Caregiving

How to Deal with Caregiver Resentment and Redirect Your Energy in Positive Ways

When my mom finally came home after a week in intensive care, she took every opportunity to insist to my siblings and me: “I don’t want any of you to put your lives to the side for me. I want you to be able to live your lives without worrying or feeling like you need to give anything up because of what I’m going through.” Of course, we honestly replied (tearfully) that our own lives and happiness are directly, inherently linked with hers. But she was shining a light on a significant emotional challenge that many caregivers face.

Yoga for Caregivers: Poses and Affirmations to Refresh and Empower You

There is no one tool or solution for achieving all-around balance—it takes a comprehensive strategy to avoid burnout—but yoga for caregivers can certainly be counted as a powerful force for peace and positivity amidst the challenges.

Meals for Older Adults with No Teeth: Planning and Prep Ideas for Caregivers

After my aging grandmother lost all of her teeth, she seemed to lose some of her spark. Food was her one true love and she used to eat with the enthusiasm of a hungry child. It was heartbreaking to see that one of her greatest sources of enjoyment became a chore when she lost the ability to chew.

Reporting Elder Abuse in California: What to Do If You Suspect Mistreatment or Neglect

When Tasha realized that her uncle had been stealing his mother’s money for years—small amounts at a time that had been getting bigger—she says she felt paralyzed by the shock of it. Lee had offered to manage his mother’s bills and other finances, and the rest of the family trusted that everything was taken care of. Tasha could hear her uncle’s voice in her head if she were to ask him about it: “I think my mom wants me to have some compensation for all the time I spend. It’s not really a big deal. I’m going to inherit a lot of it anyway.”

Social Media for Caregivers: How to Share Your Personal Stories Compassionately

A nurse during the week and a family caregiver on the weekends, Jennifer was struggling with the work overload. She felt relief by blowing off some steam on Facebook, and it became a daily habit, sometimes even while she was spending time caring for her aging aunt. But when her aunt asked how the neighbor knew to call and offer help with the broken dishwasher, Jennifer began to realize just how small the world becomes under the umbrella of social media. Luckily, she hadn’t yet shared anything too personal, and it helped to remind her of the tricky balance caregivers need to find between responsible self-care and compassionate care of loved ones.

What Does Elder Abuse Mean to Me? Our Collective Responsibility to Equality

July 4th is the day to celebrate our dream of freedom and equality. But June is the month to remember the reality of our inequality and our aching responsibility to recommit to freedom. June is World Elder Abuse Awareness Month, and we will work to lift the veil of denial, finger-pointing, and mistaken relief that elder abuse “isn’t my problem.” The problems and the solutions belong to every single one of us as an interdependent community made up of diverse ages, lifestyles, and personal desires for happiness.

How Can Innovative Technology Help Long-Distance Caregivers Care for Aging Parents?

From where I live, roughly 2,500 miles away, I transmit my love and care for my aging parents. The space between breeds some heartache and guilt, but when I can focus on the progressive solutions, at least, I’m not inflating those feelings unnecessarily. I’m certainly most helpful to my parents when I can tap into the more positive feelings and actions.

Home Visits Enhance Medication Management for Older Adults and Take Burden Off of Family Caregivers

It’s one of the strange ironies of life that when you need your memory the least, you have the most of it. When you are younger, you barely have to think about things like medicine, what to eat, or how to handle a routine. You can throw anything into your body and be fine. But older adults who have a stricter medical regiment also are the most likely to suffer lapses in memory and difficulty holding onto routines.

Caring for Older Adults After Cardiac Surgery: Tips for How to Prepare

There aren’t too many phrases that evoke more dread and fear than “open-heart surgery.” After all, the patient is literally having their chest opened and their heart operated on, which is not something you usually want to happen. In many ways, the main difference between surgery and violence is the intent.

Overcoming Housing Challenges for LGBT Older Adults in the San Francisco Bay Area

It wasn’t that long ago that housing specifically for the LGBT community was, at best, unthinkable, and at worst, very dangerous. There might have been some instances when apartment owners turned a blind eye and rented to “spinsters” or “confirmed bachelors,” but larger groups of LGBT members living together could be turned on in an instant by authorities or by the community.