The physical and mental toll on caregivers. Back in 2003, my husband experienced cardiac arrest, and that turned my world upside down. Fortunately, he recovered fully, but the arc of rehabilitation took a toll on me, his caregiver. During the initial acute phase of hospitalization, I wasn’t directly responsible for taking care of Sean, but I still visited the hospital every … [Read more...]
Durable Power of Attorney – What Authority Are You Giving Your POA?
Yes, You Can Limit Financial Decisions As we age, we are faced with issues that need our attention. We know that our wills and health care directives need to be in place. We need to have all our important documents available to our loved ones to avoid problems that we can no longer address ourselves. One of the easiest documents to provide is the Durable Power of Attorney … [Read more...]
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support for Family Caregivers
What is available? Did you know that in the United States today 3.7 million people with dementia live at home and are cared for by family members? (source: Johns Hopkins Medicine) (Jump to Lessons Learned) Caring for a person with dementia often involves a myriad of responsibilities, including daily ongoing personal care, medication management, filling the day with … [Read more...]
How Caregivers Can Cope with Their Feelings as Parents Age
What feelings to expect at the first signs your elderly parents need help. Changes in your aging loved ones can be subtle at first. They start to forget appointments or names. They repeat the same story to you over and over again. You notice they are less organized, the house is messy, and their appearance maybe not be as put together. The realization sets in: “My aging … [Read more...]
Caregivers: Can Nutritional Supplements Help With Your Stress?
How can Vitamin C, B complex, Calcium and Magnesium supplements help your stress? One key component to being a caregiver is to is manage your stress levels. If you are caring for loved ones and are overwhelmed physically and emotionally, the stress can lead to chronic illness. Physiologically, chronic stress can generate changes in immune function, hormonal changes, and … [Read more...]