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I had a co-worker who suffered a miscarriage when she was 11-weeks pregnant. A second miscarriage happened very early in her next pregnancy. About 18 months after giving birth to a healthy girl, she suffered a third miscarriage at just about 12 weeks. All this happened within a four-year time frame.
When she told me about her third miscarriage, I think I was more upset than she. I’m okay, she told me....
Posted by
Denise on Jan 24th, 2010 in
COTY Winners |
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An Annual Event Honoring our Nation’s Family Caregivers Sponsored by Caregiving.com
Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go; it is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow.
~ Alice Mackenzie Swaim
Our annual Caregiver of the Year contest honors the enormous impact of family caregivers in our families and our communities. Launched in 1995, the annual contest puts the spotlight on the...
Posted by
Denise on Jan 23rd, 2010 in
COTY Winners |
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Care recipient: Stephanie, 48, who has multiple sclerosis and spina bifida OC
Nominated by: Himself (Read nominating letter.)
In his words:
When I feel stressed, I: Call for my grandson to come visit as it relaxes my wife and I.
My current challenge is: Caring for my wife; lifting her is hard on my back.
When I have an extra five minutes, I: Look on the Internet for music.
My mantra is: Change your thoughts and...
Care recipient: Mabel’s husband, Ken, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. Ken is 83-years-old.
Nominated by: Deborah Schultz, Mabel’s daughter (Read the nominating letter.)
In her words:
When I’m stressed I: Take a walk. If (Ken) wants to come I take him. He usually doesn’t and right now he is all right being left alone. He does not wander and I have made the house safe for him. If...
Care recipient: Bette’s mom, Margaret, who suffered a stroke in 2002. Margaret is 84-years-old
Nominated by: Bette, who nominated her family (Read the nominating letter.)
In her words:
When I feel stressed: I take a deep breath, sometimes walk into the other room for a minute. Sometimes I focus on my yellow lab, who is always next to me. Eli somehow knows when I am doing a task that is uncomfortable for a...
Posted by
Denise on Jan 20th, 2010 in
COTY Winners |
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Care recipient: Brooks, Pam’s 18-year-old son who has cancer
Nominated by: Lynda Kerwin, a colleague of Pam’s (Read the nominating letter.)
In her words:
When I feel stressed, I: When I feel stressed I force myself to take a nap. This usually occurs between 1 and 3 p.m. If my son has a friend over, all the better. If he’s alone, I’ll lie beside him and doze. I attribute most of my physical...
Posted by
Denise on Jan 1st, 2010 in
Features |
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Read our feature stories, including profiles of our Caregiver of the Year winners.
Caregiver of the Year award winners: Read the stories of our winners of our annual contest.
Consider: These article offers insights that (we hope) make you say,...
Posted by
Denise on Aug 12th, 2009 in
Consider |
1 comment
The Alzheimer’s Daily News included a link to the video, below, in today’s briefings. It’s a short, foreign film (with sub-titles) that reminds us to love, especially during those moments when we don’t think we can.
Please sure to let us know what you think of the video; include your feedback in our comments section.
Related articles
Early Alzheimer’s Rises for Under-65-Year-Olds...
Posted by
Denise on Aug 10th, 2009 in
Consider |
3 comments
Image by Lyot via Flickr
I’ve been doing my best to reduce my carbon footprint. The footprint I want to leave in world is not one that slogs through a landfill.
Which makes me wonder:
What footprint would you like to leave behind after your caregiving role ends?
Your footprint could be the calming words a friend told you during a difficult day. Or, an understanding about how relationships worked that kept...
Posted by
Denise on Jul 26th, 2009 in
Consider |
2 comments
A new member of one of our online support groups recently wrote me with an interesting thought. “I think caregiving deserves its own diagnosis,” she said.
Hmm… So, I asked Donna, who has a M.S. in counseling and cares for her mother, to expand on her idea. My questions and her answers follow.
Caregiving: Do you remember inspiration for the idea of caregiving as a mental health...
Posted by
Denise on Jul 15th, 2009 in
Consider |
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I believe it’s important to encourage family caregivers to recognize and celebrate their successes as a caregiver. I often hear from family caregivers: How can I be successful if every decision I make seems to make my relative absolutely miserable?
I’m reminded of conversation many years ago with Mirca Liberti, co-founder of Children of Aging Parents, Levittown, Pa.. During our discussion, Mirca made,...
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Arrive everywhere loved.
–Mariah, wife of Ron Gladis, one of our 2009 Caregiver of the Year award winners
You probably have heard the expression: “You have to feel it to heal it.”
That, often, is easier said than done.
To feel our shame, we must feel safe. We might find that safety in a support group, in our journal or with a therapist or counselor (or all three). Whatever...
(Editor’s Note: This is the second part of a three-part series on shame and its role in your caregiving experience. In our second part, we take a look at how shame enters a caregiving situation.)
When I think of how shame can come to a caregiving role, I think of Jeannette, a woman I helped care for about 10 years ago. Because I haven’t had the personal experience of caregiving, I’ve taken on hired caregiving...
Image by -Ola via Flickr
(Editor’s Note: This is the first part of a three-part series on shame and its role in your caregiving experience. In our first part, we look at the origins of shame.)
For you, it may have started with a comment or remark or a look. “Typically children are shamed when they wet their bed, get a bad grade on a test, are picked last for a team, or have an awkward physical...
Care recipient: Aida, Linda’s mom, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease
Nominated by: Jeff, Linda’s husband; read the nominating letter.
In Linda’s words:
When I feel stressed, I: Take a deep breath.
My current challenge is: My mom’s bedsores.
When I have an extra five minutes, I: Read something, anything, that’s near by.
My mantra is: How lucky I am to have had my parents this...
Posted by
Denise on Feb 7th, 2009 in
COTY Winners |
1 comment
Caregiver of the Year Award Winner:
Ron Gladis, Malvern, Pa.
Care recipient: Mariah, Ron’s wife
Nominated by: Dori Middleman, a colleague of Mariah’s; read the nominating letter.
In Ron’s words:
When I feel stressed, I: Breath. I make sure I take a deep breath, almost like a college basketball player will do before taking a foul shot. It helps me relax and see what’s really important.
My current...
Posted by
Denise on Feb 7th, 2009 in
COTY Winners |
0 comments
Caregiver of the Year Award Winner:
Craig Jennings, Port Washington, N.Y.
Care recipient: Annie, Craig’s wife, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. Annie is in remission.
Nominated by: Jane Harris, a friend; read the nominating letter
In Craig’s words:
When I feel stressed, I: Don’t recognize stress, but I work.
My current challenge is: Gaining more clients for my business coaching.
When...
Posted by
Denise on Feb 11th, 2008 in
COTY Winners |
0 comments
2007 Caregiver of the Year Award:
Patty M. Kearns, Teaneck, N.J.
Nominated by: Nancy Lewin of Johnson & Johnson Caregiver Initiative; read nominating letter
Care Recipient: Patty’s mom Helen, who is 90, suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. As of January 2008, she now resides in a long-term care facility.
In Patty’s words:
When I feel stressed, I: remember to love. I remind myself that...
Posted by
Denise on Feb 7th, 2008 in
COTY Winners |
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Caree: Donna’s mother, who suffered a stroke 13 1/2 years ago. Her mother has a feeding tube and requires total care.
Nominator: Mirca Liberti, co-founder, Children of Aging Parents, Levittown, Pa. Excerpt from nominating letter: She is a model, someone who has time for everyone, but does not neglect her major role of caregiving. She emulates love and friendship. Caregivers look up to her; she is a true...
