Elder Care ABC

In a previous post, I discussed things to consider before providing parent care in your home.  Providing parent care in your home may reduce privacy for you and your parent.  Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity (ECHO) is a solution to increase privacy. ECHO started in Australia.  Under the ECHO concept, a family temporarily adds a small [...]

Recently, my aging uncle was hospitalized after a fall that resulted in a broken hip. During his surgery, he was incorrectly intubated, causing damage to his throat, resulting in a loss of the ability to swallow. Gradually, he regained some of this ability and was taken to a senior care home to recover until he [...]

It’s been a year since my mother died and my caregiving ended.  The caregiving was an all consuming responsibility.  I yearned for my role to end and I dreaded it at the same time. About a year before my mother died, she experienced a sharp decline.  For the first time I realized that some day [...]

We’re all care providers here. Whether we’re parents, children caring for parents or lucky enough to be the “sandwich” generation (caring for both parents and children simultaneously) it’s often hard to find a moment to breathe, let alone relax. After all, there are meals to cook, errands to run, bills to pay, medical appointments to [...]

Caregivers who use respite care often tell me that although caregiving is one of the most rewarding jobs they’ve ever had, they couldn’t do it without a break now and then. The emotional and physical demands of senior care make it hard to do 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Without respite care [...]

Caregiving is a twenty-four hour a day job. Those who decide to take on this enormous responsibility of providing care for loved ones often experience physical and emotional stress. Not only that, but sleep deprivation often causes fatigue and illness to caregivers. This article offers practical advice for family caregivers on how they can remain [...]

A habit is a constant, often unconscious inclination to perform some act, acquired through its frequent repetition. If the habit is objectionable, we call it a “bad habit”. It’s possible to control your habits and make a positive change in as little as 30 days. Focus on one habit at a time.

Everyone experiences some type of decline in vision as we age. If your loved one is experiencing vision loss, you are both likely going through some strong emotions. The Impact on The Parent My mother-in-law is losing her eyesight due to glaucoma. Each day her tunnel of vision gets smaller, the clarity diminishes. She’s at [...]