The Caregivers Toolbox is our space for qualified experts to offer advice on some of the practical, financial, and emotional aspects of being a caregiver. Find information and support from these articles that made an impact in 2014.

1. Can I Get Paid to be a Family Caregiver?

This is a question that comes up often when you are a full-time caregiver to a family member (spouse, parent, child). Options for financial assistance vary so widely by geographical location and depend on each person’s specific circumstances so Cori provides some places to seek help.

2. What to do When You’ve Reached Your Breaking Point as a Caregiver 

Suggestions from fellow caregivers ranging from “don’t forget to take just 5 minutes for yourself” to  keeping a journal, calling on your wider support network and remembering that you are someone’s angel.

3. Understanding Anticipatory Grief in Caregiving

Caregivers often experience anticipatory grief while care-taking, which is a process whereby we begin to mourn past, present and future losses, as well as the subsequent grief of the loss of a loved one that can occur after the hard work of being a caretaker has ended.

4. Where’d My Friends Go?

How to stay in touch with friends as a busy caregiver. Suggestions include embracing short contact like texts and social media posts as well as not waiting for people to reach out to you. Don’t be afraid to get in touch if you haven’t heard from someone in a while–they may just be trying to respect your privacy or give you emotional space.

5. THIS is the Reality Your Employees are Living In: Caregivers Stories Behind the Stats

We know that 7 out of 10 caregivers are also working full-time, but what does this really mean? Hear in their own words what it’s like to juggle care taking and a career. Employers, corporations and small businesses: listen up!

6. Following Your Own North Star: Sibling Conflict in Caregiving

While siblings can be a significant help and comfort when caring for aging parents,true cooperation can be a rare occurrence.

7. How to Talk to Someone Who’s Dying or Grieving

Dr. Hankin offers some simple advice for how to comfort dying or grieving people while reminding us not to forget to also care for ourselves.

8. 11 Ways to Navigate and Cope with Challenges

Joel Goldstein, the author of No Stone Unturned: A Father’s Memoir of His Son’s Traumatic Brain Injury, shares his insights and experience to help those of us in our community fighting a similar fight.

9. The Physical Symptoms of Grief: Emotional Pain and Physical Responses

The mind-body connection is paramount in self-care, a fact that Margo Rose is hoping to bring to the fore with body aware grieving–a form of body awareness that can help prevent stress from manifesting in physical pains and illnesses.

10. Resources for Young Caregivers

The growing numbers of youths aged 8-18 who are caring for loved ones include many young people from families with lower incomes. Often sacrificing educational opportunities to help out at home, we need to work to raise awareness of these young people shouldering adult responsibilities.