Harriet Hodgson

Rochester resident Harriet Hodgson has been a freelance writer for writing for 38 years, is the author of thousands of articles, and 36 books. She is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists and the Minnesota Coalition for Death Education and Support. She is also a contributing writer for The Caregiver Space website, Open to Hope Foundation website, and The Grief Toolbox website. Harriet has appeared on more than 185 radio talk shows, including CBS Radio, and dozens of television stations, including CNN. A popular speaker, Harriet has given presentations at public health, Alzheimer’s, caregiving, and bereavement conferences. Her work is cited in Who’s Who of American Women, World Who’s Who of Women, Contemporary Authors, and other directories. All of Harriet’s work comes from her life. She is now in her 19th year of caregiving and cares for her disabled husband, John. For more information about this busy author, grandmother, wife, and caregiver please visit www.harriethodgson.com
Ordinary Caregiving Days Add Up to Life

Ordinary Caregiving Days Add Up to Life

This is my 19th year of caregiving and I can hardly believe it. After a series of mini strokes my mother developed memory disease. I was her family caregiver for nine years. In 2007 my twin grandchildren’s parents died from the injuries they received in separate car...

Self-Care Steps May Change with the Times

Self-Care Steps May Change with the Times

Take care of yourself. We’ve all heard this advice. A short walk may be one way you care of yourself. You may bake a batch of cookies. Going to bed a half hour earlier may also be self-care. Or if you’re like me, you may sit down and read for pleasure. But knowing you...

The Self-Kindness Path: How Can You Get There?

The Self-Kindness Path: How Can You Get There?

Whether it’s called self-compassion or self-kindness, the premise is the same: Treat yourself as kindly as you would treat others. This concept is especially important for family caregivers, who can get so caught up in daily tasks that they neglect themselves. To let...

Cooking for your loved one

Cooking for your loved one

Although I’m not a professional chef, I was a food writer for the original Rochester Magazine, (when it started years ago in my hometown of Rochester, Minnesota), learned basic and advanced cooking techniques, and created many original recipes. I’ve made airy...

I’ll be there in a minute

I’ll be there in a minute

I am my husband’s primary caregiver. Although a paid caregiver comes each morning to get him up, I’m the person on the job day and night. A while ago my husband was hospitalized for pneumonia and he spent three and a half days in the hospital. Shortly after he came...

Why is caregiving stressful?

Why is caregiving stressful?

Caregiving is stressful. I’ve been a caregiver for more than 18 years and, as time passed, became more aware of stress. My husband (the caregiving recipient) thinks some of my stress is self-induced, but I don’t agree with him. From my perspective, stress is built...

You can prevent compassion fatigue

You can prevent compassion fatigue

Compassion fatigue is a weariness of body and spirit, caused by the never-ending demands of caregiving. This form of burnout can come on quickly, and before you know it, you feel like you’ve hit the wall. You may even wonder if you can continue to be a caregiver....

10 spiritual aspects of caregiving

10 spiritual aspects of caregiving

Caregiving is love in action. Caregiving makes us practice patience. Caregiving causes us to look inward. Caregiving links us with the past, present, and future. Caregiving makes us aware of the joy of giving. Caregiving leads us in new directions. Caregiving is a...

When there isn’t a new normal

When there isn’t a new normal

The term “new normal” is so common it’s become part of everyday conversation. You may have waited for a new normal to develop after you became a caregiver. But even with a daily routine, you may not feel like you have a new normal, and wonder why. What are the...

Caregivers benefit from a bedtime routine

Caregivers benefit from a bedtime routine

Sleep experts recommend a bedtime routine - practices that get you to slow down, clear your mind, and prepare you for sleep. Before I became a caregiver I didn’t think about a bedtime routine very much. It was what it was. But becoming my mother’s caregiver, my twin...

Getting the Sleep You Need

Caregiving takes lots of energy. You need restful sleep in order to have this energy. That’s a given. But circumstances and worries may keep you from sleeping. Even if you go to bed early, you may toss and turn, keep looking your bedside clock, and worry if sleep will...

The wheelchair parking issue

The wheelchair parking issue

My husband is disabled and we bought a used wheelchair van. The van has worked out well, but wheelchair parking hasn’t.  We were going out to dinner and drove by a day ahead of time to find the wheelchair parking spaces. When I pulled up to the parking spaces across...

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