Alan Packer said, “We can do hard things—it’s the impossible that takes a little longer.” Well, we have been doing hard things for quite a while now. In fact, it seems that we are in the ‘impossible’ phase now. Truly, I believe we have been working on accomplishing the “impossible” for quite some time now, aided by resilience.
Kathy Dreyer
Recent Posts
The Impossible: Doing the Hard Things with Resilience
Posted by
Kathy Dreyer on Aug 3, 2020 6:56:19 AM
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Topics: The Family Caregiver, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, Family, Hospital Professionals, Faith Community, health
Reopening Nursing Homes: Balancing Needs and Safety
Posted by
Kathy Dreyer on Jul 27, 2020 6:41:19 PM
In May 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a memorandum for state and local officials to outline nursing homes reopening. The recommendations provide guidance on evaluating what steps to take to prevent COVID-19 transmission in nursing homes. In looking back to May 2020 and now, what, if anything, has changed? How are nursing homes balancing resident safety and resident needs with the COVID-19 restrictions in mind?
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Topics: Senior Care Professionals
Broken Heart Syndrome: Another Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Posted by
Kathy Dreyer on Jul 13, 2020 4:16:02 PM
As if life could not get worse. A recent study suggests more people are suffering with stress cardiomyopathy during this COVID-19 pandemic. Stress cardiomyopathy is also called broken heart syndrome.
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Topics: The Family Caregiver, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, compassionate touch, Dementia Live
Caregiving has been defined as the willingness to go at another person’s pace. Just like a pace car in auto racing, there is the person who sets the pace in caring, and the person who follows along. The pace car in racing sets the tempo of the other cars before the race officially begins. The person setting the pace in caregiving can be the care receiver or the caregiver. Ideally, a care receiver with dementia should set the pace, with the caregiver following.
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Topics: The Family Caregiver, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, Dementia Live
The sustained presence of COVID-19, including the fluctuating easing and reinstating of restrictions, makes it difficult to feel hopeful. As a result, it is critical to identify ways to support our mental and physical wellbeing. It will help us as we work to keep persevering.
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Topics: Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, Hospital Professionals
Nursing Assistants: The Backbone of Care and Heart of Compassion
Posted by
Kathy Dreyer on Jun 22, 2020 1:08:12 PM
June 18 through June 24 is National Nursing Assistants Week. The week honors and recognizes the hard work and effort direct care workers perform in caring for older adults.
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Topics: Senior Care Professionals
Several months ago, pre-COVID 19, I took a dance class. There were only about 8 or 10 women in the class. For the most part, we did not know each other. Although I have no identifiable dancing skills, I had the feeling of belonging there.
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Topics: Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, compassionate touch
Giving in to Grief and Loss: Permission to Be Vulnerable
Posted by
Kathy Dreyer on Jun 8, 2020 1:47:00 PM
COVID-19 has created many changes. We are washing our hands frequently, wearing masks, and staying at home. Unfortunately, these changes may be permanent. As a result, we cope with grief and loss in many ways. Current events have made our grief and loss more intense, leaving us vulnerable.
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Topics: Senior Care Professionals
Easing COVID-19 Restrictions: Going Forward...Moving Ahead?
Posted by
Kathy Dreyer on Jun 4, 2020 12:31:23 PM
The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) recently released recommendations for state and local officials to gradually reopen nursing homes. The CMS recommendations guide officials to evaluate the feasibility to ease COVID-19 restrictions. State survey agency and state and local health departments participate in the decision-making process. CMS provides questions to answer to assess next steps.
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Topics: The Family Caregiver, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver
Compassion Fatigue: Watching for Symptoms, Finding Solutions
Posted by
Kathy Dreyer on Jun 1, 2020 2:08:12 PM
As summer approaches, there is a gradual easing of COVID-19 restrictions in some states. Unfortunately, caregivers at home and in long-term care still continue to face repetitive days of providing care and support. These individuals are at risk to develop compassion fatigue.
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Topics: The Family Caregiver, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver
