On a Sunday afternoon not long ago, mom and I had almost completed a long list of things we needed to accomplish to get her ready for the day. Suddenly, an alarm went off in the basement. I ran out as mom was putting on her sweatshirt, grabbed my phone and started dialing 911 as I ran down the basement steps. I expected to find smoke and flames coming out of the dryer since … [Read more...]
Thank You. Two Words That Mean The World To A Caregiver.
“Caregiving is hard, even on the good days when it brings happiness. It requires commitment, dedication, determination and time.” First Lady Rosalynn Carter As someone who has been a family caregiver for seven years, there has been a marked increase this last year in the number of hours mom needs hands-on care and that is on top of keeping her safe in the middle of a … [Read more...]
Do you feel psychologically safe when talking to healthcare providers or family members?
What does “psychologically safe” mean? Psychological safety is a term first defined by Amy Edmondson as “a shared belief held by members of a team that the team is safe for interpersonal risk taking.” The concept comes from the business world but has been applied to schools as well where it is more commonly called “emotional safety.” What intrigues me about the idea … [Read more...]
Improving Medication Adherence and Caregivers’ Peace of Mind
With Pria by BLACK+DECKER When it comes to caring for a loved one, medication management is a crucial part of that day-to-day responsibility. Taking medication as prescribed is important for everything from controlling chronic conditions and treating temporary conditions, to promoting overall long-term health and well-being. But it can be incredibly difficult to manage – … [Read more...]
I Feel So Isolated
I created this video two and a half years ago. No one could have predicted that a world wide pandemic would isolate our loved ones to a degree where there is a visible decline in many of them. We are not out of the woods yet and I have a challenge for you. How will you continue to reach out or reach out in new ways, to help an elder feel loved and heard? After a year it is … [Read more...]