Becoming a Caregiver: Knowing the Tipping Points and Accepting Your Role as a Caregiver

Posted by Kathy Dreyer on Jan 20, 2020 12:33:04 PM

Rosalyn Carter once noted that there are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers. Her quote is an accurate assessment of how being a caregiver is a part of our lives, in one way or another. There is a tipping point for becoming a caregiver, and each person can have a different experience with caregiving. Caregiving can be long-term or short-term, depending on the care recipient.

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Topics: The Family Caregiver, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, Caregiver, caregivers, caregiving

Infection Control and Expressive Touch: We Can Have Both

Posted by Julie Boggess on Jul 15, 2019 9:42:59 AM
The healing benefit of expressive touch is lacking in the lives of older adults.
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Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, Training, compassionate touch, caregiving, older adults, skilled nursing, infection control, expressive touch

Did Your Know that Practicing Gratitude Can Actually Improve Your Health and Well Being

Posted by Pam Brandon on May 6, 2019 9:43:54 AM

Don't you enjoy being around people who are naturally grateful?  Can we cultivate an attitude of gratefulness ourselves?  Of course, we can!  Practicing gratitude not only is good for our souls but can improve our health and well- being.

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Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, leadership, caregiving, gratitude

When to Say Yes and How to Say No - Creating Healthy Boundaries

Posted by Pam Brandon on Feb 19, 2019 4:01:20 PM

Caregivers are a unique group of people.  Naturally nurturing and compassionate, such empathetic traits can also lead to complex challenges.  Creating healthy boundaries is especially tough when you are the type of person that wants to help.  Learning when to say yes and how to say no is essential for caregivers to stay physically, emotionally and spiritually healthy.

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Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, caregivers, leadership, caregiving, Faith Community, Boundaries, Caregiver Health

The Family Caregiving Tsunami is Here. How are We Supporting Them?

Posted by Pam Brandon on Nov 8, 2018 2:38:21 PM

We have a family caregiving tsunami whose tidal waves are affecting every corner of our society.  I venture to say that most communities are not prepared for the domino effects of a fast-aging population let along to provide support to their families that are scrambling to stay above water - emotionally, physically and financially.

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Topics: Senior Care Professionals, aging services, Family Caregiver, Family, caregivers, leadership, Alzheimer's disease, caregiving, Faith Community, family caregivers, support, National Family Caregivers Month

Grief, Guilt, and Anxiety - How We can Help Caregivers

Posted by Pam Brandon on Jul 17, 2018 10:44:22 AM

As a long time family caregiver and professional in this field, I can tell you that the myriad of emotions that caregivers face on a daily basis is complex and ever-changing.  That said, grief, guilt, and anxiety are certainly at the top of the list.   How can we, as professionals in this field, better understand family needs and partner alongside them on this difficult journey?

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Topics: Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, Senior Care, Family, caregivers, Hospital Professionals, caregiving, family caregivers, professionals, families, Anxiety, AGE-u-cate Training Insitute, Grief

How Can we Avoid and All-Out Family Feud over Mom's Teapot?

Posted by Pam Brandon on Oct 3, 2017 9:27:16 AM

I was very fortunate, for  when my sweet mom passed, no one else asked for "the teapot".  It wasn't particularly pretty, and certainly of no monetary value.  But to me it was priceless reminder of the tender moments we had together to talk about an endless number of topics that mothers and daughters share. Often accompanied by a scrumptious homemade sweet, we always had back-up favorites in the freezer so we were never without an accompaniment for our favorite Bigelows "Constant Comment".   When we weren't chatting and sipping, we would often play a quick game of Yahtzee, Gin Rummy or in latter years, our absolute favorite go- to game,   Rumikub.

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Topics: Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, Elders, Family, caregiving, Faith Community, parents, Feud, Age-u-cate Training Institue, children

The Art of Caregiving - Can it be Mastered?

Posted by Pam Brandon on Sep 22, 2017 10:28:33 AM

Artist and blogger Phil Davies say the reason most frustrated artist stay frustrated is that they don't know how to practice their drawing and painting skills.  Each time they draw or paint a picture, they just hope it turns out better than the last one.  If we approach caregiving skills as an art, the question then is can it be mastered?

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Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, The Family Caregiver, Senior Care Professionals, caregivers, leadership, caregiving, Faith Community, professionals, art, families

Why are my parents suddenly so stubborn?

Posted by Pam Brandon on Sep 19, 2017 10:12:02 AM

The Big "S" word.  It comes up more often than you would think and for good reason.  Adult children who are in any phase of caregiving for their parents, even in the very beginning stages share their frustrations of their parents suddenly being stubborn.   Why is this happening?

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Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, behaviors, caregiving, Faith Community, role reversal, family caregivers, parents, children, older adults

Boomers Optimistic about Their Future - Until They Need Care

Posted by Pam Brandon on Sep 12, 2017 2:29:02 PM

A survey form the National Council on Aging, UnitedHealthcare and USA Today concluded that most Boomers are optimistic about their future.  That is until you ask them about needing help as they age.  When it comes to the issues surrounding who will provide caregiving when they no longer are able, optimism turns to fear.

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Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, Family Caregiver, caregivers, leadership, caregiving, Faith Community, family caregivers, families, long term care, Shortages, home care, boomers

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