Where Are the Robots We Were Promised?

Where are the robots we were told would help simplify our lives? Ready or not, they are here. From the living room, to the operating table, to more human-like prototypes, robotic technologies are advancing at a rapid pace and increasingly becoming a part of everyday life. What about robots to help with eldercare? Given the caregiver shortage and the growing number of people who need care, surely there could be a...

Hidden Beauty

I had pulled up to a stop sign, not too far from our house, and happened to look under the overpass… seeing a group of beautiful purple flowers.  Had I not stopped and looked in that direction, I would have never seen them. As I continued to drive home, I began comparing caregivers to the flowers.  A majority of the time, what caregivers do, is not seen, unless someone makes an extra effort to stop and...

Recovering from SSS and Facing Our Fears

This morning on Your Caregiving Journey, Anna Stookey joined us to talk about Self-Sufficiency Syndrome (SSS), “an inability and unwillingness to ask for help or delegate because of the belief that no one can do it as well as you can.” You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of the post. We spoke about the reasons why we may suffer from SSS, including: 1. We become the source of knowledge...

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 We Break from Me! journal from our We Break for Me store plus an autographed copy of Denise’s...

Lessons Learned in Spring

I always thought that I liked autumn the best of all the four seasons. This year, however, I am really enjoying spring. Our neighbor to the right of us have three fruit trees in their yard that have beautiful pink blossoms on them. We also have a smaller fruit tree on our yard. People across the street also have a fruit tree with beautiful white blossoms on it. There is beauty all around me this spring. I am...

Tell Us: What Makes You Crabby?

It could be something little but its impact on you is day-long: It makes you crabby. Perhaps it’s one caregiving task you must do, but doing it makes you crabby. Or, it could be an interaction with just one person who just makes you crabby. Or, it could be the thought of a situation or relationship that does it: It makes you crabby. So, today, in Tell Us, where you tell us what might be tough to tell another,...

Call for Research Participants: Family Caregivers of Persons with Dementia

Brown Medical School and Rhode Island Hospital are looking for 264 family caregivers of persons with dementia to participate in a study funded by National Institute of Nursing Research. The study will: Determine if a telephone intervention can reduce caregiver burden and depression; Examine whether reducing caregiver burden improves depression and treatment outcome; Identify personal characteristics or...

Intimacy in a Caregiving Marriage

Janet Cromer, author of “Professor Cromer Learns to Read: A Couples New Life after Brain Injury” joined us this afternoon on Your Caregiving Journey. Janet shared tips on how to keep intimacy in a marriage where a spouse needs care. You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of the post. Janet shared great tips and insights including: 1. Be open to a new intimacy, including when and how. 2. When...

When… Did You Know It Was Time to Quit Your Job?

(Editor’s Note: Today, we launch a new feature called “When.” Every Wednesday, we’ll talk about a “when” of caregiving. Our goal will be to create a go-to directory that guides you when you face a “when.”) This week, our poll takes your temperature as it relates to caregiving and your career. So, our “When…” question relates to that topic: When did...

May 19

Yesterday we took mum to the geriatrician and her lungs are fine. The bronchitis has disappeared and along with it the possibility of pneumonia. Mum has been groaning a lot, and I asked the doctor about it. She said that it is a behavioral symptom of Parkinson Dementia. It goes along with the hand movements that mum already has. She folds and folds the hem of her dresses or any cloth that is around. The doctor...

This Week’s Poll: How Does Caregiving Impact Your Work?

Today, we’re taking the temperature of working family caregivers. In this week’s poll,  sponsored by Caregiving.com and eCareDiary.com, we’d love to know: How does caregiving impact your work? Please take a moment to vote in our poll. If you indicate “Other,” please be sure to write in your answer. And, please feel free to share any comments about caregiving and your job. Thanks for...

Movie Monday: What Are You Watching?

For years, family members and friends would ask me: “Why don’t you get a DVD player? You know, there are really cheap now.” Well, they can question me no more! I have finally cut loose with the $19.99 and purchased a DVD player. And, now I ask myself: “Why did I wait so long?” Life with a DVD player is, well, wonderful. It’s also making me wonder: What’s everyone else...

Flower

Before caregiving, perhaps you felt like a flower in bloom. Then, with caregiving, one by one, a petal gets plucked. The sadness takes one, the frustration takes another, the worry takes another, the guilt takes two. Now, you feel like a flower with just a few petals, like a flower that’s barely survived a horrible storm. How do you become full again? Fullness comes from new growth. You can grow new petals...

How Long Did It Take You?

Hey Everybody.  Hoping everyone, who celebrated Mom’s Day if applicable, had as nice a one as possible for you.  I’m kicking back after having seen the one and only legendary Diana Ross in Boston last night — what a class act!  It was my “gift” to myself after my first academic year back in school, kind of the symbolic start of my summer..  Speaking of, these increasingly warm days...

Maintaining…

Have you ever felt like things would remain “stable” in your house, if you stood ready in the center of the room…or have you ever felt like you wish you might be able to stay in the shower for an unlimited amount of time–hiding out there. (:  I so enjoyed “We Break for Spring” and am excited to try and maintain a more positive, willing to adjust and learn, perspective. However,...

If… You Could Send an Email to a CEO, Who Would It Be?

A blogger for Gawker saw an ad for iPad, became irritated by a claim made by Apple during the ad, so sent Steve Jobs an email (Jobs, apparently, has a quite-public email address). The blogger, Ryan Tate, then received a reply from Jobs. An email debate was born. You can read Tate’s story behind the debate here. The debate made me wonder: If you could email any big wig CEO in the world with a complaint, who...

Springing You!

Today, on Your Caregiving Journey, we presented our special webinar, Spring Me! I’m Tired of Feeling Like Crap. We offered this webinar as part of our special celebration We Break for Spring!. During the 45-minute webinar, we share five tools you can use to help you feel less crappy (and crabby). Have paper and pen handy as you’ll participate in a few written exercises. You can follow along with the...

A SOS for SSS Sufferers

Jeana Lee Tahnk wrote in her Huffington Post blog this week about Self-Sufficiency Syndrome, “an inability and unwillingness to ask for help or delegate because of the belief that no one can do it as well as you can.” It seems Self-Sufficiency Syndrome (SSS) starts off innocently enough. We do, and do it alone, because we net compliments, career advancement and others’ admiration. In other...

Longest Seizure to Date, Hospital Stay & Now Home!

Chad, Cailyn (my youngest daughter) & I were exhausted Tuesday afternoon. I laid down with Cailyn and fell asleep. I remember Chad getting up around 4:15, which is usual. Carys’ bus drops her off anywhere between 4:30 and 5pm, so he takes a stroll down our street until the bus decided to show up. I glanced at the clock and scolded myself for falling asleep when I had so much to do. But then close my eyes...

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 We Break from Me! journal from our We Break for Me store to one person who...

A Different Kind of iPod

Every once in awhile I see a quote that is too good to not share. Here’s one I read yesterday: “Is it a good idea to throw people into a storage container and put them in your back yard?” said Fairfax County Supervisor Jeff C. McKay (D-Lee). “This is the granny pod. What’s next? The college dropout pod?” Mr. McKay shared his thoughts in a recent Washington Post article about a...

Meal Planning & Caregiving

Just say “NO.” -Nancy Reagan That’s all I wanted to say, was “NO.” When it comes to household chores and activities I’m not your typical male. I can cook, clean, do above average general home repairs (I finished my own basement), laundry, grocery shopping, paying bills and I’ve even been known to bake once in a blue moon. I can look forward to many things each and every day. What I didn’t look...