Get Caregiving Deals

Our first issue of our new newsletter, Caregiving Deals, went out this morning. To view the first newsletter, go here: http://bit.ly/caredeals. Every Wednesday, we’ll send Caregiving Deals to subscribers featuring caregiving deals–at least 30% off products or services family caregivers can use on their caregiving journeys. It’s free to use CaregivingDeals.com—both free to subscribe to the...

Mom Has Wheels!

After several years of having to use a step stool to get Mom in and out of our van, and then physically lifting her into the seat, we found and purchased a used wheelchair van. A huge bonus was the power chair that the seller threw in for free after meeting Mom and I. What a difference it is making in our lives! We’ve been to the beach, to doctor appointments, and to visit friends. On Mother’s Day, we...

This Week’s Poll: What Do You Want More Time To Do?

Although we’re still collecting responses for our 2010 Family Caregiver Annual Survey, we already can see trends. It’s clear you sacrifice much, especially your time. So, this week in our poll, we’d love know: What do you wish you had more time for? (Note: If you choose “Other”, please be sure to write in your answer.) What Do You Wish You Had More Time For?Market...

May 11, 2010

My Grandmother passed away a few hours ago. I am sitting at her bedside. After all that happened today, after all the family had gone, phone calls made, and all else was taken care of, the only thing I felt moved to do was to come on here and let you all know. I feel so blessed to be a part of this site. I don’t even know what I’m writing at this point, or what I should be writing, but here I am. We...

Rainy Day Feelings

It is a cold, dreary, rainy day as I look out my window. Somehow that matches my mood today. I am feeling very tired today, and frankly weary of it all. It has been exceptionally busy here the last couple weeks, and this week and next also promises to be very busy. I am also having to send in proper paperwork so we can collect the $8000 first time homeowner tax credit. This is the second time I have had to send...

Tell Us: How Do You Deal with Incontinence?

About 18 years ago (wow!), I helped friends care for an 81-year-old woman named Evie. I can remember managing her incontinence like it was yesterday. Incontinence has a way of staying with you. She wore Depends during the day, which she hated. The dressing-for-the-day ritual included her throwing the Depends against the wall and stating, “I hate that thing.” Getting her to wear the Depends was nothing...

How Long Can a Moment Last?

Did you ever have a moment as a child, where you wished that the moment could last forever? I remember after church on Wednesday nights, we would always go to Red’s Dairy Freeze. I can remember so clearly one Wednesday night, leaning forward from the backseat of  the car, between my parents, and asking, “Don’t you wish this moment could last forever?” It was just my parents and myself, and...

Backstage

Backstage, actors let their hair down after doing their job on the stage. After you complete your tasks and duties, how do you let your hair down backstage? Your backstage may be a corner in a room, your journal, your garden. Wherever it is, use your backstage to just be, whether you be sad, tired, disappointed, relieved or hopeful. Be backstage at some point during your day. It removes the jitters of being on...

Happy Mothers’ Caregivers Day

Hey guyz, wishing everyone not only a Happy Mother’s Day, but a Happy day also for caregivers of moms or maternal loved ones who worked to make everything as right as possible for their moms today, or who couldn’t but were there in spirit. I took my mom out to one of her favorite places today.  It’s a joy to see her feel so happy to be out and see people, enjoy a meal, be alive.  I never thought...

Thank You for Breaking for Spring

We broke for spring last week, but it wasn’t our last break. Bette suggested we break for summer, fall and winter. So, we will. Thanks to all who joined in. I loved reading about you and especially learning about another side of you. I’m always amazed at the talents and gifts you each have. I’m grateful when you share those with us. Julie Camp won our Facebook Fan Page contest; we asked you to...

Let’s Hear It For The Boys…

Hello, everyone! I hope you are having a good Mother’s Day weekend. We are sitting bedside with Gram right now, and–get this–are getting an IV into her today. I’ll write about that ordeal, later. For now, I wanted to share this article I found at The Atlantic. I don’t think this has been posted yet, but please forgive me if it has. It’s on caregiving, and told from a male’s...

Happy Mother’s Day!

I’m not a mother. And, every year, very nice people will wish me a Happy Mother’s Day. It’s very nice people who don’t really know me, like the cashier at Walgreen’s or the waiter at a restaurant or a casual acquaintance. I used to feel great consternation about receiving this greeting. I wondered, Should I explain? Should I defer the wish? If I accept, am I kinda lying, kinda...

Untrapping

Today, on Your Caregiving Journey, Bette, one of our family caregivers who blogs, joined us for a discussion of her spring break. During our discussion, Bette shared two thoughts which previously prevented the enjoyment of breaks: –My mother won’t be able to join us so I don’t think we should go. –Ugh, how am I going to explain her care needs and routine to a back-up. Now, she...

How Will You Play Today?

We end our We Break for Spring celebration as we began: Playing. You can play an instrument, play a board game, play cards, play tag or play a favorite song. Or, maybe you’ll take a playful attitude. You can play for a minute or two hours; it’s not about the time but about the doing. So, how will you play today? Share in our comments section for a chance to win a gift basket created by Bette, one of our...

Leading Your Money

Yesterday on Your Caregiving Journey, Ellen Rogin, our wealthness expert shared ways we can be a leader in our financial life. (You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of this post.) Here’s how: Learn more. What’s the one question you ask about money? Start there—and then learn more. A great resource: www.learnvest.com Earmark savings for your future. An automatic savings plan is...

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! mug from our We Break for Me store to one person who shares. (Reminder:...

Weight Lifting

I posted this on my personal blog this week and thought I would share here as well. Have a great weekend! Did you know I was a weight lifter? I am. Seriously. You can stop snickering now… Yea, yea. I know you’re thinking, “She sure doesn’t look like a weight lifter…” Well. I don’t lift traditional weights. Since August 4, 2001, I have been lifting the marriage weight. And man, is that ever tough...

What Problem Will You Solve Today?

We all have one—that one problem (sometimes small, sometimes large) that we avoid. We see it, we know it’s there, we know it needs our attention. So, instead we watch TV, or call a friend, or read a book, or play Solitaire online. But not today! Today, we solve it. We make the phone call, ask the question, find the receipt, make the decision, have it out, take the high road, begin the dialogue, commit...

What Will You Learn Today?

Today, as part of We Break for Spring!, we commit to learning something new. It could be that you’d like to learn about a new resource or a new option for your caree. Or, you’d like to learn about a new technique that could make caregiving easier for you. Or, perhaps you’d like to take today to learn something new about someone, like your caree or another family member. Or, perhaps you’d...

Almost Time?

Hi everyone. It’s 2 a.m. here, and although I’m tired, I feel the need to do a little bit of writing. I had planned on catching up on everything here on the site, but I’ve been wandering around today, unable to focus or concentrate on much of anything. It’s just too sobering around here to concentrate on anything else but the present circumstance. Gram is still holding on, but it’s...

What Lesson Learned Can You Share Today?

We’ve been busy playing, growing and planting. Today, we take a break to reflect. Caregiving teaches. What have you learned? Have you learned to know that the saying “This too shall pass” says it all? Have you realized life is too short to waste on grudges? Have you gained an insight into your care recipient which helps you better understand yourself? Have you come to understand that everyone is...

Needing Something to Think About…

Several days ago as I was checking out at the grocery store, I watched an older man in front of me.  He was in his 80′s, dressed up with list in hand.  As the bagger put his things in the bags, he carefully watched.  He instructed her as to where to put each item.  I was impressed by the bagger’s and clerk’s patience with him; I could tell they were irritated, but still very patient.  I...