our lives when our view of our parents changes and they are no longer simply defined by their role as Mom or Dad. They become fellow human beings and we begin to see them as whole people. Granted, this usually doesn’t happen in one day—it’s often a gradual process—but there […]

You’ve probably heard it before and maybe you even practice it in other parts of your life: sometimes your time is a greater gift than one wrapped up in a box. For those of us with aging parents, this can be even truer. Simply celebrating life together can go a long way in deepening our […]

The month of June brings a lot to celebrate, especially in Alaska. The summer has set in for good, days are long and full of light, the solstice will come upon us, and, of course, Father’s Day will soon be upon us. While some of us are lucky enough to be able to celebrate with […]

When I’m running late on my way home from work, I call my household and let them know. If I forget something at the store, I send a text to a member of my household who hasn't gotten home yet. When my mom, who is in great health and still rather young, fails to answer […]

I was introduced to rule number six at a training for family care givers. The first half of the training was spent giving the attendees time and space to talk about the harder parts of caregiving. Many people there were frustrated because they felt like they should be more patient. Family member after family member […]

When caring for others, one of the primary functions we are tasked with is meal preparation. This can be one of the most challenging tasks as we seek to reconcile the regular diets of the people we support with some of the dietary restrictions that come in to play as part of the aging process. […]

Life just seems to be a lot busier than it used to be. Sometimes it feels impossible to find a time during the day to pause and take a breath. In the rush to get everything done we have a tendency to mobilize whatever we can in an effort to keep up with this accelerated […]

Having worked with the elderly for over 12 years with a focus on improving their quality of life and providing peace of mind for their loved ones, one thing is clear; the behaviors we practice and choices we make today have a definitive effect on the quality of life in our elder years. Which behaviors? […]

We are upon the season when our thoughts naturally turn toward home, to warm cozy kitchens, the irresistible aroma of cookies and pies in the oven and the anticipation of joyous family gatherings. Typically, this is also the time of the year when attention is often placed upon wide-eyed youngsters and their joyous moments. However, […]

At Midnight Sun Home Care, family is something we value so highly. We understand the importance of the bond between parent and child and the need for support among siblings. Dealing with the care of an aging loved can add a great deal of stress to the entire dynamic. When home care is not in […]