When did self care become something to buy? Face masks, luxury goods, expensive classes, week-long retreats -- that's not what self care is about. You don't need to open your wallet to take care of yourself. Self care is something that can be integrated into your...
Ivan opens up about his 20-plus year journey as the primary caregiver for his wife following her Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis. On top of his newfound caregiving duties, he delves into the difficulty of facing and channeling his anger, confronting his own notions of...
If you're on Instagram, you may have already discovered Mari Andrew. If not, she's an amazing artist who captures grief (and so many other aspects of being human). Here are some of my favorites: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg3cyZUArpv/?taken-by=bymariandrew...
I hear you should put your own oxygen mask on first. I hear caregiving is the hardest thing you've ever loved. I hear caregiving is like a rollercoaster ride. I hear these three things so often it's hard to not roll my eyes. The oxygen mask thing is a good bit of...
Caregiving changes your life forever. Even when caregiving ends, we've been transformed. Here's what we miss about your lives before caregiving I miss not living in a constant state of high alert. I miss knowing what it is to go an entire day, heck an entire hour! -...
Tell myself I did the very best I could with what I had at the time and specific instances where I didn't handle things well I said sorry while Mum was with me and since she's passed I've repeated those apologies and reminded myself we loved each other till the...
As caregivers, we frequently suffer from insomnia as all the things about caregiving float through our minds. Here's what's keeping our community members up at night: I just had surgery & I haven't been able to take care if my elderly housebound mother so I feel...
How do you know you're a caregiver? It's tricky to decide -- how many hours? What sorts of tasks? What about the relationship? My answer is that you're a caregiver when it's changed you forever. So, how has caregiving changed who you are and how you view the world?...
Caregivers are an incredibly innovative bunch. We come up with all sorts of unique solutions to problems. A few members of our community shared their favorite tips and tricks to make caregiving easier. Have one to add? Put it in the comments below. Give them choices...
Welcome to the world of caregiving. It'll be hard, but it's worth it. You will never ever regret being a caring caregiver. - Debra Taylor It's all about love Remember to love unconditionally, when it's a family member. - Mimi L Accept help Don't be afraid to ask for...
So many caregivers find their requests for help are ignored. So many people say they're willing to help, but then they never seem to be around when you need them. Why does this happen? [Tweet "People offer to help, so why don't they?"] Friends and family It can be...
So many of us have promised our parents that we'd never put them in a home. And then, one day, we do. Putting a loved one in residential care is an incredibly difficult decision for anyone. It's even harder when doing so breaks a promise we've made. Here's what our...
Caregivers can be tough to shop for! When you're busy taking care of everyone else, there's hardly any time left for hobbies. The best way to brighten a caregiver's day is always going to be taking something off of our to-do list for us. Having an afternoon off from...
The lives of caregivers rarely rely on the calendar, they go on the schedule of the person we're caring for! Still, the beginning of a new year is a time for reflection. Here's what our community is planning on doing this year...and what we're hoping others will do to...
The holidays are a time for indulgence, but not all of us are at liberty to indulge. Don't skip the holiday fun! Try one of these healthier options to celebrate the holidays. Snowman porridge Porridge plus blueberries, chocolate chips, and strawberries. Or whatever...
Most people associate PTSD with veterans of war, but you don't have to be a soldier to experience this condition. The NIMH defines PTSD as 'a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.' When people experience a...
We talk a lot about how rewarding and meaningful caregiving can be. Most of us would never trade our responsibilities, but that doesn't mean caregiving isn't the most difficult thing we've ever done. Instead of trying to sugarcoat it, how about offering caregivers...
As caregivers, we so often forget about ourselves. Sometimes it's helpful to take a few minutes to take a personal inventory. Reflecting on today How did the day go? What challenges did I endure? What success did I experience? What did I do for myself today? What did...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4LItOvKyjI Lee, aka Intuition, shares the story of his father's transformation since his early Alzheimer's diagnosis. You can read more about the story behind the song on his site.
Someone you know has recently taken on caregiving responsibilities. You want to show your support, but you aren't sure what to say? Here are some tips on what not to say and suggestions on how to be supportive. I hear a lot of these comments from people who probably...
Do you feel like you're doing the best you can, all the time? No matter how hard I try, it gets to me sometimes. Love alone isn't enough for me to not lose my cool. Maybe it should be. Maybe it is for you. (is it?). But the pressure mounts...the bills are piling up,...
Advance directives are an important way to ensure you and your loved ones receive the type of care and memorial services that are in line with your wishes and beliefs. Many healthcare systems are affiliated with a particular religion and family members may wish to...
For the past two years, Mango Health has been working to make sure patients take their medicine. There are lots of medication reminder apps, so what makes this one unique? Mango Health's team comes from the world of online gaming -- they know how to get people logging...
When people talk about what's important to them or what they want to do when they retire, so many people talk about wanting to travel. If you and your spouse -- or your parent or your BFF or your kids -- always talked about that trip you were going to take someday,...