Allison Powell

I live off of food from Trader Joe's. I spend my life in a cubicle, a la Office Space. I'm kind of obsessed with the internet. Confession: I take care of people but don't identify as a caregiver.

#WeAllCare

by Allison Powell | Nov 9, 2018 | 24/7 Caregiving, Baby Boom Generation, Caregiver Stories, Caring for a Client, Caring for a Neighbor, Caring for a Parent, Long Term Caregiving, Sandwich Generation, Silent generation, The Paid Perspective

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAfEvHQ5ZNc Three amazing women share their caregiving stories. Join the conversation: http://www.caringacrossamerica.com & sign the #WeAllCare pledge: http://www.caringacrossamerica.com/pl.... Brought to you by Caring Across...

Have you ever done an oral history?

by Allison Powell | Jul 6, 2018 | Caregiver Stories, Caring for a Parent, Journaling

The other week a friend talked me into interviewing my husband about our experience since his injury and what it's been like for both of us to juggle his needs with the needs of my dad and grandmother. Our life sounds pretty busy when I put it like that! I'd never...

When you’re disappointed with yourself

by Allison Powell | Jun 18, 2018 | Caregiver Burnout, Caregiver Stories, Finding Meaning, Millennial Generation

Are you your own worst critic? I know I am. I hold myself to standards much higher than I hold anyone else to. Even when no one else notices my mistakes, I do. And it overwhelms me with shame and guilt. The thing is, I'm more likely to make mistakes when I'm...

The perfect gift for every caregiver

by Allison Powell | Dec 19, 2017 | For Friends & Family

How do you say thank you to the person who goes above and beyond? Honestly, there's no way to express thanks for what they do through a gift. The best way to thank a caregiver is with your time and appreciation. Deliver a meal (or a bunch of frozen meals!) Pick things...

The dangerous topic of appreciation

by Allison Powell | Dec 10, 2017 | Caregiver Burnout, Caring for a Child, Caring for a Client, Caring for a Friend, Caring for a Grandchild, Caring for a Grandparent, Caring for a Neighbor, Caring for a Parent, Caring for a Relative, Caring for a Romantic Partner, Caring for a Sibling, Community Wisdom

Does the person who you caregive for appreciate what you do? It's a dangerous question to ask, isn't it? But we're asking it anyway. Perhaps they appreciate us, but they aren't good at expressing it or we aren't good at accepting it. Or perhaps they really do feel...

Who we’re taking care of

by Allison Powell | Dec 3, 2017 | Community Wisdom

Caregiving effects everyone. Our community members are taking care of many different people with many different conditions and ability levels. Who are you taking care of? My son. He just turned 18 last week. Autistic. Nonverbal, not toilet trained. He's 6'5 and 180...

What’s the most rewarding thing about caregiving?

by Allison Powell | Nov 26, 2017 | Community Wisdom, Finding Meaning

We all talk about how rewarding -- and challenging -- caregiving can be, but we rarely talk about why it's so rewarding. Here's what our community members find the most rewarding about the care they provide. My 38 year old son's smile after I kiss him good night each...

What do you wish you had time for?

by Allison Powell | Nov 12, 2017 | Caregiver Burnout, Community Wisdom

It's rare for caregivers to have a free moment. The time consuming nature of caregiving means that few of us have the opportunity to get around to the things that are important to us. So, what do you wish you had time for? My husband. I am soul caregiver for my mother...

What we’re overthinking

by Allison Powell | Oct 15, 2017 | Caregiver Burnout, Community Wisdom

As caregivers, we find ourselves simultaneously impossibly busy and spending lots of time waiting around. We're exhausted, but then we're up all night staring at the ceiling. What's keeping you up these days? All the work that needs to be done to the house. I'm in...

What do caregivers need to know?

by Allison Powell | Sep 24, 2017 | Community Wisdom, For Friends & Family

Family caregivers find themselves needing to know everything from the finer details of drug interactions to how to empty storage units. Here's what our members wish they'd gotten training and information about: What are the rights of patients and caregivers? I would...

What caregivers want more of

by Allison Powell | Sep 3, 2017 | Caregiver Stories, Community Wisdom, Finding Caregiver Support, For Friends & Family

Free Time Time with my mom. I lost her a week ago. - Lisa Wish we could just stop time...To watch my kid's deteriorate before my eyes w/this awful muscle-wasting disease...It truly goes too fast and is heartbreaking. I wish they could have time off from their...

How to create a CareMap

by Allison Powell | Jul 21, 2017 | Caregiving 101, Finding Caregiver Support

Caregiving involves lots of moving pieces. A CareMap can help you understand how it fits all together so you can find ways to improve your daily life. The Atlas CareMap is a hand-drawn representation of a caregiver’s network. It illustrates the caregiver’s own support...

