Dowda Senior Consultants Blog
A Valentine’s Day Message from our CEO
What is the maximum capacity for a human heart to experience and show love? Can you reach a point where you love so much that your heart is full and you can't add any more? I was terrified of this when I was pregnant with my second child, sure that I could not...
Considering Care for Yourself in a Most Privileged Relationship
What words describe how you feel when you are doing something well? Accomplished, satisfied, confident, successful, energized? What words describe how you feel about your caregiving experience? Cue the grimace emoji! As a dementia care consultant, the answer to the...
Dowda Highlights Julie for “National I Want You To Be Happy Day”
Today we celebrate "National I Want You to be Happy Day", which gives each of us the opportunity to brighten someone's day through simple acts of kindness and selflessness. As such, Dowda highlights our dear and lovely friend, Julie, who is an amazing local hospice...
What You Need to Know About Caregiver Burnout
Taking care of a loved one who has dementia, physical disabilities or other age-related conditions makes demands on your time, energy and emotions — demands that, as the Cleveland Clinic warns, “can easily seem overwhelming.” That’s under normal...
Helen’s Story: From Surviving to Thriving
CLIENT SITUATION Janet and her 5 siblings realized that their mother Helen was living neither successfully nor safely in her home. She was temporarily staying with Janet’s brother after a bad fall, when they contacted Dowda Senior Consultants. Helen STRONGLY wished to...
World Down Syndrome Day
On World Down Syndrome Day we want to celebrate the glorious and wonderful lives of all of our dear friends who are rocking that extra chromosome. The Dowda family’s world would be a MUCH less joyful and beautiful place without them in it!!! Grateful for each and...
Gifts are MY FAVORITE!
Any "Elf" lovers out there are picturing Will Ferrell right now — which makes me so happy. But truly, gifts really are my favorite. There is NOTHING better than handing something to someone that you know will put a smile on their face and make them feel known and...
Family Tradition
I know some of you have now started humming the Hank Williams Jr. song, so I'll give you a minute to get through that and then I'll start ;-). In our family, traditions are SUPER important. They don't have to be fancy, or expensive, or even complicated. The key is...
“Seniors Just Wanna Have Fun”
Jennifer Gilliam and I had the MOST FUN lunch ever a few weeks ago with a group of about 25 seniors in Hanover County. They get together for a Diner's Club every month to try different restaurants throughout the county. It is sponsored by Hanover County Parks and Rec...
Wilma’s Story
CLIENT SITUATION Carol was very concerned that her mom’s care was at such a high level that she would require skilled care in a nursing home. WHY DOWDA SENIOR CONSULTANTS I had helped Carol’s friend Sandy find an assisted living community for her parents years ago,...
Louise’s Story
CLIENT SITUATION Laura reached out to Jen Dowda, concerned about her mom's safety in her home. Her mom, Louise, absolutely refused to move, but both Laura and Jen were very worried about her health. WHY DOWDA SENIOR CONSULTANTS Laura didn’t know what to do. She knew...
Coffee Shop Run-in!
Hello friends! Alex here! This is my very first blog post for Dowda Senior Consultants, and my first full week working for Jen. It has been a dream!! We always meet at the local coffee shop to chat and here is how one of our meetings went... To start off, I do not...