But you must be willing to grow and change as well. Can I tell you how proud I am of my mother? At 86, she is still learning and growing. Early one day I got a call from my cousin inviting us to an impromptu birthday celebration that night. The family was meeting at a restaurant right by mom (I live an hour away), so she offered to pick up my mother. I immediately went into … [Read more...]
Tips on Caregiving for Survivors – Flexibility and knowing their story is key.
Once again, we can learn from our Holocaust Survivors. Fay Ross, Holocaust Survivor Services Coordinator for Jewish Family Services of Middlesex County NJ, helped me understand the caregiving needs of Holocaust survivors. That got me thinking about the vast number of veterans and survivors of other traumatic events, who at some point will need caregiving. Yes, every person … [Read more...]
Caregiver Guilt: Let Me Count the Ways
Then learn how to say no to it. In a previous blog I talked about the guilt I feel when I’m in a bad mood and take it out on mom. She feels like I snapped her head off and this takes away from the time we have together. Full disclosure: that’s not the only time I feel guilty. Here’s the thing about being a caregiver. Guilt is a never-ending niggle in your brain. Am I doing … [Read more...]
Caregiving, you choose it time and time again.
It's not always easy to say yes. I had friends stay with me recently. On their last day I left them at my house, heading out to care for mom over the 4th of July. When I got home there was an amazing thank you note. Let me share part of it with you. It is how this article came to life. “Running your own business is hard, running a business that is so personal is a … [Read more...]
Caregivers Young and Old Have the Same Concerns.
The devil is in the details. Aisha Adkins is a Millennial caregiver. I am not. But we worry and are responsible for the same caregiving issues. We worry about the future, finances, and isolation. Are we doing a good job of taking care of our loved ones? What is the long term impact of caregiving on our career and family? Caregivers between the age of 18 and 34 – the … [Read more...]