But you must be willing to grow and change as well. Can I tell you how proud I am of my mother? At 86, she is still learning and growing. Early one day I got a call from my cousin inviting us to an impromptu birthday celebration that night. The family was meeting at a restaurant right by mom (I live an hour away), so she offered to pick up my mother. I immediately went into … [Read more...]
Slow Down To Your Senior’s Pace. They Need It And So Do You.
When Dealing with Aging Parents Patience is a Virtue. Start Practicing. Someone once told me, “Don’t ask God for patience, you’ll be put in situations that test you repeatedly.” I wish I had listened. Mom has slowed down considerably. Don’t get me wrong, she is still mentally sharp, but physically? At 87, being with her means doing things on “mom time” and it can try my … [Read more...]
Caregivers: How to Invest in Self-Care
Welcome back! Have you given any thought to what your caregiver shield is made of? First, let's define self-care. Self-care is foremost an awareness of what sustains you and actively tapping into those resources. Sometimes, these resource may feel like indulgences, especially when your schedule is full of care-taking. Maybe you think the ultimate indulgence is massage, … [Read more...]
Caregivers Need to Invest in Self-Care
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...]