Care for the Caregiver
Care for the Caregiver Articles for Caregivers
The Roller Coaster of Caregiving
The decisions to become a caregiver are usually made in crisis situations. We rarely have time to consider the ramifications of these decisions nor do we really fully understand that there are any ramifications. Read more
After the Support Group: Notes to Remember
At last night's meeting there was a lot of talk about guilt...guilt about getting angry, not wanting to spend time with a family member with dementia, especially in the face of ongoing aggressive behavior... Read more
Finding Adult Day Care Options
Caregivers who are just beginning their journey may feel adult day care services are for later stages of their loved one’s situation. The sooner caregivers locate and enroll their family member in a program Read more
Involving Others in Your Caregiving
Receiving some extra help or consideration from others goes a long way to helping you deal with the daily rigors of life. Read more
Remembering Mimi and Learning How to Balance Life
How do we balance our needs with the needs of those around us? Maybe it is okay that we don’t know the answer as long as we are searching. Finding the balance is truly an art form. Read more
Guilt Free Caregiving
I read a comment in a publication by Catholic Family Services in Michigan about caregiving: “As a caregiver, you are consumed by guilt, doom, fear, hopelessness and even helplessness.” Read more
Not Another Sleepless Night
Caregivers exert enough energy during the day to power a small nuclear submarine, but sleep deprivation is a common problem among a large percentage of caregivers. Read more
Karen's Story - I Was both a Patient and Caregiver
I think when one becomes a 24/7 caregiver, they mentally move into that space in which only the take-charge dwell. They develop a tunnel vision Read more
7 Essential Do’s and Don'ts for People Caring for Caregivers
I decided to write this article to provide some tips to the wonderful people who are caring for caregivers. My father was diagnosed with Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome, a form of dementia resulting from chronic alcohol abuse. Read more
Surviving as a Caregiver During a Global Pandemic
Caregivers can struggle with anxiety resulting from loneliness and isolation. The challenges those caring for family members face may lead to depression and other health issues. Read more
Caregiver Corner - Managing Guilt
One of the most frustrating things about being a caregiver is the guilt that most of us carry. What do we feel guilty about? We tend to feel guilty that we aren’t doing enough to help the person we’re caring for. Read more
Caregiver Burnout
Being able to cope with the strains and stresses of being a caregiver is part of the art of caregiving. To remain healthy,we must be able to see our own limitations and learn to care for ourselves as well as others. Read more
Holidays, Gifts and Stress
Even if you’re not a caregiver, the threat of the holidays being right around the corner strikes instant fear, terror and major stress into the hearts of almost everyone. However, there is hope for caregivers to enjoy the holiday season... Read more
Fearless Caregiver Manifesto
We family caregivers also need and deserve our own guiding set of principles, our own manifesto: The Fearless Caregiver Manifesto. Read more
Eight Tips to Managing Caregiver Guilt
For caregivers, painful feelings — such as guilt, sadness and anger — are like any other pain. It’s your body’s way of saying, “Pay attention.” Read more
The Opportunity to Pause
Do a simple search and you will come up with a plethora of articles, books, and podcasts on the challenges of caregiving, the importance of self-care, and a laundry list of everything one “gives up” in order to take care of another person. Read more
Dealing with Caregiver Guilt
Caregivers often carry around undeserved guilt, believing that they aren’t doing enough for their loved ones. This guilt can make the caregiving role even more stressful than it already is. Read more
Starting and Running A Caregiver Support Group
A caregiver support group is a regularly scheduled, informal gathering of people whose lives are directly or indirectly affected by the caregiving needs of another. If you are thinking about starting a support group, start here. Read more
The Art of Multitasking and Still Remaining Focused
Caregiving itself is an art. Many today are part of the Sandwich Generation who find themselves caring for both young children and teenagers as well as aging parents. Read more
Hiring an In-Home Caregiver: What You Don’t Know Could Hurt You
For older adults, in-home non-medical care might be the key to independence. However, the quality of care depends on the quality of the caregiver. Read more