On the Road Again

Hey everyone, everything is going the same. We had to make a drive to one of Dad’s appointments. It was to his nephrologist. We had to take him off alot of his pills because of the failure of his kidneys.  We r just trying to save some time to hold off dialysis. He also has pneumonia and feels terrible. I am trying to make sure he and mom are okay. Then yesterday I had to run to Wichita to go to the doctor...

Little Upset with Myself…

I have been spending the last two weeks trying to get Nicole’s third and final PH medicine authorized and shipped to me before she runs out. I accomplished this today. I am very upset and disappointed with the doctor’s office for taking so long in doing this and just the way they handled it. I was on the phone today for a total of an hour with the specialty pharmacy with the majority of that time...

Christmas Has Arrived (And It’s Very Bright)!

Things have been hectic here lately but I wanted to share a picture of what we were up to on Sunday (which explains why I was late to the Twitter chat). Robert was at our house the weekend before Thanksgiving and had his neuropsych tests on the Monday before Thanksgiving (which lasted all day long!). Robert had three seizures that day—morning, lunchtime and after dinner (none in the proximity of the doctor,...

Speaking Off The Cuff and From The Heart

Steve and I had an interesting morning, especially since Steve has a memory impairment. To understand the morning fully, I have to share the history. In October, Steve arranged for a woman from the Alzheimer’s Association to speak at his monthly retiree meeting. He must have really impressed the speaker. He stopped by her office on November 4th when we at the Alzheimer’s Association office to attend a support...

Your Tips: Your House of Worship and Your Caree

This morning, Claire Day, Vice President of Constituent Services for the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter, joined me for our monthly discussion about dementia care. We spoke about how to keep your caree’s spirituality alive—in your house worship and at home. You can listen to our show via the player below. Claire and I shared thoughts about the importance of involving your caree in...

“I Can’t Read”

My mother continues to decline cognitively. Just when I think she is leveling a bit, there are more challenges for her. On Saturday afternoon, she received a Thanksgiving card in the mail. I opened it for her and then had to leave the room for a minute. When I returned, the card was in her lap. “I can’t read,” she said. We talked about the possibility of her not being able to see it, but that...

Tell Us: What Memory Will You Create?

Every-other-Sunday, we meet on Twitter at 8 p.m. ET to talk about a topic related to your caregiving role. Our Twitter chats are a great way to share and connect with other family caregivers while gaining a perspective on your situation. Last night, during our chat, we met to share ways to manage the stress of caregiving and the holiday season. We chatted about holiday traditions and recipes we love, as well as...

Holiday Progressive Blog Party Starts December 4!

It’s a cook-free (and dirty dish-less!) Progressive Party. Throughout the week of December 4, we’ll stop by the blogs of family caregivers, dropping off holiday well-wishes and good cheer. Our party also includes companies that provides services and/or products to help family caregivers. Because no party is complete without presents, we’ve got prizes! We’re giving away a gift a day on Caregiving.com. Just...

Holiday Progressive Blog Party Guidelines

Are you a family caregiver with a blog? Between December 4 and 10, be a host in our Holiday Progressive Blog Party! It’s a cook-free party; instead of dishes, we’re sharing comfort and support. Throughout the week of December 4, we’ll stop by the blogs of family caregivers, dropping off holiday well-wishes and good cheer. On Caregiving.com, we’ll giving away a gift a day. To win, just post a...

Cyber Monday: Save on Coaching and Books

Happy Cyber Monday! We’ve got bargains for you, including: 1. 33% Off Two Coaching Calls with Me Normally, two 30-minute coaching calls costs $150. Today (and today only), you can receive two coaching calls for just $100. Purchase this two-call package today and then schedule your calls at your convenience, including on weeknights and weekends. For instance, you can schedule one call for this week and the...

Why Me?

I hope everyone had a wonderful time with family. My week was nothing but work. I am so tired. I had to take my sister to the hospital on Thanksgiving and that added stress. Then yesterday Dad started passing out over and over. So this morning I finally got him talked in to going to ER because he was no better. Turns out he is on the verge of pneumonia and that is dangerous with COPD. So I have to keep good watch...

