Like many people I no longer commit to a New Year's resolution. Instead I pick a touchstone word for the year. Sometimes it is based on how I hope the year will go and sometimes it is based on anticipating what is coming. I’m in the anticipation mode this year and the word is ‘Embrace.’ The dictionary defines embrace as: ‘To accept or support (a belief, theory, or change) … [Read more...]
Caregiving, You Choose It Time and Time Again
Recently I presented at the Care Years Training Academy's, "The Caring Conference: Our Courageous Acts." When I started to think about caregiving and courageous acts, I struggled with deciding if I would submit a proposal. It felt like a courageous act needed to be something big, even momentous. Then I realized caregiving is a series of courageous acts because every time … [Read more...]
It Takes Courage To Help Someone Let Go.
Letting go is a process that begins long before someone passes. So often when we talk of someone “letting go” we are talking about their dying. But there are many stages that our seniors and family caregivers go through before this final one. It takes courage on the part of your elder and yourself to be honest about when it is time to change a life plan. It is hard and … [Read more...]
What Are The Most Common Mistakes New Professional Caregivers Make?
Surprisingly, they are not related to issues of safety or health. This week we started with a new agency and caregiver. I spent two and a half days at mom’s helping our new live-in aide get acclimated to her schedule, routine and the house. She is a lovely person who wants to get everything right and has a deep respect for elders that is culturally based. That is good and … [Read more...]
The average person makes 35,000 decisions every day.
What is the real number of decisions you make daily if you are a caregiver? As a caregiver, I’m willing to bet the number is higher than 35,000. Hopefully, most of them are harmless, like “What should I make mom for breakfast?” Or "Should I bring an umbrella when we go to the doctor appointment today?" The truth is, the decisions we make for and with our caree often don’t … [Read more...]