How can National Family Caregiver Month affect caregiver stress? Well, news articles about the number of caregivers and their problems can certainly help raise awareness.  And sometimes that’s enough to get help. Every U.S. President since President Clinton in 1997 has recognized caregivers every year.  The National Family Caregiver Month started as a weekly observance during Thanksgiving week, and has expanded to include the entire month of November. In this year’s Proclamation of National Family Caregivers Month, President Obama wrote, “National Family Caregivers Month is... (Read More ...)

Are you thinking about senior home care for your spouse or loved one? Senior home care can allow you to continue to live in your home, delaying or sometimes even avoiding a nursing home.  Being in familiar surroundings — like the house you’ve shared for decades — can be a blessing.  Assuming you have the help and the house is suitable for the caring for someone with a chronic illness. Deciding about senior home care or other options is a big decision.  And you may feel like it is one of many decisions you now need to make alone.  It probably wasn’t always this way… Whether... (Read More ...)

Caregiver stress can quickly become overwhelming.  It can sneak up on you, taking more and more of your time, energy and resources.  Or it can quickly escalate with a crisis or sudden deterioration of the one you are giving care to.  Both quilting and knitting can help you deal with caregiver stress. When my mother could no longer quilt, she enjoyed watching me piece and quilt projects.  And when she needed a hospital bed, the quilt as you go squares from an unfinished quilt made covers for the bedrails.  They added padding to the hard metal rails.  And the sunny yellow and bright blues... (Read More ...)

Caregiver stress can be dangerous, even deadly.  If you are feeling caregiver stress your health and the health of those you care for may be at risk. My friend Mindy found out just how serious caregiver stress can be.  It can affect your health, your life and even the things like knitting you enjoy and do to relieve stress. When Mindy’s parents were no longer able to care for themselves, she moved them into the house next door.  She remodeled it and took over their care, including hiring caregivers. She supervised the caregivers, soon finding herself doing more and more.  In addition to... (Read More ...)

Mothers often share knitting and inspirational thoughts with their daughters. Today I wrote a Mother’s Day post on The Knitting Yarn, and am sharing it with you here. Did you first learn to knit from your mother or grandmother? Many knitters did. Like many crafts, it connects the generations. Today is Mother’s Day, and I found a poem I thought you might enjoy…   A Mother’s LoveThere are times when only a mother’s loveCan understand our tears,Can soothe our disappointsAnd calm all of our fears. There are times when only a mother’s loveCan share the joy we... (Read More ...)

Whether you are searching for the right senior community for yourself or loved ones, the process is similar. Finding the right one is often based mostly on your family’s financial needs. While financial needs are important – and may be your most important consideration – they are not the only consideration.  In making your loved ones’ or your own retirement wishes come true, you also should consider other needs important to you and your family.     When Eric was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, his wife Marie knew she had to find a specialized senior living community. ... (Read More ...)

Do you realize that many times elder care is not fun? You only have to do it for a very short time to realize how hard it is. Wondering if there’s an alternative? Yes!  One way to start is by finding the humor in situations, which can greatly relieve your caregiving stress and make caregiving less burdensome… When my mother was undergoing radiation therapy, it was a stressful time.  It was the middle of a cold, wet winter. Midway through the treatments, she lost her appetite and became depressed.  We worried she was losing her will to live.  The only thing that seemed to generate... (Read More ...)

The death this week of Coach Joe Paterno, longtime head football coach at Penn State seemed sudden. I don’t know that it was, or any more about the circumstances than have been reported.  Still, coming about two months after his reportedly abrupt dismissal, I have to wonder… One of my uncles was a middle manager for a large corporation for most of his career.  When the company started downsizing, he was encouraged to take early retirement.  When he refused initially, eventually he was forced into it. And died about two years later of complications from a heart attack.  Or more... (Read More ...)

One of the unintended consequences of the holiday season is the isolation caregivers often feel. I first learned this the hard way as an intern.  On the day of the staff Christmas party, one of my favorite patients coded and died.  I felt alone. Very alone. Since then I’ve spent many Christmases working.  Often the holiday calls fell to me.  And the lessons I learned about how isolated forgotten caregivers and patients can feel during the holidays will remain with me always. This recent article shows what caregivers often really want — and meaningful ways to remember them you won’t... (Read More ...)

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It brings back happy memories of watching Thanksgiving Day Parades and specials with my family.  And some elder care memories I’d just as soon forget. As a wise man told me, “I’m glad to have those memories in the past.” I hope you have much to be thankful for.  And enjoy this video of Linus giving Charlie Brown and his friends a special Thanksgiving Prayer.  Click here to see the video. Ever notice how much your stress decreases when you give thanks? It does.  Because gratitude is a very powerful connection - To Light… To... (Read More ...)