In the unpredictable journey of caregiving, moments of intense stress are not uncommon. Sudden health changes, behavioral outbursts, or logistical breakdowns can trigger overwhelming waves of anxiety and frustration. When tensions rise, having a reliable set of calming tools at your disposal is essential not only for your own well-being but for maintaining a safe and supportive environment for your loved one.…
Regular reminders help caregivers reduce stress While caring for your older adult, you may encounter stressful situations, annoyances, and arguments regularly. One way to reduce caregiving stress and the physical damage it causes is to regularly remind yourself of what’s important, let go of negativity, or take a brief time-out. But how can you remember to take moments to de-stress when every…
New Year’s Resolutions That Make Caregiving Easier and More Meaningful Barry Jacobs has been caring for his aging mother for the past 6.5 years. For the new year, he wrote an article for the Huffington Post titled 7 New Year’s Resolutions for Hopeful Family Caregivers. We love the inspiration behind Barry’s resolutions. They’re intended to help make a very tough job a little…
Sponsored by Senior Provider’s Network Yesterday I was living a normal married life, raising two wonderful children, and working at my dream job. Today, I’m an unemployed family caregiver, caring for my mother full-time at home. I’m stretched between my children and my mother, and it’s taking a toll on my marriage and finances. I do everything I can to support my family. Where…
This amazing tune can relax a caregiver in minutes Caregiving is an “always on” type of job. Even when you’re not actively working on caregiving tasks, you’re worrying, planning, or subconsciously staying alert. Over time, that type of responsibility and stress takes a serious toll. And when you’re trying to rest, turning off that “always on” feeling can be tough. To help…
This coping tip helps when caregiving is overwhelming Caring for an older adult means a lot of responsibility and worry. Feeling overwhelmed by caregiving can seem unavoidable. We found a simple coping tip from Quartz called affect labeling. It helps when you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious by reducing the emotional impact of those feelings and jump-starting the de-stressing process. We share key…
Why would someone criticize you as a caregiver? Caring for a parent or spouse is an even bigger challenge when family or friends feel free to criticize you. Especially if they aren’t even helping with caregiving. We share 3 reasons why they may be saying these negative and unfair things – that have very little to do with you. We also explain…
Caregiver stress sneaks up on you Caring for an older adult is a tough job that naturally causes a lot of stress. But a big problem with caregiver stress is that many caregivers don’t realize how stressed they truly are. That’s because stress is sneaky and often creeps up on you. It can do significant damage to your body and mind before…
Caregivers are too hard on themselves How can you be so stupid? Why didn’t you think that through? How could you not expect this to happen? Would you talk this way to a friend? Or even a stranger? Would you let a friend talk to you this way? Of course not! It’s rude, mean, and completely uncalled for. But how often do…
Make life easier with key Alzheimer’s caregiver tips Caring for an older adult with Alzheimer’s or dementia can be a scary challenge. It’s even more overwhelming because you’ve been thrown into this role with no training. We’ve put together 6 key Alzheimer’s caregiver tips and resources that give a solid foundation. These essentials help both new and experienced caregivers feel calmer and…
