Tell Us: What’s the Biggest Change to Your Family?

Caregiving changes it all. You’ve seen your caree change before your eyes. Some days, you’ve seemed so different you can hardly recognize yourself in the mirror. And, then there’s the family unit. Perhaps caregiving has changed your family unit into just you—everyone else has scattered. Or, perhaps caregiving has silenced your once talkative family. Or, perhaps caregiving has caused a tear,...

Before

Ahhh, you might think, life was perfect Before caregiving. Before, you may think, I had so much time, so many options, so many friends, so much fun with my caree. I had so much. Before, most likely, was much better. Because, Before, everyone in the family was healthy. Remember Before with kindness. And, then let Before go. Before can be a toxic drug, tainting any possibility of perfect moments Now. Be grateful for...

A Mixture of Joys and Sorrows

Life really is a mixture of joys and sorrows. I revel in the fact that the beautiful sunshine returned today after several days of fog and rain. What a gift! I love the fact that much of our snow has disappeared the last few days because of our warmer temperatures. It is a promise of spring after our long winter. It is a hope that my husband will be able to and want to sit out on our new deck this summer. Yet...

Meet Miss R

Today, on Table Talk, Miss R joined us for 30-minutes of insights and reflections. (You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of this post.) One topic we discussed was particularly heart-felt. Miss R candidly spoke about her current worry: Will today be the day she enters her grandmother’s room and finds that her grandmother has passed? Miss R works on the worry; she’s reading and...

The Hands of Time

hands that scraped an apple, and mashed a banana, for me to eat when I was sick in bed hands that brought me that treasured round tin full of wonderful and magical buttons hands that brought me a glass of grape or apple juice hands that cleaned up after me each time I was sick (special mention to the bare feet that walked in it sometimes too!) hands that selected my new Easter clothes hands that helped me on and...

What’s Up With Me….

It has been a what’s up with me kind of week.  I have new blogs I want to write, titles already in place, but just can’t get my thoughts in order to finish them.  Wanting a bedroom and bed is weighing on me this week too. Spring is coming one of my favorite seasons, but along with it comes another dimension of loneliness and sadness.  Where the multitudes are  enjoying the warmer temps, bar-b-cues...

Changing Careers

Today was a lot like most days. But it was also a bit different. Chad changed careers, so to speak. After picking our youngest daughter up from preschool, Chad and I ventured to his office. He cleaned out his cubicle and turned in his ID badge. We had been discussing it for a while, and he decided he had put it off long enough. A few friends helped him box up everything from his career in civil engineering. Those...

If You Support Health Reform, Tell Congress Now

If you support health reform, please note the following request for a call to action from National Alliance for Caregiving: The next two weeks are critical for health reform efforts in Congress. The need to support the nation’s 66 million family caregivers and sustain them as the backbone of our chronic and long-term care system is a central issue in the congressional efforts to reform healthcare. Lawmakers need...

What happens when WE are sick?

So, I’m sick again. I’m sure it is due to the stress of caregiving and the news we just received from the doctor, as well as the everyday routine I have for myself. I’m never outside, I am not eating well, I haven’t been working out, and all I can think about these days is death. None of these things are conducive to a healthy life. I was sick with H1N1 in November, was sick three weeks in...

Quick Tip: Have a Bag Ready for Hospitalization

A family caregiver shared this tip with me several years ago; it’s so good I never forgot it. The family caregiver kept a bag packed with toiletries and change of clothes ready to go in case her caree was suddenly hospitalized. This way, she arrived at the hospital with her bag, ready to stay as long as needed. She could, if necessary, easily settle in to her caree’s hospital room to ensure proper...

Why Can’t Hospitals Do Better?

I moderated a teleclass for family caregivers this afternoon. One of the attendees who cares for her husband expressed frustration about incidences that occurred during her husband’s recent hospitalization. “They called me at 10 p.m. Monday night,” the family caregiver said, “to tell me he was agitated and I needed to hire a caregiver to sit with him. Who in the world could I find at 10 at...

