Conflicted relationships make caregiving more difficult Some parents may have been neglectful, mean, absent, or abusive. When they need care, it can put you in a difficult situation. If you’re struggling with making decisions about caring for parents who didn’t care for you, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. Many adult children have complicated relationships with their aging parents, especially…
Worrying hurts caregiver health and relationships One thing all caregivers do is worry. What if dad doesn’t take his heart medication? What if mom falls and gets seriously injured? What if my spouse has another stroke? These concerns are legitimate and serious, but constant worry is stressful and will wear you down. Too much worry can create anxiety, paralyze problem solving, and cause…
When family doesn’t believe seniors need help You might be frustrated by family members who are in denial about your older adult’s declining health and increasing care needs. Whether it’s about Alzheimer’s, dementia, fall risk, stroke recovery, or another health condition, their denial can make you feel angry, stressed, and frustrated. We explain why someone might be in denial and share 3…
Gratitude is a quick and easy way to reduce caregiver stress A quick, easy, and effective way to reduce caregiver stress is to practice gratitude. Gratitude is about noticing that there are some good things in your life, no matter how difficult things get. Calling attention to the positive things helps you shift perspective and see that things are not always completely…
Hear from caregivers just like you Real stories from caregivers are powerful and moving. Hearing these deeply personal experiences first hand helps us realize that we’re not alone. Many other people are on similarly challenging journeys. We share 3 personal stories from seasoned caregivers where they discuss the battle-tested coping tips that kept them going when things got really tough. 1. The…
Caregiver stress is unavoidable, but can be managed Stress is an unavoidable part of being a caregiver. But for long term health and well-being, it’s important to find ways to take care of ourselves and manage stress. In addition, when we’re feeling better, we can be even better caregivers. To help with that, put together a list of 14 practical stress relief…
Caregiving can strain sibling relationships For some families, working with siblings to care for aging parents can be almost as challenging as the caregiving itself. In an AARP article from Dr. Barry Jacobs, he talks about his experience working with his brother to care for their mother and the challenges and conflicts that come up for most siblings. We share his 5…
Caregiver guilt is common, and stressful Caregivers often have very high (and often unfair) expectations for themselves. That can add a significant amount of stress and guilt to an already tough job, reduce your quality of life, and make it harder to care for your older adult. Dr. Barry J. Jacobs, an AARP caregiving expert, has years of personal experience caring for…
Caregiver stress is a serious issue You’re probably well aware that caregiver stress can have a serious negative impact on your health and ability to care for your older adult. That’s why managing and reducing stress is so important. It helps you stay healthy so you can continue caregiving. But we often convince ourselves that we’re less stressed than we really are.…
Managing time is an essential caregiving skill Time is precious when you’re caring for an older adult. There’s so much to do, both for them and for you, and only 24 hours in a day. Amy Goyer, AARP’s family caregiving expert, has plenty of experience getting more done with less stress. She’s learned essential time management skills through real-life experience. Amy has…
