Pegi Foulkrod

It is with heavy hearts we share, on behalf of Pegi’s family, that she died on August 18, 2026.

Pegi had valiantly fought cancer but it recently came back with a vengeance and she died peacefully surrounded by her loving family.

Many of you know that Pegi had been a caregiver and fierce advocate for the love of her life, Jimmy, until he passed away ten years ago. She fought for him to get the best care possible up until he died and we are comforted by the fact they are now reunited.

Pegi was so much more than a caregiver though.

Pegi was our co-author, dear friend, ardent supporter and a talented artist creating beautiful scenes of the beach, rivers, flowers, nature and sunsets. The blues, pinks and yellows she used in her paintings evoked peace and calm which fed her soul while caring for Jimmy. Many of her paintings have been used as the cover of our books and in our calendars.

Family meant absolutely everything to Pegi. Everyone who knew Pegi knew how much her son, daughter-in-law and precious granddaughter meant to her. She was so proud of all of them! She adored her sisters and niece and was so grateful to see her mother live to 104 years!

Pegi loved her friends, too, and was a support to many, many people. Online Pegi was everyone’s cheerleader. If you ever had a conversation with Pegi you couldn’t help but laugh with her! She had a silly sense of humor and she loved to share in the delight of the antics of her friends’ loved ones and grandchildren.

The world seemed a little dimmer until the other night when the sky was lit up with pink and blue hues. It was full of Pegi’s favorite colors and I knew that she would never be that far away.

All of us are grateful Pegi was in our lives and our hearts go out to her loving, beautiful family.

With all our love and deepest sympathy,

Trish, Richard, Gincy, Kathy

Making the Decision to Place a Loved One in a Facility

Making the decision to place a loved one in a facility is not easy. It comes with a lot of hand-wringing, guilt and self-doubt. (I know, I’ve done it.)

Actually finding a place is another challenge but that will be a whole other article.

Author and her brother at his facility

There are several factors that can play into the decision to move a loved one from their home or yours into a Skilled Nursing, Assisted Living or Residential Care Facility.

Your loved one’s declining health. Your loved one may be declining to the point where it is necessary to bring in outside help. This is not always a solution (especially when round the clock care is needed) so placing a loved one in a facility could provide your loved one with people who can keep them safe and clean 24/7. Mobility is of particular concern: per the National Council on Aging, “falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults.”

Your own health. Yes, your own health is a major factor to consider when making the major decision to place your loved one in a facility. Approximately 30% of caregivers die before the ones they care for. Read that sentence again. Caregiving is brutal on the caregiver’s mental and physical health. Your own health is as much of a priority as your loved one’s.

Mental fatigue. We have all had bad days. We get cranky, we are tired and even feel depressed. When those bad days turn into several days, weeks and months of crankiness, depression and feeling like there is no way out, that is an indication that you and your loved one may be better off in a different situation. Respite can help but a long-term solution may be the answer. (Also, be sure to see your own doctor about these ongoing signs of depression.)

Life changes. So often, as caregivers, we do not have the time or the emotional bandwidth to take on anything else. Many caregivers give up their careers to become full-time caregivers. The impact (on women particularly) of lost wages, retirement funds and benefits is huge (per Family Caregiver Alliance, “lost wages for women who leave the work force early because of caregiving responsibilities totals $142,693.”) Aside from trying to work and take on caregiving responsibilities, life changes happen! Wanting to spend time with a new grandchild, travel in your retirement or follow a life-long dream are legitimate factors to consider when making the decision to place a loved one in a facility.

Making the decision to place a loved one in a facility is one of the hardest caregiving decisions to make. Remember, no matter where your loved one lives you are still their caregiver. Others may be doing the day in and day out physical work but you can make sure they are getting quality care, are safe and living the best life they can.

This may not fit with our initial vision for caregiving but caregivers are nothing if not flexible! Make the decision that works best for your loved one, AND you and your family.

Connecting with Other Caregivers

One of the most fulfilling parts of our year is connecting with other caregivers at the Epilepsy Awareness Day Epilepsy Awareness & Education Expo. We spent two days listening to caregivers tell us of not only their struggles and challenges but sharing with us the love they have for the one they are caring for and also of their appreciation for an event like this.

We were grateful to be able to give a copy of our book, 365 Caregiving Tips: Caring for Yourself which had been generously donated by NorthShore Care Supply. It is not an overstatement to say many of the people receiving this book assume caring for themselves is an impossible feat. The tears in their eyes told us they needed someone to tell them it was okay to take five or ten minutes for themselves.

Caregiving challenges are universal so connecting with others is a must when caregiving. Finding online support groups, listening to caregiving related podcasts or going to conferences and expos can be a lifesaver for caregivers. It’s important to not only share tips and tricks with one another but also just knowing we are not alone is a huge relief.

Please connect with us on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook. We want you to know you are not alone.

Also, please check out NorthShore Care Supply for your incontinent supplies.

We hope to see you next year at the 12th Annual Epilepsy Awareness & Education Expo!

Who are the people behind the website?

We are a varied group: authors, speakers, teachers, artists (okay, just one: Pegi), humanitarians and caregivers (either past or present). We even have a couple of “MacGyvers” in the group (Kathy and Richard – talking about you!).

We are also practical. We know how to save a couple of bucks and be efficient and we want to help other caregivers by sharing practical tips.

The five of us co-author books that are a quick and easy read and will help you through your caregiving challenges. Please find our books in the store – they are available in print or ebook and two have been translated to Spanish.

Above all, we are friends and are here to help you.

This is a little bit about each of us on the Meet the Authors page. If you have any questions for us, please reach out and we will be happy to answer them!