Kim Andreaus is the Aging and Eldercare Program Manager for Work/Life. She has experience in geropsychiatry; both inpatient and in a community mental health setting. In addition, she has been a faculty member at NCSU, UNC-CH and Wake Tech and has taught courses in gerontology and conducted training in geriatric mental health.
It goes without saying that technology and interconnectedness has brought immense benefits to our lives, but it has also introduced new challenges, particularly for our seniors. One of the most prevalent and concerning issues faced by older adults is the threat of fraud. Seniors are often targeted due to perceived
The blog post for this month was written by Meike West, MSW, CMC at ArosaCare Are you feeling overwhelmed by the challenges associated with aging? Is your responsibility to care for a loved one becoming stressful or even unmanageable? You are not alone, as it is normal to encounter medical,
This is a post from a few years back, pre-COVID. It seems particularly timely as many of us may now be planning a visit to see older adults in our family that we have been separated from due to the pandemic. As the holidays approach, one of the highlights
I think it is fair to say it’s been a hell of a year, and although we are seeing hope in this part of the world, so many others are still in the throes of this pandemic. The reckonings, changes, losses and cumulative impact of the coronavirus have taken,
NOTE: this is a repost of a blog I wrote a few years ago. As I have been receiving frequent questions and requests for help on this topic recently, I thought it made sense to republish. Where to start: Knowing when a parent needs help, and what kind Many times
Today's blog is written by SAS pharmacist, Kristin Ellison Overall health is impacted by many variables; heredity, lifestyle habits, diet, stress, exercise, and sleep all play a role in your wellbeing. As you age, the likelihood of requiring medications to assist in your overall health increases. Taking multiple medications can
This blog is part of the Aging Well series and is written by Robin Gault-Winton, MSW, owner of the organization, Playing at Life. Play is something done for its own sake. It’s voluntary. It’s pleasurable. It offers a sense of engagement. It takes you out of time; and the act
When someone in our life is facing difficult circumstances – whether it be loss, grief, or any number of bad situations - we are often left feeling awkward at best, and useless at worst, in terms of how to respond. We want to offer support, and it is a natural human
I have a theory about parents (most often mothers, but I might be biased based on my experience!). When we are born, we pick up a suitcase filled with guilt. The contents may shift during flight, but it is almost always full. Some examples are: during pregnancy – whether or not
If you are a caregiver, the holiday season may bring less Peace and Good Tidings, and more Stress and Frustration. If you are already feeling overwhelmed with caregiving responsibilities, the holidays may feel more of a burden than a joy. I think it is fair to say that the holidays are
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,
Last month I wrote a blog about sibling rivalry in caregiving which began with the following thoughts: 'As we are all well aware, providing caregiving for our parent(s) is complicated and messy. Siblings can often be both a blessing and a curse in this process, providing much needed relief and
As we are all well aware, providing caregiving for our parent(s) is complicated and messy. Siblings can often be both a blessing and a curse in this process, providing much needed relief and support, or perhaps creating additional stress and barriers to important decisions and resources. Why is this the
One of my favorite bloggers (Grown and Flown) recently wrote about the “Seven Signs of the Aging Apocalypse” – or those inevitable indicators that we are aging. Recently, as my brothers and I were planning my Dad’s 80th birthday and we were trading hilarious “Dad-isms” that would eventually become a
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 you may know, Work/Life is holding a relationship series this month, so I thought it would be a good idea to spend some time discussing the notion of balancing your caregiving relationship with your relationship with your spouse/significant other. Even the most steadfast of relationships can be tested by
Today's guest blog is the second of two on the topic of helping an older parent downsize and relocate. The author, Jennie Alwood, is the owner of Here2Home, a senior move management company in the Triangle area. In Part 1 we looked at getting our minds around the
"Imagine being told to part with a dear friend or part of your identity. Imagine being told to discard something that results in intense feelings of anxiety, sorrow, or guilt. That’s how it can feel to someone with hoarding issues. " Dr. Annette Perot is a licensed psychologist and has
Hurricane Florence slammed the Carolinas and neighboring states with storm surge, damaging winds, and catastrophic flooding. Many SAS employees are wondering how to help. There are many different ways to help provide support and relief to those impacted by the storm. Below are some ideas. When deciding how to give, it
When parents decide it is time to move to simpler living, whether it be into a senior community or just into a smaller, more manageable house, the question of what to do with all that stuff steps into our thoughts like a the proverbial elephant in the room.
Today's guest blog is the first of two on the topic of helping an older parent downsize and relocate. Jennie Alwood is the owner of Here2Home, a senior move management company in the Triangle area. What is a Senior Move Manager?
If you are reading this, then you have likely already made the difficult decision to move a loved one to a long term care facility. Choosing a facility can be overwhelming, with a dizzying number of decisions to make along the way. Having worked with several families during this process,
This is, hands down, the question I am most frequently asked. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. The response depends on a combination of factors including (but not limited to) the type of care required and the income and assets of the person in need of care.
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
We are excited to announce a new Work/Life class offering: “Powerful Tools for Caregivers”. You might be thinking “This sounds great, but I’m not sure if it really applies to me – I’m not really a caregiver, I just do ……………. for (my wife, my husband, my mom, my dad, etc)
Starting the Parent Care conversation . . . There are numerous reasons why we don’t want to have this conversation and avoid it at all costs. It’s awkward . . . it’s emotional . . . it feels presumptuous and uncomfortable . . . the list goes on and on.
I know that we are all anxiously following the devastating events in Houston right now. I have a very personal connection as my daughter and her family live in Houston. My daughter is a nurse and is on the emergency response team – she has been at the hospital since
Next week I will be facing two major milestones in my life. I turn 55 ...and the next day I take my only son to college. These simultaneous occurrences have led me to some soul searching. At times like this I often turn to my favorite authors/speakers for insight and
