Blog
Caregiving on the Move: Tips for Easier Outings
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- Category: Caregiving Caregiving
- Published: 26 October 2015 26 October 2015
Let’s face it: Getting out and about with a loved one who has cognitive or mobility challenges can be a logistical nightmare. The equipment, timing and transportation mishaps are often a comedy of errors — like the time I left the trunk wide open for two hours after retrieving Mom’s wheelchair, or when Dad, who has Alzheimer’s disease, spits his food on the floor at a restaurant. Despite the headaches, I’ve remained determined
Tell Us About Your Acts of Kindness for Caregivers
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- Category: Caregiving Caregiving
- Published: 26 October 2015 26 October 2015
When you’re a caregiver, a small act of kindness — from a helping hand to a sympathetic ear — can mean so much.
I remember standing in the checkout line at the grocery store, my eyes swollen from crying and feeling exhausted. My beloved sister, Karen, had passed away a couple of weeks earlier — a loss I was struggling with while also working and caring for Dad, who has Alzheimer’s. I was running on empty.
Will I Get Alzheimer’s? 6 Ways to Reduce the Risk
When I tell people I’m caring for my 91-year-old dad who has Alzheimer’s disease, they look at me sympathetically and say, “I don’t know how you do it.” When they learn that I also cared for my grandmother when she had Alzheimer’s, they gingerly ask, “Are you afraid of getting it yourself?”
Well, yes, actually. I’m terrified.
Feeling Alone as a Caregiver?
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- Category: Caregiving Caregiving
- Published: 26 October 2015 26 October 2015
One of the most common questions I get from overwhelmed caregivers is, “How can I get my family members to help me more with caregiving?” My advice: We can make ourselves crazy trying to change other people. We need to accept what they will and will not do, and think more broadly about who else can fill the gaps. As a primary caregiver for my parents and other family members, I’ve found that I need different kinds of assistance.