When the dementia journey with my mom began in 2020, I became keenly aware of the underlying current of dread and distress that comes with caregiving. Anything can go sideways at any time, whether you are nearby or not, which is why when I saw the call coming in from memory care at 11:00 pm, I thought, Oh, No. Mom was in her mid-70s and in perfect health living in California … [Read more...]
You Can Create A Caregiver Safe Space Through Mindfulness.
Julie, you won! You will receive several years of Caregiving for your father after his Alzheimer’s diagnosis. On top of that, you will begin to provide care and oversight for your mother as she slowly declines with physical issues, as well as a different form of dementia! Seriously, it exhausts me if I allow myself to be transported to the thick of those days. To say I was … [Read more...]
“Self-care doesn’t have to be complicated if you start with self-compassion.” Nicole Smith
I recall my grandpa stretched out on the family room floor. He was snoring. Grandma explained that the hard floor helped ease his back pain. We continued with our coloring books and board games while grandpa snoozed. I added this reclining respite tactic to my repertoire when my kids were young. I birthed five children in the span of ten years. I was usually pregnant or … [Read more...]
What Is A “CARE COUPLE”?
Who makes up a care couple? When an elderly parent falls ill, falls down or is diagnosed with dementia, the adult child is all too often thrown into crisis mode to figure out who to call, what to do and where to turn. It does not have to happen this way. And you don’t have to do it alone. If we take the time to pay attention and put a plan in place, we are able to reduce … [Read more...]
Medicare Advantage Plans Have Been Denying Needed Care.
Medicare Advantage plans provide Medicare benefits for millions of seniors that use Medicare for their healthcare needs. For the majority of Medicare Advantage enrollees, their coverage takes care of their needs, and they have few issues with the coverage. Unfortunately, there are times when a procedure or service can be denied. Today we’re going to discuss what it means to … [Read more...]