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 […]
Self-care
The Value of Peer Support
“New to the caregiver support group, I was so nervous and skeptical about attending. My doctor suggested I give it a try. They were all strangers to me; I wasn’t sure if I wanted to open up about my wife’s disease. As I walked to my car after the meeting, I felt a big weight […]
Caregiving Done Safely
Caregiving often involves physically demanding tasks. It requires conscientious care for your loved one – and for your own health. Performing tasks in a way that minimizes stress on your body can help prevent injuring yourself and the person for whom you are caring.
Caregiving Done Safely
By Wendy Johnstone Caregiving often involves physically demanding tasks. It requires conscientious care for your loved one – and for your own health. Performing tasks in a way that minimizes stress on your body can help prevent injuring yourself and the person for whom you are caring. Consulting with a specialist such as a rehabilitation […]
Living With Chronic Pain
By Wendy Johnstone Chronic pain can be overwhelming. Chronic pain is different for everyone and finding out what works to help manage it might take some trial and error. Caring for someone else while in pain adds an extra layer of complexity. Sarah, 55, lives with fibromyalgia and is a caregiver to her spouse who […]
Summer Holidays
By Wendy Johnstone It’s that time again – summer holidays – and for myself that means a week long cycling trip in Oregon to recharge my batteries. Yes, this week’s column on caregivers taking holidays is a bit of a “re-run” from last summer. In my defense, I would argue some information is worth repeating […]
Melt away stress with conscious breathing
During our recent webinar on Loss & Grief (available at www.familycaregiversbc.ca/webinars), guest panelist Christy Linder talked about incorporating Frank Ostaseski’s approach to finding a place of rest in the middle of things (YouTube: “Find A Place of Rest in the Middle of Things – Self Care for Caregivers”) to coach her sick mother with conscious […]
Caregiving: Unexpected Changes
My Dad is 95 years old and honestly, some days I can’t believe he is still alive. I’m his only daughter and caregiver. I’ve been looking after him for 4 years now. In those years, we’ve had pneumonia, a broken hip and a stroke. What I’ve really learned is there are always unexpected challenges. I […]
Turning plans into action
Many caregivers acknowledge the importance of caring for themselves yet, in another breath, we hear them use statements such as, “I feel overwhelmed,” “I’m stressed out,” “I’m too busy to eat, let alone find time to stay healthy,” or “there are so many things to do, how can I make time for myself?” Firstly, self-care […]