Taking Care of Yourself as You Assume the Role of a Caregiver
According to AARP and the National Caregiver Alliance , the average caregiver is a 49 year old woman caring for a 69 year old relative. In addition to being a caregiver she is married with her own children and is working. The study says the caregiving role lasts an...Taking Care of You Too!
Happy National Family Caregivers Month! The theme for the month this year is “Take Care to Give Care.” Part of taking care of yourself involves feeling good about yourself and your appearance. This can be hard! As caregivers, we may not get out to social gatherings...
Come Into My Room and Sit With Me – a poem by Peggy Raulie
Peggy wrote this poem some years ago when she realized that visitors to loved-ones in various stages of decline did not really know what to talk about with them. Lots of people lose touch with their friends or family when they become ill or infirmed. mostly because...
Plan Ahead Now for the Next Few Months
It’s hard to believe it’s already October. Every month will now bring occasions to plan for and celebrate. Frankly, I just about hyperventilate when I read the posts on Facebook about how many Mondays until Christmas! I really don’t want to hear that! What I want to...
New Hope for Alzheimer’s Patients and LifestyleTips to Protect Your Brain
August was an exciting month in terms of releasing new information on fighting Alzheimer’s disease. ABC news reported on a “new class of medication called gamma-secretase modulators.” This medicine focuses on altering beta amyloid plaque that produces Alzheimer’s...Changing Your Perspective on Caregiving
Have you ever thought that your life is so much worse than everyone else’s or that other people have all the luck? Maybe you’re more the type who thinks “I can’t” whenever faced with a challenge. You may think that life has dealt you a bad hand, but how you play those...6 Things to Avoid When Caring for a Person with Dementia
As we age, various health related issues begin to surface. Diseases related to memory loss are becoming increasingly more common and often develop in older adults. Dementia is a common chronic disease that strikes the older population mostly but is not limited to...Top Tips for the Working Caregiver: Tips for a Successful Leave of Absence
Working caregivers do a lot of juggling with their employment responsibilities and their caregiving responsibilities – not to mention any other responsibilities such as kids, spouse, school or finances! It all becomes a lot to juggle and can be very stressful....7 Tips to Help When Caring For a Loved One With Afib
One of the conditions my father suffered with was atrial fibrillation or AFib. He was on several medications for this condition, as well as having a pacemaker and implanted cardioverter defibrillator, which could be very scary at times. CARING FOR A LOVED ONE WITH...5 Important Things You Need to Know When Caring for a Parent
As your parents age, you may begin to notice changes in their physical or mental capacities. Sometimes these changes are quick when a medical problem occurs. They may occur slowly over the passage of time. If you are geographically distant you may not be aware...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...Coping With the Grief Caused by the Loss of an Aging Parent
It doesn’t matter how old you are when you lose a parent. It is always hard. When you lose a parent regardless of your relationship you will have strong feelings about their death. My father died when I was 60. I still felt like an orphan. Connections to our...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...
Mid-Year Review
We have reached the middle of 2016! It is amazing how fast the year is moving. Did you set goals for the year? Now is a good time to assess them. Have you made progress towards your goals? Do you feel they are still reasonable? Take a each of your goals...4 Huge Risks for Seniors Living Alone
We all know seniors who are determined to continue to live on their own. Many of them are capable and successfully independent. For a variety of reasons, there are still many seniors over the age of 65 who continue to be at risk while living alone. Many don’t...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...Connect With Me
As Seen in O, The Oprah Magazine and excited to be serving my 4th year as a brand ambassador for them.
