Williams Lake Hospice Society

05/01/2026

🛑 🚩 Hike for Hospice”2026 is postponed until further notice 🚩 🛑

🥾We are postponing our Annual ‘Hike for Hospice’ event this year. 🚷 (usually the 1st Sunday in May)

👍 ‘FOLLOW’ our page, ‘Like' and/or ‘Share' our posts to stay connected with us, get support information and invites to our events. 🥰

Williams Lake Hospice Society & WL Hospice Good Buys Thrift Boutique

05/01/2026

"Hospice Palliative Care Awareness Month" 2026

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Williams Lake Hospice Society & WL Hospice Good Buys Thrift Boutique

05/01/2026

04/29/2026

What Caregiving Really Looks Like

Dementia care isn’t just about memory loss.
It’s about the moments no one talks about.

The bathroom struggles.
The confusion.
The messes.
The quiet loss of dignity.

It’s using half a roll of toilet paper
or not knowing what to do at all.

And for caregivers?
It’s cleaning, guiding, reassuring
over and over again.
Not with applause.
Not with preparation.
But with patience.
Because behind every difficult moment
is a person trying to make sense of a world that no longer does.

And behind every caregiver
is compassion in action.
This is the part of dementia care we don’t see.
But it’s the part that deserves to be understood.

04/29/2026

For many children, the loss of a pet is their first experience with grief and it can feel confusing, overwhelming, and heartbreaking.

When a pet dies, children need honesty, reassurance, and space to express their feelings. Simple rituals, shared memories, and clear language can help them understand what happened and feel supported as they grieve.

With patience and connection, we can help children navigate this early experience of loss, feeling cared for and not alone.

04/29/2026

One of the lessons I have learned in hospice is that not everyone wants their hand held. Yet so often, our instinct is to reach for the hand of the person in the bed, holding on tightly, assuming it will bring comfort. Rarely do we ask first.

A man once told me he felt trapped when his hand was taken without permission. That stayed with me. I began to wonder what it must feel like to lie in a bed, often unable to speak, while others move a pillow, adjust the bed, or reach for your hand without warning. It reminded me how important it is to ask before we touch.

These conversations matter long before we reach that place. We need to know how our loved ones feel about being touched. My brother, for example, was in the ICU without a voice. When a doctor touched his foot and it twitched, he immediately worried it was a seizure. I explained he was just extremely ticklish, something no one would have known if I hadn’t mentioned it, so I put up a sign: “Please don’t touch his feet.” If we know ahead of time, we can avoid unnecessary discomfort and honor their wishes.

As a hospice nurse, I have seen how hard it can be for adults in decline to say what they don’t want, often because they fear disappointing others. Children, however, tend to be more direct. In pediatric palliative care, I see kids pull their hand away or move from touch they don’t want, unafraid to make it clear. Perhaps that’s something we can learn from them, to speak up now about what we do and don’t want, so others don’t have to guess later.

Maybe that means leaving a note, a sign, or simply having a conversation: please don’t hold my hand, or yes, I love hugs. Whatever the message, sharing it now gives others the chance to respect us fully when we may not be able to speak for ourselves.

And in the meantime, perhaps we can all become more mindful. Just because we find comfort in a hug or a hand to hold doesn’t mean everyone else does. The most loving thing we can do is ask first.

xo
Gabby

You can find this blog here:
https://www.thehospiceheart.net/post/not-everyone-wants-their-hand-held

04/27/2026

What you see on the surface of family caregiving rarely reflects the full workload. Many caregivers are covering roles that would normally be shared, coordinating care, managing daily needs, handling logistics, and absorbing the emotional weight that comes with it. It is constant, and it does not pause. From the outside, it may look like one person “managing,” but in reality, it is often one person sustaining what would typically require several. That difference is where the strain builds, even when it isn’t visible.

Follow ParentCare Hub

04/27/2026

Information Overload in dementia

Information overload in dementia happens when the brain is asked to process more than it can comfortably manage at once. Too many words, too many choices, too much noise, too many faces, or even a rushed tone can make the person feel confused, anxious, irritated, or withdrawn. What looks like “stubbornness,” “not listening,” or “difficult behavior” is often a mind under strain. The brain is working hard to make sense of what is being said and what is happening, but it cannot sort, filter, and respond as quickly as it once could.

This can show up in everyday moments. A person may freeze when several people speak at once. They may become upset in a crowded room, struggle when given multiple instructions, or shut down when asked too many questions back to back. Even simple tasks can feel overwhelming if there are too many steps or distractions around them. Bright lights, television noise, unfamiliar places, and fast conversations can all add to the overload.

When overload happens, the goal is not to correct the person but to reduce the pressure. Speak slowly. Use short sentences. Ask one question at a time. Offer one choice instead of many. Reduce background noise when possible. Keep routines simple and predictable. Sometimes the kindest response is to pause, give reassurance, and let the moment settle before trying again.

Understanding information overload changes how we see dementia behavior. It reminds us that the person is not trying to be difficult. They are trying to cope in a world that has suddenly become too fast, too loud, and too complicated. When caregivers simplify the environment and communicate with calm and patience, they help create safety, dignity, and connection.

04/27/2026

Evenings can feel like a sudden shift.
The same person who was calm during the day may become restless, confused, or emotional as the light fades. This is what we call sundowning, and for many caregivers, it can feel overwhelming.

But here’s the truth that changes everything:

Sundowning is not the person getting worse.
It’s the brain becoming tired, overwhelmed, and less able to process the world.

As daylight disappears, the brain loses visual cues. Shadows stretch. Familiar spaces begin to feel unfamiliar. At the same time, the body is fatigued from a full day of effort, because living with dementia requires more energy than we often realize. By evening, that reserve is gone.

And so, the brain reacts.

Not with logic, but with emotion.

This is why your response matters more than correction.
Why presence matters more than explanation.
Why calm becomes the most powerful intervention.

When we protect the rhythm of the day, soften the lighting, reduce demands, and anchor the evening with familiarity, something beautiful happens.

The nervous system settles.
The fear softens.
The person returns.

You may not be able to stop sundowning completely.
But you can reduce its intensity.
You can create moments of peace where there once was distress.

And most importantly, you can remind the person in front of you that they are not alone.

Because even when memory fades, the emotional brain still feels safety, love, and connection.

And that is where your care lives.

caregiversupport

04/27/2026

04/24/2026

Dementia care isn’t built on one big solution. It’s shaped by small, steady moments that support the brain, the body, and the heart.

Simple daily rhythms, familiar routines, gentle movement, nourishing food, and meaningful connection all work together to create stability in a changing world. When we reduce confusion, support memory, and create a calm, safe environment, we are preserving dignity.

And behind every tool is a human need to feel seen, comforted, and loved.

Because even when memory fades, the experience of care and the feeling of being known remain.
💜