Monthly Archives: July 2024

July 27, 2024 · 1:08 pm

Highs and lows and embracing resilience

My 50th birthday was memorable in the best and worst of ways. The day before I turned 50, I traveled to Las Vegas and did the SkyJump at The Strat. It’s an 855-foot plunge from a platform on the 108th floor. Jumpers are attached to a cable and guide wire system for a controlled descent. It’s described as a vertical zip line.

It’s important to note that I’m terrified of heights. I can’t climb a ladder more than a few rungs without my knees shaking. It’s for this reason that I wanted to challenge myself and face one of my biggest fears. Letting go and stepping into the sky is a sensation like no other.

You can watch the video of my SkyJump below. Yes, I screamed all the way down, a mixture of fear and exhilaration.

It’s a good thing that I was still running on the high from the SkyJump because when trying to return home, I ran into the flight software issue that plagued airlines over the past week. I ended up spending early Sunday morning sleeping on the floor of the Las Vegas airport, only to have my flight canceled Sunday afternoon. There was a lot of sitting and waiting, which reminded me of all the times I spent with Mom in doctor’s offices and hospital waiting rooms. It’s a mixture of anxiety, dread, and boredom but my past caregiver experience has built up a reservoir of resilience for such situations. My main concern was not for myself but for my pets, and fortunately I was able to find a pet sitter to fill in at the last minute for my extended absence. I finally made it home Tuesday morning.

It’s not the way I would have preferred to end my birthday trip, but as one gets older and experiences the highs and lows of life, one learns how to better adapt to challenging circumstances.

For caregiver tips, check out my Caregiver Product Recommendations page, with a list of products that I used while caring for my parents.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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July 18, 2024 · 8:00 am

Reflections on turning 50

I’m turning 50 this week. Age may just be a number, but 50 feels like a significant milestone.

While I’m very grateful for my good health, I’m eager to move beyond the worst decade of my life. Within a year of turning 40, my mother died. A few years later, my nearly 20-year relationship ended in divorce. A year later, the coronavirus pandemic shut down the world and left us fearing for our lives and sanity. Just before Thanksgiving 2022, I was laid off from my job. I said a heartbreaking farewell to several beloved pets over the last decade of my life. My 40s was witness to a political firestorm in the U.S. that to my horror, gets worse with each passing day with no resolution in sight.

As I was reminiscing, I came across a blog post that I wrote when I turned 40, and what I hoped to accomplish during this decade of my life. I was prepared for cringeworthy commentary, but in fact, I accomplished all three of the items on my 40s list! I wrote and published a book (a total of 3 in fact!), I went to Ireland and N. Ireland, and I’ve grown my Alzheimer’s awareness advocacy efforts.

It reminded me of the worthy accomplishments that I achieved during my 40s, even if those things are often overshadowed by the barrage of difficult times. Reflecting on the good and the bad, I see a pattern emerge: good often follows the bad. For example, I was able to replace a job that was draining my energy with one that has allowed me to grow and gain new skills. I’ve been able to welcome new rescue pets into my life. Caring for my parents taught me many things about the healthcare system and the resilience of caregivers.

I’m not making a to-do list for my 50s. Instead I’m focusing on challenging myself to face my fears and be open to new experiences. I hope good will follow the bad for me this decade.

For caregiver tips, check out my Caregiver Product Recommendations page, with a list of products that I used while caring for my parents.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

ICYMI: I’m participating in the Smashwords Summer/Winter sale. Get the e-book version of my award-wining collection of personal essays, The Reluctant Caregiver, for half-off (just 99 cents!) during the entire month of July. Enter the code SSW50 at checkout.

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July 9, 2024 · 9:00 am

Caregiver SOS podcast: Preparing for the Financial Impact of Caregiving

Recently I had the pleasure of being a guest on the Caregiver SOS podcast. We discussed the financial impact of caregiving, and I shared my own insights from caring for my parents.

The “p” word really is the key word here. We discussed how to prepare financially before a family healthcare crisis strikes. This is a topic that I feel is vital to discuss as a family and I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my story.

You can find Caregiver SOS on your favorite digital audio platform, or via the WellMed Charitable Foundation website.

Listen to Preparing for the Financial Impact of Caregiving with Joy Johnston on Caregvier SOS

Preparing for the Financial Impact of Caregiving with Joy Johnston

For more caregiver tips, check out my Caregiver Product Recommendations page, with a list of products that I used while caring for my parents.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

ICYMI: I’m participating in the Smashwords Summer/Winter sale. Get the e-book version of my award-wining collection of personal essays, The Reluctant Caregiver, for half-off (just 99 cents!) during the entire month of July. Enter the code SSW50 at checkout.

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July 6, 2024 · 12:22 pm

Thinking of Mom on her birthday

Mom would have been 87 today. While Mom and I were opposites in many ways, I did gain an appreciation of music from her. She loved her Martin guitar and it survived several moves with her. She taught me to play a bit when I was a kid; it kept me occupied over those long, hot summers in California. After she died, the guitar was one of the mementos that I cherished the most, so it’s now in my home. I’ve attempted to play it again sporadically, and hope one day I can dedicate enough time to be able to play casually again.

I also inherited an appreciation of a wide range of music from my mother. She loved listening to everything from Mozart and Beethoven to Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. She even tried to appreciate the music I loved growing up, and the music video craze of the 1980s. I think Cyndi Lauper was probably her favorite, because she was so fun and colorful.

Mom would be proud knowing I was still sharing our family caregiving story with others. You can listen to my appearance on the Caregiver SOS podcast on Spotify or your preferred podcast hosting service. I’ll write more about the appearance in my next post.

A reminder: I’m participating in the Smashwords Summer/Winter sale. Get the e-book version of my award-wining collection of personal essays, The Reluctant Caregiver, for half-off (just 99 cents!) during the entire month of July. Enter the code SSW50 at checkout.

Check out my summer book recommendations for caregivers for even more books to help you on your caregiving journey.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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July 1, 2024 · 10:00 am

Summer reading recommendations for caregivers

It has been sweltering in Atlanta for the past month, and summer just began. When it’s too hot to be outside for long, I’m going to turn to one of my favorite pastimes that often gets pushed to the side: reading. I read all day as part of my job, but reading for pleasure is something that I wish I did more. My Kindle is full of books I haven’t started yet, and I have plenty more on my wish list. Reading is something that makes me feel close to my dad, and I feel I inherited my love of books from him.

I could write a book about the many amazing books available for dementia caregivers, but here are my top recommendations:

I’m honored to have “At the Crossroads,” a poem about my father, included in Poetry for the Dementia Journey: An AlzAuthors poetry Anthology. This new collection was published in June and is available on Amazon. Check out AlzAuthors for a large and impressive library of books that inform and support dementia caregivers.

I’m participating in the Smashwords Summer/Winter sale. Get the e-book version of my award-wining collection of personal essays, The Reluctant Caregiver, for half-off (just 99 cents!) during the entire month of July. Enter the code SSW50 at checkout.

If you’d like to honor the memory of dementia awareness advocate Wendy Mitchell, who died earlier this year, consider one of her books. One Last Thing is aptly titled as her final work. Somebody I Used to Know is her best known and highly acclaimed book.

Finally, another shameless plug: Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living with Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias is a wonderful collection that captures the highs and lows of the dementia caregiving journey. I’m honored to have a story about my father, “French Toast,” included in this edition.

What books are on your summer reading list?

For more suggestions beyond books, check out my Caregiver Product Recommendations page, with a list of products that I used while caring for my parents.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Image created by Microsoft Copilot.

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