“I know that my mom is still here today because we have been able to help her get the round-the-clock care she needs and live in the comfort of her home.” – Robert L., caregiver As a frequent panelist at Fearless Caregiver Conferences, we have lively and sometimes emotional conversations with our audience who has [...]
I enjoy hiking above the 10,000-foot level where the colors are vivid and the air is crystal clear. To see these beautiful sights in the Sierras means hiking 13, 16, and even 20+ miles roundtrip in a 10 to 14-hour day. I’ve learned there are similarities between caregiving and backpacking. Don’t take on more than [...]
She raised her hands, exasperated. “They don’t have my yogurt!”“Is there some other brand you could eat?” I prompted.“I can’t get back here to the store. I’ve got a sitter taking care of my husband who is crazy! Crazy! You don’t know,” She shook her head as if clearing visions that she wanted to forget. [...]
It's that time of year when the outdoors beckon! Spending time outdoors is good for all ages, but especially beneficial if you are "getting up there" in years. It increases our vitamin D levels, which helps fight certain conditions such as osteoporosis, cancer, heart attacks and depression. Make getting outside one of your goals for [...]
The varieties of situations caregivers deal with on a yearly basis often include one or more experiences with medical equipment brought into the home. Medical supply companies deal in everything from oxygen to diabetic supplies, depending on the company. While caregivers breathe a sigh of relief when the medical supplies are first delivered, prolonged exposure [...]
It’s a conversation no family wants to have, but one that is vitally important – talking to a loved one about memory loss or cognitive decline. Guest article by the Alzheimer’s Association Mary Foss of Eagan, Minnesota, said she knew it was time to broach this sensitive topic with her husband, Darrell after she noticed [...]
These conversations can go in all sorts of directions. Sometimes it’s best to let that happen. But there are a few key issues you should cover: How Things Are Now – Is the person you care about already facing challenges that you may not be aware of? Do you have a clear and realistic view [...]
Taking care of two elderly parents with different needs was not an easy task. For me it was on the job training that I learned from interacting with the professionals I met along the way, from living day to day with the challenges that I experienced, from others who had gone through this trying time, [...]
Skills in Motion is a new fitness class that guides older people through playground games. There was a lot of whooping and hollering as a group of exuberant students gathered for recess time at Asphalt Green on the Upper East Side. They were playing a game called “popcorn.” “Listen up everyone,” yelled one of the [...]
“It’s not funny… until enough time has passed.” For many of our life experiences, after a time, we can laugh. Of course, there are enough life tragedies that will never be funny. But good hearty laughter strengthens our immune systems, limiting the damage caused by stress. So, the next time, you find yourself overwhelmed while [...]
