Frustrated and Hangin’ On

A few weeks ago, I accomplished something I never hoped to. Especially at the age of 30. I completed Chad’s Social Security paperwork. (Insert audience applause and cue “Eye of the Tiger”) Not only is it complete, but I actually submitted it, folks! I had to print eleven copies of medical release forms — because the SSA (Social Security Administration) wants to send them to each doctor, clinic or hospital...

Leaving and Leaving Behind the Guilt

Today on Your Caregiving Journey, Bette Scott, one of our Caregiver of the Year award winners, joined us for a discussion about caring for her mom while raising three children. (You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of the post.) During our discussion, Bette shared two goals she has for 2010: 1. Leaving the house to enjoy time with her husband and her children without taking along the guilt of...

Claiming Insurance

Yesterday, on Your Caregiving Journey, Sheri Samotin of LifeBridge Solutions joined us to share her insights about insurance and Medicare claims, specifically, why denials happen and what you can. If you didn’t have a chance to listen to our live show, please take the time to listen via the player below (or download and listen later). Sheri’s insights and tips are really helpful. Resources Medical...

A Hello And A Bit of My Caregiving Story

I am so glad to be a new addition to the Caregiving.com team. I thought it might make sense to write an introduction as my first posting, so here it is! I am in my late twenties and sort of happened into a caregiving role for my 87-year-old grandmother. My father was the primary caregiver for the last few years before her health declined due to strokes and hip injuries. However, last year I received the fateful...

Joy and Thankfulness

On Thursday nights my husband, Wayne, and I usually go to our son’s family home for supper and the evening. Last night the granddaughters 7 and 6 years old got a make shift bowling game going with plastic glasses as pins and a plastic ball. We were able to get my husband involved “bowling” from his wheelchair. He was having a great time and even laughing. It was so good to see, as I have been...

What’s In Your Closet? Contest

Today, we shared how to organize and stock a caregiving closet. Now, we’d love to see the closet you create. More importantly, we’d love other family caregivers to see your closet. Even better: We’ve got prizes for the creator of our favorite closet. To enter our contest, take a video tour of your closet and share it on our YouTube channel. (If you have problems, send Denise an email.) Or, simply...

Stocking Your Caregiving Closet

Today on Your Caregiving Journey, Becky Lowry, training director, and Nancy Hanley, RN, team manager, from MyHealthCareManager, shared tips on how to create a caregiving closet. (You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of the post.) The purpose of your caregiving closet is to organize personal care items that you use daily, regularly and/or may need at some point in the future. If you and you caree...

This Week’s Poll: What Would You Like the Doctor to Ask You?

In a recent New York Times article, the author and physician shared a story of a recent interaction between herself and a family caregiver to his father. At the end of the caree’s appointment, the physician noticed how worn the family caregiver looked. You’re tired, she said. His eyes filled with tears. You’re the first doctor who’s asked if I’m tired, the family caregiver...

Dancing Away from the Drama

Today, on Your Caregiving Journey, we had our monthly book club discussion. Our January pick was “How to Communicate with Alzheimer’s: A Practical Guide & Workbook for Families” by Susan Kohler MS, CCC-SLP. Susan joined our discussion. (You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of the post.) During out discussion, Susan and I talked about the importance of objective communication with a...

President Obama Proposes $102 Million Caregiver Initiative

Today, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden proposed several policy initiatives to help middle class families. The proposal includes a $102.5 million Caregiver Initiative; here are the details: The Initiative adds $52.5 million in funding to Department of Health and Human Services caregiver support programs that provide temporary respite care, counseling, training, and referrals to critical...

Rebound

Image by Getty Images via Daylife In basketball, when someone takes a shot and misses, a teammate grabs the rebound in order to take another shot. The team trains to perfect rebounding as much as it does shooting—knowing every shot won’t net a score. Who grabs your rebounds? You can’t make every shot, i.e., solve every problem, meet every caregiving need and handle every situation. You need rebounders....