How caregivers cope with stress

by Allison Powell | Jun 25, 2017 | Community Wisdom

Coping with stress is a constant challenge for caregivers. Coping mechanisms that are actually realistic for caregivers is a pretty frequent topic of conversation. Here are some of the suggestions that came up recently. Small treats After the day I had, tonight it was...

Home modification tips and tricks

by Allison Powell | Jun 18, 2017 | Community Wisdom

We asked the community if they'd modified their home in order to better accommodate the person they cared for. The most common additions were: Shower bars Grip tape on stairs Bed rails Shower seat Stair lift Elevated toilet seat Video baby monitor Wireless doorbell...

Where can you find caregiver support?

by Allison Powell | Jun 4, 2017 | Community Wisdom

We asked our community members what the best source of caregiver support they've found is. While we could all use more support, here's what's helpful. Facebook I am the lone wolf taking care of her now. I feel just left to completely be in a silent world.can't get out...

Lifting patients, safely

by Allison Powell | May 27, 2017 | Health & Fitness

Caregivers are at risk for back injuries. That's a fact. People who've never done it might imagine caregiving is holding hands, making soup, and saying reassuring things. If only! Caregiving can be incredibly physically demanding. Getting someone in and out of bed...

How I keep going

by Allison Powell | May 8, 2017 | Caregiver Stories, Finding Meaning

Resilience. Tenacity. Strength. Toughness. Whatever you want to call it, caregivers need it. It's that thing about your personality where shit is exploding all around you and you just roll with it. Roll up your sleeves and get to it, every day, no matter what. Inner...

All caregivers deserve support

by Allison Powell | Mar 17, 2017 | Caregiver Stories

I've been watching our Facebook page get taken over by a bunch of school yard bullies over the past few months. It's a pretty confusing thing to see for a support group. Living in Florida, I've gotten an up close and personal view of Trump lighting people up. It's...

Selling the family home in a down market

by Allison Powell | Mar 8, 2017 | Community Wisdom

Here's a tough situation quite a few caregivers find themselves in: being responsible for selling a home that's not in great shape. What do you do when no one seems interested in buying and you can't afford to keep it? Q My sister and I inherited the house we grew up...

Podcasts to help you get to sleep

by Allison Powell | Feb 23, 2017 | ABCs of ZZZs

Getting to sleep when you're dealing with the stress and anxiety of caregiving -- and anticipating your next interruption -- is no easy feat. Luckily, there are podcasts to help you slip back into slumber. Here are a few I've tried and found helpful. Sleep With Me: A...

Getting seniors online for fun and learning

by Allison Powell | Feb 17, 2017 | Caregiving 101, Caring for a Grandparent

When disabilities or memory impairment make going out more difficult, seniors can feel like they're not able to do the things they love anymore. Going online can help them stay social, learn new things, and have fun without the hassle of going out. That is, of course,...

The bath time struggle

by Allison Powell | Feb 4, 2017 | Community Wisdom

It's a pretty common problem: the person you're caring for is refusing to bathe. Here's advice from other caregivers on how to keep everyone clean, safe, and happy. What's normal to them We have to remember that more than likely "back in the day" your father did not...

Does the US take good care of the elderly?

by Allison Powell | Jan 30, 2017 | Caregiver Stories

It's a really exciting time to be in the US. The fact that the current healthcare system is being dismantled means that we have the opportunity to fix the most vexing problems. I didn't grow up in a military family, but I married into one. That means I'm dealing with...

The danger of dehydration: what caregivers should know

by Allison Powell | Jan 7, 2017 | Nutrition and Healthy Eating

It's astounding how many adults are chronically dehydrated. Drinking enough water helps your body work better and helps you feel better. It helps your metabolism work better and improves your concentration. Staying hydrated becomes more important as we age....

Allison Powell

#WeAllCare

Have you ever done an oral history?

When you’re disappointed with yourself

The perfect gift for every caregiver

The dangerous topic of appreciation

Who we’re taking care of

What’s the most rewarding thing about caregiving?

What do you wish you had time for?

What we’re overthinking

What do caregivers need to know?

What caregivers want more of

How to create a CareMap

How caregivers cope with stress

Home modification tips and tricks

Where can you find caregiver support?

Lifting patients, safely

How I keep going

All caregivers deserve support

Selling the family home in a down market

Podcasts to help you get to sleep

Getting seniors online for fun and learning

The bath time struggle

Does the US take good care of the elderly?

The danger of dehydration: what caregivers should know

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