Caregiver guilt. If you’re one of those caregivers who feels bad that you can’t get everything “just right,” join the crowd. And if you’re a former caregiver whose loved one is no longer here and you wish you’d done some things differently—that’s a congested space, too. Just take a look at a few of the […]
Organize the Essentials—Like Advance Directives
If that title sounds a little familiar, it’s because that’s the name Mom gave our company many years ago. It was 2008 and I’d had an itch to start my own business for some time, but didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do. I’d created a much-less-official writing-focused endeavor in 2006, which I named […]
Why imperfect family caregiving is such a treasure
As I was growing up, my mom and dad certainly wanted me to do well. They gave me incredible support and encouragement, always reminding me they were proud of me. However, within that context, they emphasized that it wasn’t the outcome that mattered most—but the effort I applied to do my best. “Sue, it’s not […]
Advance Directives for Dementia vs Standard Advance Directives: What’s the difference?
Advance directives for dementia have arrived on the scene—as I highlighted in a link to a Kaiser Health News (KHN) article in the February 1st edition of my newsletter. Dementia is a serious and growing concern in our country and around the world. According to the World Alzheimer Report 2015: The Global Impact of Dementia: An Analysis of Prevalence, Incidence, […]
How changing the language of family caregiving can benefit us all
My plunge into the language of family caregiving began when I spotted a post on Twitter recently, as I noted in my Perspectives column this week. When caregiving expert Debra Hallisey wrote an article to express her concern about how the “parenting our parents” reference is an all-too-common phrase, I chimed in to agree and […]
Burdens vs Blessings
On Twitter recently, I saw a post regarding an article by caregiving expert Debra Hallisey in which she described a phrase in the context of family caregiving that makes her cringe: “Parenting Your Parents.” Ugh. That one’s like fingernails on a chalkboard for me, too. Over the years of my clinical career, I’ve watched way […]
Living with chronic illness: Why some cope and others don’t
Q&A – Psychologist Vicki Helgeson Living with chronic illness: Why some cope and others don’t What helps some people diagnosed with cancer, heart disease or diabetes stay relatively happy and healthy, while others are devastated? Psychologist Vicki Helgeson explains the traits and mindsets that can make the difference. By Katherine Ellison 11.19.2019 People everywhere are living […]
Essentials for Agile Caregiving: Laying a Foundation
Caregiving is hard work. According to a 2015 caregiving report by the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), family caregivers are getting younger, more diverse, and experience high levels of stress (AARP, NAC). With the rapid growth of our aging population, grim predictions abound that in the years […]
Drumbeat Builds For A Peace Corps Of Caregivers
By Judith Graham – Kaiser Health News Imagine a government program that would mobilize volunteers to help older adults across the nation age in place. One is on the way. The Administration for Community Living, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, is taking steps to establish a National Volunteer Care Corps. If it’s […]
Disability Travel: 16 tips to help make your holiday trip a success
For many, disability travel can be a challenge at any time of the year. This may be especially true during the holidays, when so many are hitting the proverbial road in one way or another to see family and friends. For those living with some type of disability—as well as their caregivers—embarking on such a […]