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...]
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...]
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...]
Moving Mom and Dad: Helping Parents Cope With Big Changes
Tips to minimize all the stress. No one likes to see their parents lose independence. After years of working and raising a family, we want our parents to be rewarded with a fulfilling retirement. Downsizing the family home and moving them into your home, assisted living, or a 55+ community can seem like the opposite of that goal. The truth is, your parents will have a safer, … [Read more...]