Mistakes are going to happen during a hospitalization. Misunderstandings are inevitable. Mishaps are sure to occur at home following a hospitalization. “Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.” – Eleanor Roosevelt. It would be wonderful if we could learn everything we needed to know from the […]
Hospital Stays: Mistakes, Mishaps and Misunderstandings Read More »
Caregiving is intense. We are not at our best because we are overwhelmed. This makes the experience ripe for regret. There are three strategies that, when combined, create a web of protection against remorse. Imagine reflecting back to this time. What would you do differently? Recognize the opportunity you have, at this moment, to make
Reduce Regret: Reflect, Forgive & Be Present Read More »
My support system repeatedly crumbled like a Jenga tower until it didn’t. Support “Support – A source of comfort or encouragement.” – Oxford English Dictionary I thought I might crack and was aware of the need to support my emotional, mental and physical state of being, but building a support system was a lot like
From Jenga Tower to Stable Structure: My Caregiving Support System Read More »
A travel journal for the caregiving journey Journaling has been a way to process the complexities of caregiving, the emotions, the fear, and the confusion. It has been a way to capture fun and funny moments. We will have a record of the experience and a travel journal that documents the caregiving journey. It will
Dad, Daughter and Déjà Vu: Two Journals, One Shared Theme Read More »
Discussing end-of-life is not comfortable, and our society does not prepare us well for conversations about death. It is a part of life, but like aging is often not faced until it is a forced confrontation. It is never too early to have a heart-to-heart conversation with your parents about their end-of-life wishes. In fact,
Heart to Heart Conversation: End-of-Life Wishes Read More »
Why is this so hard? Many adult children encountered resistance to their requests for the first time when they learned that parents were not heeding the advice to practice physical distancing. It offered a glimpse into the future and an opportunity to better understand the relationship dynamic, the competing motivations and develop skills to manage
Reduce Conflict with Aging Parents Read More »
Many are now living life similar in many ways to that of the isolated family caregiver. One challenge is to modify self-care to be isolation friendly. When we accept rather than resist our new “Stay at Home” reality, we will be able to identify the positive self-care activities that will reduce stress. We will be
Self-Care During COVID-19: Lessons from Family Caregivers Read More »
Family caregivers often feel isolated. Shelter in place is Standard Operating Procedure. Physical distancing, or Isolation 2.0 for me meant that my mini escapes were no longer an option. Otherwise, after the initial preparation, COVID19 isolation doesn’t feel much different than pre-virus life. “Mostly it is loss which teaches us about the worth of things.”
Isolation 2.0: Caregiving + COVID19 Read More »
