Ask Nurse Kris
Mum & Dad: no self-care
Dear Nurse Kris; My mum needs help. She is actually my husband’s mother but we all call her 'Mum'. She lives with ‘Dad' in a semi-rural...
Are extended care homes safe?
Dear Nurse Kris: I know you help families who are dealing with putting a parent in a facility, so I thought I would run our situation by you. Our problem is, I...
Relocate to Kelowna?
Dear Nurse Kris; My parents live in Newfoundland, and I live in Summerland, BC. They are strongly considering moving to Kelowna. I’ve always thought of...
No nursing home promise
Dear Nurse Kris: My siblings and I live a long distance away from my mom. Seeing her means a full day of flying or driving, time off work, etc. My mom is...
Dealing with declining health
Dear Nurse Kris; My parents are on a limited income, and my mom needs help with getting up and around for the day. It’s taxing Dad immensely to help mom...
Medication counselling available
Dear Nurse Kris, My dad gets so confused when he visits his doctor. He’s hard of hearing and even with hearing aides he doesn’t understand what the...
Do your loved ones need help?
As we grow and age ourselves, we often don’t notice the gradual physical, social, or mental changes that are happening to our parents, aunts and uncles...
Medieval groaning board
Dear Nurse Kris; My dad had an unsettling experience recently in a nearby hospital. He’s been living at home alone since Mom died last year. I’ve...
Care giver burnout
If you’re a caregiver to a parent or disabled person, you know how much work is involved! And you also know how many other parts of your life are begging...
No, I don’t want you to call an ambulance!
Dear Nurse Kris: Recently my wife fell, I couldn’t get her up off of the floor, she refused to let me call the ambulance, and she told me to stand in our...
Dementia care at home
Dear Nurse Kris; My siblings and I live a long distance away from my mom. Seeing her means a full day of flying or driving, time off work etc. My mom is...
My mom is having hip surgery
Dear Nurse Kris; My mom lives with us and is scheduled for hip surgery next month. I know hospitals like to discharge patients as quickly as they can. I...
One last trip home to the Old Country
Dear Nurse Kris: My Dad moved to Canada from Ireland, 60 years ago. It has been a decade since he has seen any of his seven siblings. He is 75 and now has...
How to help confused parents
Dear Nurse Kris: My mom has dementia and lives alone at home. I live in the same city and see her a number of times during the week and am in touch by phone a...
How to save face with your kids
“Nurse Kris, my adult children are trying to convince me to move into a ‘home’ for seniors. I want to stay here in my apartment. What can I do...
What a disaster!
Dear Nurse Kris, I recently visited my Mom and Dad and was really surprised at how they were living. I live in Ontario and I only get out to their home in the...
I want a job!
Dear Nurse Kris; I’m a 75-year-old fellow who wants and needs work but can’t find anything suitable. My wife died 7 years ago. My CPP just...