Facing Reality After a Break

Wow, did I get behind!! I meant to post a recap of Saturday’s talk show on Sunday. Well, just for a few moments we’ll consider today to be Sunday. So, yesterday (wink), Holly, who cares for her husband, joined me for our monthly chat as part of Table Talk on Your Caregiving Journey. Last month, Holly and I talked about taking a break and really taking a break, without packing along worry. As we ended...

When Was Your Last Day Off?

In the summer, we all think of vacation, a break, a day off. I wonder, though: How often can you take a day off? Please vote in our poll, below, and share any additional thoughts in our comments section. Take Our Poll Resources We’re taking submissions for our Caregiving Art Show and our Help book! Be sure to share your art and your story with the world. Our 2011 Family Caregiver Survey report offers a snapshot...

Talking the Reality of Breaking

This morning on Your Caregiving Journey, Holly, who blogs about caring for her husband, Dave, joined me for Table Talk. Holly recently took a weekend trip with girlfriends so I suggested we talk about the trip and how she leaves without taking guilt. You can listen to our show via the player, below. To help manage her time away, Holly breaks out the trip into three parts: The planning, the trip and the return. For...

Talking Candy, Help and Bands

I had two guests this morning on Table Talk: Bette, who cares for her mom, and Marah, Bette’s nine-year-old daughter. You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of the post. When we announced our CareGifters initiative (we raise money to fund caregiving solutions, one family caregiver at a time), Marah said she wanted to help. So, she’s been selling candy, ordered through Hershey’s...

Take Our Facebook Fan Page Staycation Challenge

It’s one more thing to give up because of caregiving: A vacation. Just because you stay home, though, doesn’t mean you can’t still have some of the fun you’ve reserved to enjoy during that week away. From August 22 until August 27, take a staycation, even if it only lasts for five minutes. Think you can’t? We’ve got some ideas to help you know you can: buy a lounge chair and sit in your backyard...

Come to Our First Annual Caregiving Conference!

Image via Wikipedia In honor of National Family Caregivers Month (November), we’re getting together in Chicago! We’ll meet for two days of learning, sharing and comforting on Saturday, November 6, and Sunday, November 7, at Sunrise Assisted Living, 2710 N. Clark St., Chicago. Sunrise is donating its meeting space and will provide a continental breakfast and lunch on both days. The facility has a...

Vacation Talk

This morning on Your Caregiving Journey, Ellen Rogin, our wealthness expert, joined us to discuss her recent volunteer vacation to Ghana. You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of this post. A few nuggets from our discussion: –For our Caregiving Happiness Project, consider replacing using your credit card with using your cash. –Look for ways to connect with others in your community by...

Truth and Dare

Today on Your Caregiving Journey, Anna Stookey joined us to continue our conversation about getting more help. You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of the post. Last month, we spoke about Self-Sufficiency Syndrome. Today, we took a closer look at those in the family who don’t help. And, as happens, when we look at others we turn to ourselves. Anna shared an important an insight this...

Ask Denise: How Do I Convince My Husband to Travel?

Dear Denise, My husband is caring for his parents who have 24-hour care in a nursing home.  My problem is that my husband does not feel comfortable traveling to get away and limit his stress. His communicates that he must be available to his folks “if anything happens.” He also feels that when one of them dies he must be available to tell the other how to cope with the situation. How do I provide support to...

Take Caregiving.com’s Staycation Challenge

It’s one more thing to give up because of caregiving: A vacation. Just because you stay home, though, doesn’t mean you can’t still have some of the fun you’ve reserved to enjoy during that week away. From now until August 30, take a staycation, even if it only lasts for five minutes. Think you can’t? We’ve got some ideas to help you know you can: –buy a lounge chair and sit in your backyard in...

Hitting the Highway: Traveling with Your Care Recipient

Image via Wikipedia Planning for the unexpected I always remember great advice I once heard for family caregivers: Use respite services regularly, even when you don’t need them, so when you do need them, you are comfortable and confident in the staff and service provider. Meaning, test out the services that you will use when you need them before you need them. Iron out the glitches (and there will be...

Ten Tips to Beating The After-Break Break-Up

Image by Kenzoka [wish I had more time now...] via Flickr Ahh… you got a break. Maybe it was just for one day or for a weekend or maybe even for a week. And, on your break, you did just what you wanted. It was heaven. Then, it ended. Now, you’re in the anti-heaven. You have to go back. You must go back. You want to want to go back. But, honestly, all you want is a break up. You want to break up with...

How Do I Train My Sister?

Dear Denise, Finally, I’m going on vacation! I’ll be gone for two weeks in September. My sister will stay at the house and take care of my mom. Here’s my problem: How in the world do I tell my sister what I do every day to take care of my mom? Hello, Good for you! It’s wonderful you’ll be able to take a well-deserved vacation. Because you do so much, it can seem daunting to communicate...

Time Out! Signs You Need a Vacation

Home-bound for too long? We look at the Top 10 (plus one) Signs You Need a Vacation: 1. You set up your lounge chair—accessorized by a hand-held fan, reading material and water bottle—in your care recipient’s bedroom; 2. You form a line, just like they do at Disney World; 3. You become a tourist in your own home, asking for directions to the nearest bathroom; 4. You write postcards from your dining...