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...]
Today I Am Her Daughter and Not Her Caregiver
There is healing in returning to our mother/daughter roles. Mom recently turned 85. I hesitated before suggesting that we have a little gathering for her birthday. After all, this is the woman who was mad when dad threw her a surprise party with invitations that read: “Help Doris celebrate the 6th anniversary of her 39th birthday”. When I mentioned I was glad she wanted to … [Read more...]
Thinking About an Assisted Living Community?
What you need to know about financial, health and legal requirements. Nursing Homes and Assisted Living facilities are not the same, but many people don’t understand the difference. Nursing homes are a “skilled nursing” facility (SNF), designed for residents that need constant nursing supervision. Assisted living communities on the other hand, do just that, assist … [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...]
Grief Is A Personal Journey
There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Update note: Grief is a topic I have written about before and this post is from the 2nd anniversary of dad’s death. But this week we lost one of my father’s siblings and it was like losing him all over again. One more tie to the person I loved is gone and I’m grieving the loss of our beloved family member, that tie to dad and of … [Read more...]