Is a care partner different from a caregiver? I think they can be. Recently, I was chatting with a friend about caregiving. She is in remission from cancer and I wanted to understand more about what she experienced as a person receiving the care. When she used the term ‘care partner’, I asked her what that meant to her. “Care partner is the term my medical team used to describe … [Read more...]
“Family caregiving may not harm health of caregivers after all.” WAIT, WHAT?
My experience as a caregiver, those of my clients and a large body of work proves that sustained and long-term caregiving can and does harm our health. Imagine my surprise when this showed up in my news feed “Family caregiving may not harm health of caregivers after all.” The study was co-authored by a doctor affiliated with Johns Hopkins, published first in the American … [Read more...]
Mainline Telehealth is Here to Stay – At least in some shape or form.
Here are some suggestions of ways to make it successful for you and your doctor. Telehealth has actually been around in some form since the early 1960’s. Use of the technology grew in rural areas, but COVID-19 brought it into the mainstream when The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS) broadened access to allow for a wider range of covered services. This rabbit is not get … [Read more...]
When caregiving worlds collide.
How many generations do you care for? I have talked to many caregivers whose back seat holds their mother’s walker and grandchild’s car seat. In my caregiving world, it is my mother’s wheelchair and steps that my 13-year-old dog Josh uses to get into the car. I’m not a traditional “sandwich” generation example. I don’t care for an aging parent while supporting children and … [Read more...]
Are you struggling right now? I am.
Which is why I talked to my doctor about an antidepressant. Normally, I’m a person who looks at life from a glass half full perspective. I look for and find the bright side of situations because I believe we can choose happiness. But choosing happiness takes energy, energy which I don’t have at the moment. I know I’m not the only one struggling. The social isolation brought on … [Read more...]