My conversation about the effectiveness of Area Agencies on Aging in helping family caregivers (you can read it here) has got me thinking. And that leads me to a six-word story contest.
I’d love to know, in six words, what it’s been like for you when you call agencies and organizations (like the Area Agency on Aging, the Veterans Administration, the Alzheimer’s Association) to get help. You could...
Anna Stookey joined me yesterday on Your Caregiving Journey for our monthly chat. We discussed the importance of accepting today’s reality so we can wake up tomorrow in a good place. You can listen to our show via the player below.
Anna shared a great example of what it’s like when we resist the reality of our today. It’s like how we may feel when we’ve gained weight, she said, and yet we...
Posted by
Denise on Jan 20th, 2012 in
Denise's Blog |
4 comments
In 1998, I sat in my bedroom in my parents’ home and penned The Caregiving Years handbook. Through the handbook, I wanted to share ways to walk the caregiving journey without walking out. More importantly, I wanted the handbook to help family caregivers end the experience without regrets and move into their lives’ next chapter with a motivating sense of purpose.
The handbook includes tips for for the...
As you know, I’m working to get the word out on our volunteer initiative; we’re recruiting former family caregivers to volunteer to help today’s family caregivers. We’ve got a press release, here, which G-J and Bette have been helping to distribute. (Wanna help, too? Send me an email and I’ll send you the details.)
In the press release, I explain how hard it can be to find help. To...
As often as we can, we raise money to help a family caregiver in need through our CareGifters program.
Today, we’re raising money to help Amy, who will be our fourth family caregiver we’ve helped. She’s been caring for her parents since 2002. Prior to caring for her parents, she lived with and cared for her grandmother. Amy is 31-years-old. You can read her blog here.
Our goal is to raise $500 to...
Posted by
Denise on Jan 12th, 2012 in
Denise's Blog |
1 comment
It’s been referred to as the “silver tsunami.” It’s the tidal wave of the number of individuals who, because of a chronic illness or disability, will need help from family members.
Currently, National Alliance for Caregiving estimates that 66 million persons provide care for family members with chronic illnesses, diseases and injuries. In the future, that number is expected to grow as the...
Today is Kiss a Caregiver Day, a day for you to receive love and accolades for all you do. Consider yourself kissed:
XXXXXXX
And hugged:
OOOOOOO
And, know that, even though you may not hear it very often (and often enough), what you do is wonderful, heroic and nothing less than admirable. You are treasures to your family, to your community, to us.
Share the love!: Please feel free to forward these hugs and kisses...
Do you know a family caregiver?
Chances are you do. Survey data released from the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) indicates that almost 54 million Americans provide care to an elderly, disabled or chronically ill friend or family member.
November 22 is your day to show your appreciation for the family caregiver in your life. And, it’s easy–all you have to do is give him or her a kiss!
But November...
Chances are, during one of your caree’s hospitalizations, you noticed that your caree experienced a significant level of confusion. The sudden change in your caree’s mental status during a hospitalization can be startling, upsetting and scary.
Unfortunately, the sudden confusion, known as delirium, among the hospitalized elderly is an awful side effect of an inpatient stay. Your caree is hospitalized...
Help Around the House for Family Caregivers
Job Jar Day, A Family Caregiver Awareness Day, is October 22
More than half of family caregivers go it alone in caregiving. And, more than half describe the caregiving experience as “very stressful” or “stressful.”
~ 2011 Family Caregiver Survey Results, Caregiving.com (For more survey results, visit here.)
To help you get around your house (or...
Last week, my niece, Sarah, joined me on Your Caregiving Journey for a discussion on culture shock. You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of the post.
Sarah spent two years teaching English in a small school in a small town in Poland. After returning to the States this summer, Sarah gave a presentation to her church on her experience moving to a country in which she didn’t speak the...
This morning on Your Caregiving Journey, Bette, who cares for her mother and her three children, joined me for Table Talk. (You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of the post).
