I’m a Caregiver, Not a Medical Professional

Does your husband have memory problems? Is your husband depressed? Does your husband have sleep apnea? These are some of the questions I’ve been asked repeatedly for the last seven years. In each case, my answer was, “No.” I’m not a medical professional.  If you ...

Things I Have Learned While Cleaning Out Mom’s House

Editor’s note: This was originally a Facebook post by my friend, Lisa Williamson Long. Her mother recently passed away and as usually happens after the loss of a loved one, she has been going through belongings.  Lisa’s sister, Kerry, was my best friend...

Growing Friendships is Still Important When Caregiving

  Once we get out of school, it becomes much harder to make friends. We’re so busy with work, family, caregiving, volunteering, and many other activities. Taking the time to get to know someone seems impossible. Then you meet someone who with whom you have things...

Tips for the Working Caregiver: What the Manager Wants

  As someone who is both a working caregiver and the manager of several employees who are or have been caregivers, my perspective on the challenges facing working caregivers is unique.  I have provided tips on what the employee can do as well as what the employer...

Building a Support Network for Your Aging Loved Ones

   Caregiving is a job best done when people are proactive in their planning. It involves time, patience, and good communication among the participants. If these elements are in place the odds of success are greater. How to Be Proactive Nobody likes to talk about...

Cut Yourself Some Slack!

Everyone is busy these days. We work, are parents, spouses, siblings, adult children, friends, pet parents, and volunteers. And then one day, we also become a caregiver.   Like parenting, there is no training for this. We are not raised with the expectation that one...