Pets in the Caregiving Space
I will never forget the look on my mother’s face when Joey came through the door. Let me explain. Five years before mommy’s passing, we had to give Joey away because Joey’s actual owner became pregnant, and my caregiving duties and employment schedule at the time did not make me a good dog owner. With […]
What Caregiver Activities Have You Adopted for Your Loved One?
Today on my walk, birds caught my attention. May I reflect? Birds represent happy memories of days past. Memories of birds that would frequent (and still do) my backyard, with their agenda, even though I have no idea what their plan was, outside of feeding on the goodies I provide. So many birds would come […]
When is Hospice Appropriate?
The subject of hospice is an uncomfortable one. Why, because losing a loved one, up close and personal is hard. None of us have crystal balls giving us the inside scoop of life expectancy or how a life-limiting condition will complete our earthly exit. When I placed my mother in hospice, it was the most […]
Caregiver: Abuse, Physical, Verbal, Emotional, Suicide.
Murder-suicide! Yes, it happens! We do not want to think about it or talk about it, but it happens. It can occur in a person’s home, a nursing or group home, an assisted living center, and even the hospital. When the pressure of caregiving leads to the end of the road, we have not done […]
Caregivers: What is in it for me? Have you ever asked that question?
Caregivers, be honest…have you ever asked the question… why me or what’s in it for me? Giving up your time, resources, independence, and sleep is a lot of giving up. Wouldn’t you say? It is a valid question. We are humans of autonomy. We go about our day managing our personal and professional world, working to […]
Take the Blinders Off-Your Parents Are Aging!
I am the first to admit; I looked the other way as my mother was aging. The first sign I could recall was her getting dentures in her fifties. My daddy died when I was eleven years old. He was 46-years old. He went to work, came home, enjoyed lying on the floor in front […]
Paying Attention Too Late May Be Costly.
Have you heard the saying “Hindsight is 20/20? The use of the term is associated with decisions and choices (or the lack of) that seemed obvious after looking back and revisiting an unsettling outcome. It is the voice in our head that shares how we could have predetermined a situation or consequence. The more you pay […]
Caregivers: Son, Brothers, Uncles, and Husbands
I watched television and was so impressed seeing how a family of men came together to care for their loved one. In a so-called female-dominated role, men are left out of the caregiver equation. We hear about the role they play from time to time. The word on the street is… because they work outside […]
Caregivers: How Do You Decide to Bring in Help?
The question is…Who will love my loved one like I do? As caregivers, sometimes taking a long walk off a short pier feels like a good idea. It’s the reality of living day in and day out in the caregiving space. It’s the reality of fatigue, sleep deprivation, exhaustion, and loss of personal independence. Based on […]
When the Caregiver, Caregiving Develops Health Challenges
When is the best time for the family to jump in and come together? When the primary caregiver develops health challenges. It happens more than you know. Caregivers are susceptible to developing health challenges and, most time, overlook them thinking they will somehow, someway magically disappear. Many caregivers are untrained because they are thrust into […]