The appeal of the wild for me is its unpredictability. You have to develop an awareness, react fast, be resourceful and come up with a plan and act on it. Bear Grylls Caring for a parent can feel like we are navigating an unpredictable, wild river. How do we know when it is no longer […]
Timing Transitions: Reading the Caregiver River Read More »
A healthy ego is a positive, productive tool that helps us maintain and thrive in relationships. A scarred ego has been damaged by repeated conflict and can seem to have a mind and motive of its own. Rather than help us seek win/win results, the ego may see the only path to winning is a
Caregiving Conflict: The Role of the Ego Read More »
“A person’s success in life can usually be measured by the number of uncomfortable conversations he or she is willing to have.” Timothy Ferriss National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) is April 16! NHDD focuses on vital end-of-life decisions. It is critical to have these discussions before an illness or accident because a plan to wait
Sustainable Aging and End-of-Life Conversations Read More »
My journey on the Caregiver River started in rough water and became increasingly more challenging until I was out of the raft altogether and almost completely submerged. As I reflect on the last seven years, I see the experience as a crystal clear rite of passage. I was wholly unprepared when I started this adventure.
Lessons Learned on the Caregiver River Read More »
Changing roles and responsibilities Caregiving changes our relationships. If our care recipient is our parent, our relationship shifts from parent / adult child to caree / caregiver. It may be a gradual shift over several years or a sudden shift in the case of a hospitalization or a disease diagnosis. Regardless of the pace of
Sustainable Caregiving: Boundaries Read More »
In sickness and in health Wedding vows don’t include the sickness and health of a spouse’s parents. I suppose it’s implied, but it wasn’t something that we considered or discussed until we were confronted with choices. Joe and I were like a small business partnership. We had been collaborating on life’s twists and turns and
Caregiving as a Couple: Our Keys to Collaboration Read More »
I take care of my Dad, who will be 99 this year. Being there for Dad in his 90s is the hardest thing I have ever done. What made it most difficult was when he was adamant that he didn’t need help, and it was obvious that he did. I was being held hostage, but
10 Unexpected Gifts I Received from My Caregiving Experience Read More »
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 »