Last Call for Your Stories for Our Book

As you know, we launched an initiative called CareGifters in March. Through CareGifters, we fund caregiving solutions, one family caregiver at a time. Each month, we raise $500 to give to a family caregiver; the family caregiver uses the money to fund a solution for one (or more) of their challenges. We raise money for CareGifters through direct donations and through the sales of “I CAN!” wrist bands. Last...

I Was Thinking…

I just read G-J’s post which was so very sweet about her Steve and their meeting and falling in love. It got me thinking how earlier today I was trying to remember how long my in-laws have been married. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary for which we threw them a party but I can’t remember what year it was and I can’t remember how old Nicole was which would give me the year. The years...

Bottling up the Happy Moments

Life can change at any given moment. Mom has been doing so well. Thanksgiving was the best that I have seen her in a long time. She walked with the walker and was able to walk a little on her own. Friday came and she sounded wonderful.  She went to dialysis last night and said she wasn’t in any pain which usually she has cramping after and that we could have our nails done tomorrow as we discussed. This...

23 Years Ago

Twenty-three years ago today, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, I made a decision that I would never have guessed would change my life. I went on a blind date and met the man who is now my husband, Steve. Although it was about three months before our second date, we were engaged less than seven months after that first date. I was thinking of this today, and Steve was, too. We were driving back from a nearby city...

The Visit

As you know if you’ve read Denise’s latest blog entry, she and Bette visited me last Sunday. Now, I don’t get a lot of visitors; in fact, I have not had one since I moved in here in March 2010, except for Mary’s daughters on their brief weekly visits. So I was very excited to have these two, especially, pay me a visit. What I had anticipated as a warm and fun visit turned into something very...

To Kristin’s We Went

I left last Thursday to visit Bette for six days. She had organized two workshops, one for family caregivers and one for professionals who work with family caregivers, for me to present in her community. She also found a recording studio in her town, so on Monday we spent a day in the studio as I recorded comforts from my book, Take Comfort, Reflections of Hope for Caregivers. We took a break from work on Sunday to...

Reason to Give Thanks

It’s been a while since Mom looked or seemed like herself. Lately she has shown signs of fatigue and aging. She’s not the person I remember who was always bubbly and outgoing. Today she was exactly the opposite. Mom could not wait to get out of the home. She was so excited the past few days and when I told her the dietician at dialysis said she could eat whatever she wanted, mom screamed out...

Platitudes on Gratitudes

10 Reasons to Be Thankful for Your Caregiving Role 1. A built-in excuse to cut back on time spent with certain family members over the holidays. What a great way to cut down of these distasteful side dishes of judgments and opinions. Who needs those calories! 2. You’re crabby? Someone even ventures to question your crabbiness? Give them the throwdown: “It’s the caregiving.” And, it’s not even a...

***Time in a Bottle***

Still dancing with the V.A. after a week and still no closer to getting out home health care renewal approved. Sigh. Asked family to make a milk run for us and was successful at that. Had an unexpected and glorious surprise visit from oldest daughter one day. She happily ran an errand for us and a Dr appointment had us in town on another day, so a dash into the store for catfood was able to be made. God’s...

In Six Words, What’s Your Thanksgiving?

I’m on my way home from a visit to see Bette (more on our visit later). As I sit in a quiet corner of busy Philadelphia airport, waiting for my flight to Chicago, I’m surrounded by the holiday season: Decorations, music, well wishes from passengers. And, the holiday spirit lives: As mechanical difficulties delayed my flight to Philadelphia, airport employees provided donuts while we waited for another...

Your Caree Declines, Your Health Care Costs Increase

Yesterday, at the Gerontological Society of America annual conference in Boston, The National Alliance for Caregiving released its most recent study of family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease, Caregiving Costs: Declining Health in the Alzheimer’s Caregiver as Dementia Increases in the Care Recipient. According to the study, a family caregiver’s health decreases over time as their caree’s...