Kathy MacaraegAre You Ready to Be a Caregiver to an Aging Loved One?
Being a caregiver to a family member can be rewarding, but it can also take a toll on your emotions, your finances and your family. While you may feel like you have no choice, there are resources that you can consider if you don’t feel like caregiving is the right choice for you. It doesn’t have to destroy your family bond. Even if you don’t take on the full role of caregiver, you can still have a strong, active role in ensuring your aging parent is safe and healthy. If you have siblings or other family members you can rely
Continue readingEffects of Sibling Rivalry on Caregiving
How to Handle Past Rivalries So Your Aging Parents Don’t Suffer Family dynamics can be tricky when an aging parent needs caregiving. Siblings go from living their own independent lives to sharing caregiving duties with each other. Effects of Sibling Rivalry on Caregiving The problem comes when old rivalries arise. You may also have grown apart and have different ideas of acceptable caregiving or what’s best for mom or dad. It can affect your relationship with each other and put your aging parent in an uncomfortable position. So, how can you work together to ensure your parent is receiving the proper
Continue reading
Kendall VanBlarcomCaregiving After a Stroke
Suffering a stroke is a life threatening experience. Actually, it’s the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. Early intervention can save someone’s life, but there may still be some effects from it such as speech difficulties, drastic decline in cognitive abilities and motor skills. Caregiving After a Stroke Caring for someone who has suffered a stroke can be incredibly exhausting. The person needs mental, emotion, and physical care, and many times around the clock. These demands can seem like too much for many caregivers who also have a family of their own and a job. Depression and anxiety are common effects
Continue readingNormal Caregiver Emotions
Guess what? You’re not alone. Anyone who tells you they are happy every minute of every day is probably lying. Not all caregiving tasks are fun and not all moments are pleasant. Negative Caregiver Emotions You may feel guilty feeling these emotions, or not want to express them out loud, but these emotions are totally normal and it is highly likely that every caregiver has felt them at one time or another. Resentment: Whether you resent the situation (why did my spouse have to get in an accident) or you resent the cause (if my mom didn’t smoke, she wouldn’t
Continue readingSurvival Guide for New Caregivers
Whether you saw it coming or not, caring for an aging parent can be a challenge. Your parent may have been on a gradual decline, giving you the opportunity to plan ahead and implement care strategies a little bit at a time; or your parent may have taken a fall and broken a hip, resulting in the need for immediate care. Whatever the case, jumping into the role of caregiver can be overwhelming. What steps do you need to take to ensure your parent is properly cared for? How can you fit it into your already full life? Where can
Continue readingSharing Caregiving With Siblings
Does your parent suddenly need care and you and your siblings are struggling with how to manage caregiving duties? While it can be difficult to figure out a system that will work for your family, once you create a plan that includes everyone, the burden will be lighter for all involved. Define the Caregiving Tasks Let’s face it. There is always going to be one sibling who lives closer or has more free time – or makes more free time – who will take the leadership role. That doesn’t mean that person has to do everything all alone. If you
Continue readingHow to Know When to Bring in a Paid Caregiver
Not everyone will eventually need family or paid caregivers. Many people are independent and care for themselves all the way up to the end. Some people may just need a little bit of help from their loved ones to keep them independent while others need a lot of help and support as they age. If you have an aging loved one who isn’t able to remain independent, it can be overwhelming and stressful, no matter how strong your relationship is. Once you add in the stress of managing your own life, particularly if you are still working or are also
Continue readingCommunicating and Alzheimer’s Disease
One of the challenges of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease is effectively communicating with them. They may have difficulty expressing their needs or the caregiver may not know how to address their changing ability. Caregivers can also get annoyed or frustrated because their caree repeats words or forgets the words for common items. To make communication go more smoothly, it helps to understand what the common challenges are, and then move forward with solutions. Once you understand the challenge, it can be easier to communicate with them. You realize what they are experiencing is a normal part of the
Continue reading
Richard BitnerUnderstand Your Caregiving Options
Choosing Between 24-Hour Home Care and Live-In Caregivers There are a number of reasons why a senior might require round-the-clock care. Severe illness, acute disability, or a memory disorder can all lead to 24/7 care and support. While many seniors and their families choose to make the move to a nursing home at this stage, others prefer to receive care at home, where seniors feel most comfortable. Understand Your Caregiving Options If you have a loved one who requires constant care, you’ll need to choose between a live-in caregiver and a 24-hour home care service. Each offers its own benefits and
Continue reading