Written by Wendy Johnstone “All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.” ~Havelock Ellis What does life look for a caregiver when they are no longer a caregiver? Michael’s wife, Shelley, died after three years with cancer that spread to her liver and spine, causing pain that […]
Emotions of Caregiving
Grief is a Universal Experience
Grief is a universal experience that makes us human. The role of caregiving can be all encompassing and when a care recipient passes away it can lead to deep feelings of loneliness, emptiness, and loss. It is often an extremely emotional and uncertain time following the death of a care recipient and because grief is […]
The Grief Response
Dr. Tom Attig was a panelist in our “Coach Caregiver” webinar on Loss & Grief held in February 2017. This webinar was If you missed the webinar you can watch the recording on our website by going here. Tom has written several books on the topic of loss and grief and provided a handout for […]
Part 1: Why Boundary Setting is Important for Caregivers
“You have to be able to set boundaries, otherwise the rest of the world is telling you who you are and what you should be doing. You can still be a nice person and set boundaries.” – Oprah Winfrey One of the most common challenges that we hear from caregivers is how difficult it is […]
Celebrating our Mother Caregivers: Lycia’s Story
A personal story of how Lycia’s mother became her primary caregiver during her own initiation into motherhood. Six months after becoming a mother, my own mother visited me from Brazil in May 2019. My husband and I were thrilled to have her helping hands so tirelessly available while we were still learning how to […]
Caregiver’s Voice: Part 3 in a 3-Part Series of Taking Stock
Caregiving is now a common experience, however roles and activities can be very different from one caregiver to the next. Caregiving is dynamic, and it can move in different directions at any given time. Encouraging caregivers to use their voice, especially astheir role expands, can improve their own situation and the care team’s ability to […]
Strategies and Resources for Decision-Making: Taking Stock Part 1
STRATEGIES AND RESOURCES FOR DECISION-MAKING: TAKING STOCK FIRST IN A THREE-PART SERIES Betty, 80, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease five years ago. She is on the highest dosage of a “memory pill” and is well supported at home by her spouse. She is very functional and maintains a high level of independence and quality of […]
Strategies for Spousal Caregivers
Lisa has been living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for over five years. She and her partner, Michael, just celebrated 20 years together. Each have children from their previous relationships, and both are still working part-time. As Lisa’s symptoms worsen, she requires more assistance. Michael is struggling to balance the demands of being a partner and […]
Setting Boundaries Takes Practice
“Sure, Mom, I’ll help.” As soon as she spoke the words, Mary thought, “I do not have the time or energy for this! Why did I agree to help?” Sometimes we say “yes” automatically because we are people-pleasers. We could be feeling guilty or emotionally tied to a situation and, before we even think about […]
Creating Wellness When it Seems Impossible
When I’m working with a caregiver over the phone and I hear them struggling to prioritize their needs or find the time and energy to keep well, it’s incredibly difficult for me to respond with: “Put your own oxygen mask on first before helping the person you are caring for.” It’s one thing for […]