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...]
Who Are Your Caregiving Support Peeps?
You can’t survive or thrive on this caregiving journey without them. I agree with Elissia Lewin of Nancy’s House, isolation and exhaustion are head on, the two biggest issues for caregivers. If not addressed, disease and depression are often the result. I can’t help you with exhaustion, but I can tell you that one antidote to isolation is a caregiver support network. Without … [Read more...]
Confessions of a Cranky Caregiver
It happens and I have to own it. Typically, I’m a glass-half full person, able to let many things roll off my back. Until I can’t. Then I get cranky. By the way, being cranky isn’t a bad thing, we all have those moments (or days). But my attitude affects mom’s attitude, and it can turn into a downward spiral quickly if we’re not careful. I’ve given a lot of thought to … [Read more...]
Why We Chose a Reverse Mortgage to Keep Mom at Home
Managing finances is an important piece of your care plan. Keeping Mom in her home for as long as possible is the foundation of her care plan. You see, the good news is mom is in relatively good health for for her age, the flip side? She will most likely outlive her money. Figuring out finances meant looking for ways to ensure enough monthly income to pay for upkeep on a … [Read more...]
What Is Your Caregiver Contract?
And I don’t mean the contract you sign with an agency. I believe that each relationship is built on a contract: Spouses, Significant Others, Parent/Child, even Friends. Informal and often unspoken, each contract defines interactions and expectations for the relationship. At the most basic level it defines what you are willing or not willing to do for one another. Imagine … [Read more...]