Archive for January 2018

More at… https://thecaregiverspace.org/what-a-difference-a-year-has-made/ Last year at this time my husband knew who I was. He could recognize our sons, even if he mixed up their names. By spring he was still walking, talking, knowing us, and (mostly) going to the bathroom on his own. Sure, you could see the dementia creeping in. Sometimes he didn’t make sense when … Read More

More at… https://thecaregiverspace.org/self-care-for-caregivers-your-burden-matters/ Caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s or a family member with a disability sometimes isn’t always a choice. Often caregivers simply step up to fill a need — usually not even realizing the amount of stress and responsibility they are taking on. Being a caregiver can be extremely an rewarding and… Read More

More at… https://thecaregiverspace.org/parenting-my-parents/ “I feel as if I’m parenting my parents.” As the holidays approach, you may be bracing yourself to use this phrase often at family gatherings. And to speak about the role reversal your parents’ aging process seems to have brought on, and how you are the adult. But language such as “role rev… Read More

More at… https://thecaregiverspace.org/tips-for-creating-a-caregiver-schedule/ Here’s the pattern. I wake-up optimistic and end the day collapsed in defeat.  I wake-up every morning like your neighbor’s annoying dog, brimming with pep and vim, only to feel that enthusiasm fade into disappointment.  I know, I know… It’s annoying to be a morning person … Read More

More at… http://thecaregiversvoice.com/avadian-musings/2018-the-caregivers-voice-20th-anniversary/ It’s The Caregiver’s Voice 20th Anniversary! Twenty years ago, encouraged by support group members, The Caregiver’s Voice filled a void left by family caregivers and their loved ones who would not share their experiences, publicly. We’ve made progress in reducing the stigma. … Read More

More at… https://thecaregiverspace.org/majority-of-hospice-workers-dont-have-end-of-life-wishes-themselves/ There are approximately 6,100 hospices nationwide that provide care for about 1.6 million patients annually. On a daily basis, health care providers, especially those dealing with terminally ill patients, such as hospice workers, witness how advance directives – an important document specifying ch… Read More

More at… https://thecaregiverspace.org/many-cancer-survivors-are-living-with-ptsd/ A recent study showed approximately one-fifth of patients with cancer experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) several months after diagnosis, and many of these patients continued to live with PTSD years later. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cance… Read More

More at… https://thecaregiverspace.org/aiming-to-do-less-in-2018/ During my time with The Caregiver Space, I’ve continually tried to go more with less. When I couldn’t keep up with the sheer number of hours I was putting in, we brought in more volunteers, more interns, more part-time staff. While we managed to do way more stuff with all the additional… Read More