Family Caregivers of Veterans Needed for New Study

The National Alliance for Caregiving is seeking family caregivers of Veterans for a new study. This study will provide an opportunity for caregivers of Veterans to be heard and improve services for caregivers and Veterans now and in the future. If you are a family caregiver of a Veteran or know of one, and wish to take part in this study, please sign up at: www.gwsurvey.com/caregiversofveterans.html The National...

March Challenge: What Are You Saving For?

What are you saving for? On Friday’s episode of Your Caregiving Journey, Ellen Rogin, our wealthness expert, encouraged us to take steps today to plan for our tomorrow. (You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of the post.) Our discussion focused on saving for a dream or a vision. Perhaps it’s a small business. Your own home. A European vacation. Saving involves a financial plan but also...

Who We Are

Hello, everyone… I stumbled upon Denise’s website a month or so ago on a day that I was feeling very alone and that the weight of the world was on my shoulders. I was amazed at the resources available, and listened to several of the podcasts. It was so good to hear from others that were feeling the same way and had great advice and tips to make this caregiving journey easier. I emailed Denise a few...

Thankful for Diffficult “Gifts”

It is two weeks ago today that we moved into our new home. I really do love it. I love seeing the sun streaming into the living room windows in the early morning. I love the fact that my husband’s wheelchair is not blocking traffic areas nearly as badly as it did when we lived in our apartment. I am glad that my husband seems to like our new home also. Even in our new home, however, caregiving issues continue...

What Do You Suggest? Her Mom Can’t Swallow Her Food

(Editor’s Note: A visitor just sent us a request for your suggestions. Feel free to share your thoughts and ideas in our comments section. Her note to us follows.) My mother-in-law has entered a stage where she won’t swallow her food. Usually she eats well in the mornings but by lunch and supper she can’t swallow no matter what food we offer. Does anyone have any suggestions? Wondering how long...

Reliefing Caregivers

On today’s episode of Your Caregiving Journey, we met Michael Lindenmayer, founding partner and chairman, Caregiver Relief Fund, a social venture launched last year to help family caregivers. (You can listen to our interview at the bottom of this post.) The premise is simple: Provide relief so family caregivers have time and rest. The relief comes in the form of vouchers redeemed for in-home care provided by a...

Silent Talking

My husband recently said to me, “Do you know what you don’t do when you are taking care of mother?”  I said, “What’s that?” He said, “You don’t talk to mother very much, and I always talk to her.”  I said, “I know that but realize that you have always been a talker, my family did not talk to each other, and mother and I did not talk to each other.” Unfortunately some of us grew up that...

Keeping Organized in the Game of Insurance

On Monday, Sheri Samotin of LifeBridge Solutions joined us for our weekly chat. Our show was a follow-up to our must-listen January show on managing insurance and Medicare claims that are denied. (You can listen to Monday’s show via the player at the bottom of this post.) Sheri shared tips on to stay organized with insurance bills and claims: 1. Use a three-ring binder; organize by provider and then by...

Kym Saw Me – I Am Not Invisible

I recently wrote a blog titled ‘Invisible People’, it was written as a result of an ‘experiment’ I did on facebook. One of my facebook friends, Kym, who is also a dear friend from my church, posted on Feb.22 that there were free pancakes being given away at a ihop the next day, and who wanted to go with.  As I wrote in the blog ‘Invisible People’ I said I did, but I couldn’t because my husband was...

“Either…Or” Can Become “And”

In caregiving, the world can seem to consist of “either…or.” The world, then, might become these thoughts: Either I put my needs second or my caree doesn’t have his needs met. Either I stay with my caree constantly or bad things will happen. Either I put my life on hold or my caree will not have what he needs when he needs it. Thinking these statements is much different than reading them. When you...

Videos Offer Tips to Successfully Transition to Home from Hospital

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Ask Medicare initiative has developed two new videos to help you successfully manage your caree’s transition from the hospital to home setting. The videos present practical and easy-to-follow tips. The first video, Tips for Making a Hospital to Home Transition, provides insights and expert guidance on important issues caregivers need to plan for, and...