Bette updated us on how her mom is doing (read Bette’s post yesterday) as well as how her community is coping with the flooding.
We also spoke about a new segment of Your Caregiving Journey which will air...
Posted by
Denise on Jul 28th, 2011 in
Denise's Blog,
Webinars |
2 comments
In yesterday’s webinar, I shared a three-step process you can use to develop answers to those awful questions family members and friends may ask. Questions like, “Why don’t you put your caree in a nursing home?” and “Are you sure something’s wrong” and “Why don’t you get help?”
If you missed yesterday’s webinar, you can listen to the recording here....
This morning on Your Caregiving Journey, Ellen Rogin, our wealthness expert, joined me for a discussion on how we leave a footprint of our money beliefs. You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of the post.
We began our discussion with Ellen describing a meditation she’s done while walking (heads-up Happiness Project participants, another idea for walking!!). Her meditation led her to a...
Posted by
Denise on Jul 18th, 2011 in
Denise's Blog,
Your Tips |
1 comment
In our 2011 Family Caregiver Survey, we asked: Which websites do you recommend to other family caregivers?
We’re happy to share the list with you today (and thanks to all who recommend Caregiving.com!!). And, please feel free to add other favorites in our comments section, below.
Dementia
Holly Eburne: www.hollyeburne.com/
Lewy Body Dementia Association: www.lbda.org
Alzheimer Spouse:...
This morning on Your Caregiving Journey, Anna Stookey joined me to continue our conversation about depression. We spoke about how our inability to communicate how we feel can contribute to our feelings of depression. (You can listen to our show via the player below.)
Anna and I spoke about how we may have learned, growing up, to remain silent about our feelings. We also may have learned to stifle how we feel. Our...
Posted by
Denise on Jun 7th, 2011 in
Denise's Blog,
Polls |
3 comments
In this week’s poll, sponsored by Caregiving.com and eCareDiary.com, we ask about whether or not you get hire (hired or volunteer) so that you can take a break from caregiving.
Please vote below and share any additional thoughts in our comments section, below.
Do you get help so you can take a break?customer surveys
Updates
Today is Liliana Day! We’re helping Liliana go back to school. You can help,...
An interesting article that I came across.
What Color is Your Plate by Max Wallack
http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2010/08/what-color-is-your-plate.html
some highlights:
“Forty percent of Alzheimer’s patients don’t eat enough…”
“…vision plays a role in Alzhemer’s patients reluctance to eat. This phenomena is explained by Boston University bio-psychologist Alice...
It’s hard to believe my trip ends today; I’ll be home later this afternoon. I left Bette’s house yesterday after a wonderful visit.
I loved staying with Bette and her family. Her house has a wonderful hum from kids, pets and love.
I’ll let Bette tell you more about our four days together. We taped a special edition of Table Talk yesterday morning, which you can watch below.
Our second take...
This afternoon, Amanda Owen, author of The Power of Receiving, our May Caregiving Book Club pick, joined me for a discussion on Your Caregiving Journey. Amanda’s book offers tools to help us become as skilled in receiving as we are in giving. You can listen to our show via the player, below.
I loved this book, as you’ll hear during our discussion. Amanda provides really helpful exercises that help you...
Anna Stookey, our emotional wellness expert, joined me on Your Caregiving Journey this morning to talk about depression. You can listen to our show via the player, below.
According to a recent caregiving survey conducted by Caring.com, twenty-five percent of respondents stated that they suffer from depression, well above the national figure of 9 percent cited in a 2010 study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control...
On Friday, Kim Atchley, coauthor of When Your Aging Parent Needs Care: Practical Help for this Season of Life, joined me on Your Caregiving Journey. Kim cared for her parents. Now, she helps care for her mother-in-law. We spoke about what caregiving is like the second time around. (You can listen to our show via the player below.)
During our discussion, Kim said that the first experience helped in that she knew...