Free Audio Conference for ALS Patients and their Family Caregivers

On February 11 at 5 p.m. ET, the American Academy of Neurology and the ALS Association will host a free audio conference for ALS patients and their family caregivers. During the conference, experts will present the Academy’s new guidelines on the most effective treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The audio conference will emphasize the many ways people with can enjoy greater quality of life,...

Meet our Caregiver of the Year Winners

An Annual Event Honoring our Nation’s Family Caregivers Sponsored by Caregiving.com Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go; it is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow. ~ Alice Mackenzie Swaim Our annual Caregiver of the Year contest honors the enormous impact of family caregivers in our families and our communities. Launched in 1995, the annual contest puts the spotlight on the...

Making New Rules for Life

We had short show today covering an important topic: Who (or what) rules you? (You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of the post.) For me, I have two rules that seem to dictate my day: I am a good daughter if (I attend all family functions, do exactly as my parents say, put my parents’ priorities for me first). I have to work hard to get people to love me. Now, when these rules are...

Caregiver of the Year Award Winner: Paul Broussard, Youngsville, La.

Care recipient: Stephanie, 48, who has multiple sclerosis and spina bifida OC Nominated by: Himself (Read nominating letter.) In his words: When I feel stressed, I: Call for my grandson to come visit as it relaxes my wife and I. My current challenge is: Caring for my wife; lifting her is hard on my back. When I have an extra five minutes, I: Look on the Internet for music. My mantra is: Change your thoughts and...

NO Pit So Deep

Last night we watched the DVD “The Hiding Place.” It is about a Christian family in Holland who hid Jews in their home during Nazi occupation in World War II. They were eventually found out and captured. The father died about 10 days after capture, but the two sisters, Betsy and Corrie Ten Boom, were sent to a concentration camp. In the horrors of concentration camp Betsy and Corrie came to the conclusion...

January 23

Mum is in the hospital again! Yesterday at around 4 a.m. she started to vomit a black liquid. The caregiver Dona Vilma rushed her to the emergency where she was medicated to stop the vomiting. There was a certain amount of difficulty finding a hospital to put her in as they were all full. (There is a dengue fever epidemic going on). But Dona Vilma was very efficient and found a hospital near where we live that has...

Ending the Happiness Conflict

Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo, our happiness expert and author of “A Happy You: Your Ultimate Prescription for Happiness,” joined us today on Your Caregiving Journey. (You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of this post.) She helped us find the answer to this tough question: Can I be happy if my caree isn’t? The answer? Yes! Here’s why: Your happiness helps your stress level remain manageable. The...

Caregiver of the Year Award Winner: Mabel Romick, San Francisco Bay Area

Care recipient: Mabel’s husband, Ken, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. Ken is 83-years-old. Nominated by: Deborah Schultz, Mabel’s daughter (Read the nominating letter.) In her words: When I’m stressed I: Take a walk. If (Ken) wants to come I take him. He usually doesn’t and right now he is all right being left alone. He does not wander and I have made the house safe for him. If...

Friday Fun: Give Us the Guffaws

It’s Friday, so let’s share some funnies. What’s a humorous experience that’s happened to you in your caregiving role? It could be something that happened years ago or just yesterday, as long as today it makes you giggle. We’ll giggle with you. Please share in our comments section. And, we’ll give away a $25 Visa gift card to someone who shares a funny. (Reminder: What’s bugging you? At 3:00 p.m....

Caregiver of the Year Award Winner: Bette Scott, Lewisburg, Pa.

Care recipient: Bette’s mom, Margaret, who suffered a stroke in 2002. Margaret is 84-years-old Nominated by: Bette, who nominated her family (Read the nominating letter.) In her words: When I feel stressed: I take a deep breath, sometimes walk into the other room for a minute. Sometimes I focus on my yellow lab, who is always next to me. Eli somehow knows when I am doing a task that is uncomfortable for a...

New Website Provides Information on Home Safety for Dementia Care

ThisCaringHome.org, developed by experts at Weill Cornell Medical College over a four-year period, shares ways to keep your caree with dementia safe at home. You’ll find videos, animations, photographs and expert reviews of home furnishings, smart technology and home care products. The site’s Home Safety-Virtual Care Section allows visitors to explore research-based solutions to home safety and daily...