I have a 100-year-old father with dementia living with me and I also help parents of teens here at SAS. What do these two things have in common? The need to stay in relationship. Three years ago, I heard this simple statement and it hit me like a ton of
One of the most common questions I encounter in my work is some variation of “How can I make Mom/Dad/Grandma/Grandpa take better care of themselves, realize they need to move to long term care, stop driving", ... you get the picture.
“Sharon” is overwhelmed by caring for her parents: both of their caregiving needs are increasing, she is weary from lack of sleep and fearful that her own health is in jeopardy. Her siblings live out of the area and seem unable to help. In addition to caring for her parents,
We are in the midst of our third Powerful Tools of Caregiver class offering, and I am reminded again of the importance of self care for caregivers. As primary caregivers, it is likely you will experience higher degrees of stress, exhaustion, and are more prone to illness. It is important
As I write this we are halfway through teaching our first Powerful Tools for Caregiving class. It has been an exciting time of learning and growth for all of us. Each time I work with caregivers, I am reminded of a common theme – the delicate dance of trying to
Work/Life is focusing on relationships during the month of February. As the Eldercare Program Manager, I often work with individuals who are caregivers – trying to balance the caregiving role with their spouse/significant other relationship. While some who provide care to their spouse feel the experience strengthens the bond between
When someone is sick or in the hospital, it may not be long before the casserole patrol comes a knockin'. "Casserole patrol" is the term a witty colleague of mine used to describe the friends and neighbors who bring food when someone is sick. I've been there before, standing at a doorstep with a pot of chili
Where to start: Knowing when a parent needs help, and what kind Many times we will receive a call from someone stating that their loved one needs nursing home placement when, in fact, that may not be the most appropriate level of care. Often individuals are faced with making a
