According to Family Caregiver Alliance, “Regardless of employment status, unpaid caregivers report that positive activities in their respective daily lives are reduced by 27.2% as a result of their caregiving responsibilities. This effect is three times greater in their personal lives than their professional lives.” Pre-caregiving, I spent hours at the Y and in the […]
Thrive or Survive: Self-Care and Caregiving Read More »
How do we know when it is no longer safe for Mom or Dad to live alone? That question ranks near the top of the worry list. It sits in the lap of, “When is it no longer safe for Mom or Dad to continue driving.” The two questions are similar in that both demonstrate
Burning Down the House (cue Talking Heads) Read More »
Family caregiving and weight management seemed mutually exclusive. Caregiving is stressful. Comfort food is comforting. It is also fast and filling, which is exactly what we reach for when we are overwhelmed and juggling our many tasks. My strategy was simply to stay alive. It was survival eating, but it was killing me. Blood pressure
Sustainability Super Powers: Routine and Protein Read More »
After Dad’s stroke, we started to look at everything in his home in a different light (pun intended). We had never noticed the sliding glass door threshold between the living room and Florida room and now it jumped out at us, just as we were sure it would jump out at Dad. It was a
Let There Be Light Read More »
When we go out of town, Dad goes a bit wild. He plays his big band music and Frank Sinatra at ear drum shattering levels. He takes his golf cart out on joy rides. He uses DART to go doctor hopping, forever in search of the magic pill. I know I should have more empathy.
Home Alone II – Dad’s List Read More »
We are able to get away for about four days at a time. An aide comes in every other day, the neighbors check in every day and I call Dad every day that we are away. His medicines are pre-sorted by the pharmacy. His food is well stocked on designated shelves in the refrigerator and
Home Alone – Safety Read More »
Warning signs Dad told me that a man followed him home and angrily insisted that he needed to be more careful. Dad had run through a slew of Ibises. Ibises are gentle white birds that feed in the grass and leisurely cross the road throughout the neighborhood. Dad claimed that they ran out in front
Dangerous Driving: Concerns about Dad Behind the Wheel Read More »
Wading into home care Navigating the caregiver river takes calm, patience and a compass. We started our journey down the river five years ago. We found ourselves in rapids without a paddle. Actually, we didn’t even have a raft. Dad had a stroke and up to that point had been driving and mostly self sufficient.
Match.com: The Family Caregiver, Caree, Aide Relationship Read More »
Runaway rollercoaster I remember feeling like I was on a runaway rollercoaster, but not exactly on it. I was hanging onto the last car with one hand, feet swinging in the wind. With each twist and drop, my grip would loosen. My situation was not sustainable. It was just a matter of time before I
How Do We Sustain Our Ability to Provide Care? Read More »
