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Love in Action, Makes a Difference

MaryMac Missions is 1 of 13 MA DDS Inclusive Memory Cafe Contracts Awarded!

Announcements, Celebration, Contemplation in Action, Healing Grief & Loss, News, Survivor's Mission

Karl and I are thrilled to receive a contract from the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services to further develop and implement our inclusive memory café. Please enjoy reading the letter below that we received just yesterday. It appears that we are the only Ma & Pa provider on the list (MaryMac Missions, Topsfield). Learn more […]

Writing Social Justice for Dementia Caregivers

Healing Grief & Loss, News, Survivor's Mission, Trauma Recovery & Renewal

On this St. Andrew’s Day (Scotland), and the last day of November, National (U.S.) Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National (U.S.) Family Caregivers Month, I pray for a divine intervention for the millions of 24/7 unpaid family dementia-caregivers-in-the-now, especially those experiencing duress and despair, that they may experience: a freedom and peace in their role… […]

Suicide and Aging: What you need to know

Conference Take-Aways, Conferences, Contemplation in Action, Healing Grief & Loss, Survivor's Mission, Trauma Recovery & Renewal

Today at Brooksby Village (a continuing-care retirement community) in Danvers, MA, I attended a four-hour “Suicide and Aging: Gatekeeper Workshop,” presented by the Samaritans of Merrimack Valley (Family Services of the Merrimack Valley). I learned that white men over age 75+ with access to firearms are the greatest risk group; and for every homicide reported, […]

Edith Stands with ADA25Boston March

ADA 25th Anniversary: Boston Commoners are We!

Announcements, Celebration, Conference Take-Aways, Contemplation in Action, Healing Grief & Loss, News, Reflection, Survivor's Mission, Trauma Recovery & Renewal

A person with disabilities of my own, I was grateful to make it down to the Boston Common for the ADA25Boston Celebration yesterday, thanks to Edith, my beloved get-it-done/personal-care assistant and companion, who drove us down from our home in the Topsfield wilderness. Edith helped us get to the start of the march, at the […]

Mary's Private Notes: MAP Conference 2015: Alz.Assoc. MA/NH

Robin Hood Redux: MAP Conference 2015: Mary’s Private Notes

Conference Take-Aways, Conferences, Contemplation in Action, Healing Grief & Loss, News, Reflection, Survivor's Mission, Trauma Recovery & Renewal

This is the second in a series of two posts. 1st post in this series: Robin Hood Redux: MAP Conference 2015: About 80% of long-term-care services in the USA are provided by (often unpaid) family caregivers. Many in this population do not have access to the latest and greatest conference presentations due to barriers financial, […]

Robin Hood Redux: MAP Conference 2015: About

Conference Take-Aways, Conferences, Contemplation in Action, Healing Grief & Loss, News, Survivor's Mission, Trauma Recovery & Renewal

This is the first in a series of two posts. 2nd post in this series: Robin Hood Redux: MAP Conference 2015: Mary’s Private Notes 80% of long-term-care services in the USA are provided by (often unpaid) family caregivers. Many in this population do not have access to the latest and greatest conference presentations due to […]

Breaking to Write: Broke Me Open

Contemplation in Action, Healing Grief & Loss, News, Survivor's Mission, Trauma Recovery & Renewal

As you friends in the Christian tradition begin your trek out to the desert wilderness (don’t forget your backpack snacks and water bottle!), don’t worry ’bout being alone – I’ve been out here for at least the past 90 days peering into my past and examining the who done it, the where, when, what, how, […]

Personal Library Sort Started

Harmony at Home, Phase 3: 18 of 18 Sessions: Estate Disaster Relief Year 2014 Over!

Estate Management, Healing Grief & Loss, News, Survivor's Mission, Trauma Recovery & Renewal

It feels so good to say we’ve reached the end of the “Estate Disaster Relief Year 2014.” Phase 3, 18 of 18 sessions was completed on December 23, 2014. The estate management process has humbled me. A mountain way bigger than myself, it took a small team (myself, my beloved Karl, Edith, Hillary, and Melissa) […]

Personal Files Organized at Last!

Harmony at Home, Phase 3: 17 of 18 Sessions: Personal File System Created

Estate Management, Healing Grief & Loss, News, Survivor's Mission, Trauma Recovery & Renewal

The last estate management milestone of 2014 was reached on December 18, 2014. We now have the beginnings of a personal filing system where we can better locate practical papers (e.g. auto and medical receipts, house repairs), personal interests (e.g. newspaper and magazine clippings of fun things-to-do), personal finances (e.g. banking and retirement), and personal […]

Recovering Personal Files

Harmony at Home, Phase 3: 16 of 18 Sessions: Personal Unraveling… Reconciling

Contemplation in Action, Estate Management, Healing Grief & Loss, News, Survivor's Mission, Trauma Recovery & Renewal

Seven years ago I left everything to care for my mom, a state away, living with dementia. My personal paperwork was packed, not to be seen again for a very long time (I still have several pallets stacked high with boxes from 2007). Since moving to our current home in 2009 with the effects of […]