Watch this video blog: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvSyldkV_cQ
I taught a class that I teach often this past week and heard from many participants in the class: “I’ve been doing it all wrong”; “I wish I took this class 2 years ago”; “I struggle trying to make my mother understand what I am saying, for me and not her, [...]
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Yes, no, maybe? This prospect dances out there in the breeze every so often. We get glimpses of it occasionally then seemingly effortlessly the thought drifts to another day. This might be a decision you could be making for yourself or, even more dauntingly, for someone else.
The idea of giving up our home, whether it [...]
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When a parent or spouse can no longer do what they did yesterday, it becomes another transition for the primary caregiver and for the extended family.
These transitions catch us off guard and an overwhelming sense of loss and grief is experienced by the primary care provider. The caregiver often does not label this as a [...]
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Watch this video blog: Research Shows Family Caregivers Want More Education on Caregiving
The National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP did an extensive report on “Caregiving in the U.S. 2009”. The report shows that the increase for information and formal caregiver training has increased over the past 5 years.
What family caregivers want is more [...]
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When a family member is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, often little is given to the patient or the family as they all are entering a very long journey of feelings of anger, disbelief, grief, depression, fear and concern.
It would be my ideal that each family who must experience this disease is given a coach to help them [...]
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There are so many websites leading in different directions, each touting they are the premier, largest, biggest, best option for aging parent home care, assisted living or even financial planning and legal advice.
Where does a family turn? How do families know they are getting someone who is working on behalf of them, with the central [...]
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View the video blog: Guilt and Parent Caregiving
Recently in talking with a caregiver who takes care of her mother, father and mother-in-law, the ever present “guilt work” came into the conversation.
“Why”, said the daughter, “do I never feel like I do enough or do the right thing”? Well, it is more complicated than this simple [...]
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We all want to live life fully for as long as possible. Those who live to be 100 years and beyond—centenarians– are an interesting segment of the population to study since they may provide clues as to how this may be achieved.
One of the common character traits of centenarians is the ability to remain connected [...]
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A daughter I was working with called and asked how to get her mother to agree to go to a doctor appointment for a flu shot. Her mom has dementia of the Alzheimer’s variety and is starting to become paranoid. The daughter has spent the past 65 years reasoning with her mother, a retired attorney. [...]
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It is important in communicating with someone who has Alzheimer’s or a related dementia, to know the words they have always used for a room like the toilet – did they say “powder room”, “bathroom”, ”can” or another?
If your family member is going into a care center, retirement community or dementia care facility and they [...]
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