Author: Karen Taylor

From the series: “Grief in Real Time: A Caregiver’s Journey Through Sudden Loss” Some moments burn into your memory forever. In the quiet early hours, as the shock of my father-in-law’s sudden passing began to settle into my chest, another weight emerged: I had to wake up my husband and pull him into the same storm of grief. While still on the phone with the nurse, I learned they had called our daughter first—her number had been listed as an emergency contact. She had already been awakened with the news, and she dearly loved her Grandpa. I still needed to…

From the series: “Grief in Real Time: A Caregiver’s Journey Through Sudden Loss” The emergency room nurse called at 4:08 a.m. My father-in-law had passed away unexpectedly while on vacation in Montana. Within hours, we were in motion—booking flights, packing bags, calling family, holding each other upright. There’s no dress rehearsal for this kind of moment. You go from sleep to survival mode in seconds. The brain fog of grief wraps around you before you even zip your suitcase. And somehow, you still have to make decisions, find your ID, call the airline, and show up at the airport. All…

Part 1: The Calm Before the Storm – When Past Reflections Prepare Us for Present Grief Have you ever found that sometimes something you read, journal, or speak was unknowingly preparing you for what came next?” The last three articles in my column were written from a very peaceful shore in Carlsbad California watching and listening to the waves roll in as I launched a series on seeing the fine line between grief and depression. Little did I realize that today I’d be writing, the next series, seated at the stormy shore of fresh grief myself, still in shock. The…

Part 3 of a 3-Part Series When we begin to sense that a loved one’s sadness might be more than grief, the next question is: What can we do? First—know this: your presence matters. Simply noticing, checking in, and being open to conversation can be a powerful first step. Many older adults were raised in a time when mental health wasn’t discussed openly. They may not have the words—or may even feel ashamed—to admit they’re struggling. Start small. Try, “I’ve noticed you don’t seem quite like yourself lately. I’m here if you want to talk.” This opens the door gently, without pressure or judgment. Ask…

Part 2 of a 3-Part Series It’s easy to assume that deep sadness in older adults is just part of aging. After all, they’ve experienced significant loss—friends passing, changes in health, the shift from independence to dependence. Grief is expected. But when sadness becomes a constant companion, we need to ask: is it still grief, or could it be depression? Grief and depression can look similar—tearful, withdrawal, disrupted sleep or appetite. But their roots and rhythms are different. Grief comes in waves. There may be moments of deep sorrow, but also flickers of joy, connection, and meaning. The person grieving…

Part 1 of a 3-Part Series As our loved ones age, life naturally brings change—retirement, physical decline, the loss of independence or a partner. With change often comes grief. But sometimes, what looks like grief is something deeper: depression. Grief is a natural, expected response to loss. It can feel heavy, but it comes in waves—there are still glimpses of joy, moments of connection. Depression, however, is a fog that lingers. It saps energy, motivation, and hope. And in older adults, it often hides in plain sight. It’s easy to miss. We chalk it up to “just getting old” or…

In early 2017, I, Karen Taylor, had the opportunity to attend a Community Care Partnership traininghosted by the Alzheimer’s Association. It was in that training that our community was first introducedto a powerful national initiative: Dementia Friendly America, and the launch of Dementia FriendlyNevada. Midway through the training, one of my client’s daughters joined us after seeing the event advertised. Her entrance wasn’t quiet, or the apologetic kind—it was the kind of raw, an emotional breakdownthat so many adult children of parents with dementia know all too well. She was exhausted fromsleepless nights and overwhelmed by the frustrating lack of…

Part 5: Connection — Letting Others In Without Losing Yourself Self-care isn’t isolation—it’s preservation. And one of the greatest truths I’ve come to understand is this: we are not meant to do life alone. We’re wired for connection. We crave to be seen, heard, known. But for many of us—especially caregivers, givers, and leaders—connection has become complicated. It’s easy to confuse caring for others with giving ourselves away. We build relationships, show up, stay accessible, and often forget to check: Am I still in this too? In the past, I believed that connection meant availability. That being “there” for others…

A dear friend of mine beautifully demonstrates this next aspect of self-care: the pause. When I first met her, it was in a weekly group setting. As I observed her in conversation, I initially perceived her habit as a bit of a “glitch” and even wondered if it might come across as rude. When someone asked her a question, she didn’t respond right away. In my rushed lifestyle, I’m so used to answering before the other person has even finished speaking. So at first, her pause—her choice to reflect on what was asked, to consider the source and the context—felt like…

Part 3: Nourishment – Feeding the Body That Carries You Before you can show up for others, you must breathe. Let’s begin with presence.On the count of three—inhale through your nose… hold… exhale through your mouth. Feel that? That’s you choosing to pause and return to yourself. In Part 2, we explored boundaries as a form of self-respect. Now, we turn inward—to nourishment. Not the restrictive, rule-filled kind we’re often taught, but the daily act of loving the body that carries you. I’m learning that nourishment isn’t just calories or macros—it’s presence. It’s what sustains our energy and grounds us…