Dealing with Disease Progression

Chad’s health is declining rather quickly. He has had two falls in three days and has lost all mobility in his right arm and hand. His right leg drags when he walks and he has an increasingly hard time focusing on conversations. He has a difficult time with words; and he struggles to find the right ones to get his point across. Which frustrates him and makes him say hurtful things. And that frustrates me....

Coherent

“To have clarity or intelligibility…understandable”   Coherent. This morning when I went in to get mom ready for the morning, she was motioning at me and so I moved closer, turning.  She fussed with the hem of my shirt which must have been “not perfect” according to her way of seeing things.  I looked at her and chuckled and said thank you and continued on about the business at...

How Will You Play Today?

Image by jcolman via Flickr Today’s the last day we breaking for summer! So, we’re ending on a fun note. Today’s question is: How will you play today? 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. Play, then share in...

The ABCs of EOBs

Yesterday, on Your Caregiving Journey, Sheri Samotin, LifeBrideSolutions and AttackMedicalBills.com, demystified those Explanation of Benefits from insurance companies. (You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of the post.) During ourdiscussion, Sheri walked us through an EOB, telling us to check the following information is correct: 1. The name of patient. 2. The date of service. 3. The...

What Activity Will You Enjoy with Your Caree?

We’re breaking for summer! We’re taking time this week to reflect and to enjoy some down time. We’re also posing daily questions which prod reflection or action. Today’s question is: What activity will you enjoy with your caree? It can seem like all you and your caree often play a game of cat and mouse. Today, though, enjoy a game that allows you both to enjoy, to relax, to be beyond the disease the...

July 29

This month has flown by, I must say. My hand is healing, but the scar hurts a lot and I still can’t lift any weight with it. I suppose it all takes time. I’m driving again, but turning the ignition key, putting in reverse, and pulling up the handbrake hurt a lot. The rest not so much, unless I have to turn the wheel a lot. Thanks for all those who sent prayers my way! Thanks for the comments on my...

Tell Us: What Advice Drives You Nuts?

Several months ago, I was looked at a very tall To Do list that had to be completed within a very short time period. I was going over my list with a few colleagues, who I had asked to help me make sure I had a plan in place to complete what needed to be done. And, for me, my To Do list needed to be completed. After walking through my list and my goals, my well-meaning colleagues said: When are you taking care of...

What Needs Your Water?

We’re breaking for summer! We’re taking time this week to reflect and to enjoy some down time. We’re also posing daily questions which prod reflection or action. Today’s question is: What needs your attention (your water, so to speak)? Caregiving will make you wish for a clone. Without the help of a clone, something or someone slips from your radar. Today, water what needs your attention: A...

Dispelling the Lie We Tell Ourselves

Today, we aired our second part of our two-part book club discussion. Today, Whitney Sheppard joined me to discuss her essay, “Do You Have Any Brothers or Sisters?,” which appears in our July book club pick, “Voices of Caregiving, The Healing Companion, Stories for Courage, Comfort and Strength.” You can listen to our discussion via the player, below. In her essay and on our show, Whitney...

Writing from the Train

I only have 2 more stops to get my note in here so it will be VERY quick – especially for me Things are dire in my household. Mom is squarely on hospice, as is my dad. Mom just woke up from a 5 day encephalopathic coma; we decided to treat at home this time BECAUSE she is on hospice. I’m on my way home from work – I’ve not actually seen her yet. She is talking, walking and eating, so...

What Will You Dive In and Try?

We’re breaking for summer! We’re taking time this week to reflect and to enjoy some down time. We’re also posing daily questions which prod reflection or action. Today’s question is: What will you dive in and try? Today, if you are new to our site, I hope you will dive in to our discussions (we’d love to meet you!). Today, it’s about taking a chance, about diving into discomfort. Talk openly...

Three Voices of Caregiving

Today, on Your Caregiving Journey, we held our monthly book club discussion. In July, we read  “Voices of Caregiving, the Healing Companion: Stories for Courage, Comfort and Strength.” Today, contributors Nancy Hoke, M.C. Winters and Marc Silver talked about their caregiving experiences. You can listen to our hour-long show via the player at the bottom of the post. Each told a different story of caregiving;...

How Will You Jump into a New or Better or Different Way?

We’re breaking for summer! We’re taking time this week to reflect and to enjoy some down time. We’re also posing daily questions which prod reflection or action. Today’s question is: How will you jump into a new or better or different way? Thinking you should try a new service? Find a better way? Choose a different perspective? Today’s the day to do it! Jump in, get your feet wet, swim a...

How Strong Is Your Support System?

In this week’s poll, sponsored by Caregiving.com and eCareDiary.com, we wonder: How strong is your support system? How Strong Is Your Caregiver Support System?online...

The Importance (or Not) of Feeling in Control

Lately I’ve been contemplating about how little control I have had. We have moved several times in order that my husband has not had to make a career change.  In those moves I have had to move from friends (of 25 years) and a school that the kids attended that was very special to me–I student taught and taught there as well. And then on to caregiving.  There are days that I feel that because of my...

Fundraiser to Help Family Caregivers to Take Place Wednesday in Chicago

Join me Wednesday evening from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Sunrise Assisted Living of Lincoln Park (2710 N. Clark) in Chicago to learn more about the Caregiver Relief Fund, a social venture committed to caring for caregivers. Over appetizers and wine, we’ll learn how the Caregiver Relief Fund is working to build strong families and help America face one of its single largest challenges: the aging of America...

Break With Us on Your Journey

This morning, Donna Ryan joined us for a summer break discussion on Your Caregiving Journey. You can listen to our discussion via the player at the bottom of the post. Donna talked about the thoughts behind a recent decision to get more help in caring for her mom. She spoke honestly about the difficulty in asking for help while still understanding why more help will help. As a bonus, she also shared a recipe and a...

Inheritance

We think of inheritance as a sum of money given after death. Inheritance is bigger, and more important, than that. Every day, we have an opportunity to be on the giving and receiving side of an inheritance. We receive an inheritance when we take time to listen to another’s story. And, we really listen when park our story on the curb, which allows us to to focus on the story another tells us. When we listen...

How Will You Make a Splash Today?

We’re breaking for summer! Today’s question is: How will you make a splash today? You might make a splash by saying, “To heck with chores! It’s all about R&R today.” Or, by choosing to wear your tie-dyed t-shirt and flip flops. Or, by contacting everyone who has made a difference in your life and saying, “Thank you.” Make your splash. Then, tell us about it in our comments...

Trying to Be So Many Things..

Hi Denise and Everybody, I apologize for not having been able to update sooner, with a billion busy things that’ve been going on this late spring and summer.  I hope today is a little bit better of a “today” for everybody, care givers and care experiencers alike, compared with everybody’s “yesterday.”  May and June flew by, as I finished up what I needed to do for my second...

We Break for Summer! Starts Today

It’s July so that means it’s time for We Break for Summer!. We’ll celebrate summer while encouraging you to take a break (even a short five-minute one) daily to do something just for you or about you. Our special week begins today and ends July 31. We’re also making a celebration a chance for you to win, with contests taking place on our Facebook fan page, on Twitter, on Your Caregiving Journey...

What Will You Dip Into Today?

We’re breaking for summer! Today’s question is: What activity/interest will you take a dip in today? Perhaps you haven’t picked up your camera (and you love photography) in months. Maybe the knitting needles, which used to be such a comforting companion, stay silent. Or, that book you really wanted to read remains unopened. Perhaps your journal has too many empty pages. Today, take a dip into an...