Topic: caregiver burnout
Life is demanding. More so when you are caring for others.
The responsibilities of caring for someone who is older or has special needs or disabilities can be demanding on your physical, mental, financial, emotional, and social health.
Just as flight attendants advise at the beginning of every flight to “put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others,” the same advice applies to family caregivers. Putting your own oxygen mask on first is a metaphor for self-care.
We all need a break from the demands of daily life. This is especially true for family care partners. Respite is an important yet often overlooked aspect of every family care partner’s self-care. …
My friend Betsy Fitzgerald, care partner to a lung transplant survivor with metastatic cancer, recently shared an update: “I’ve been mending my life, Kintsugi, patching broken pieces together. It is not easy; some pieces are sharp edged, some not quite fitting, some missing. We do the best we can.”
Her role as a care partner comes with recognizing the need for self-care. And part of self-care has been acknowledging her need for “patching,” hence the Kintsugi reference.
Kintsugi is a Japanese art form that teaches us to repair the broken pieces, making us stronger and more resilient than before. It can symbolize hope, healing, and lead to a new kind of beauty. How might we apply the art of Kintsugi to the caregiver journey? …
What is stress? A common definition is “physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension.” Another popular definition is “a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize.” (For more information, visit The American Institute of Stress).
Stress is a ubiquitous part of life, impacting each of us differently. It’s the body’s normal response to change or a threat. Too much stress, especially if chronic, can impact mental health and overall well-being. …
February is Heart Health Month and February 2, is Go Red for Women Day, the American Heart Association’s signature women’s initiative to increase awareness about cardiovascular disease.
Over 60 million women in the U.S. are living with some form of heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women and can affect women at any age.
In most cases, heart disease is preventable with a healthy lifestyle. This includes not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood sugar and cholesterol, treating high blood pressure, engaging in regular moderate-intensity physical activity, managing stress, and getting regular checkups. …
“I was greatly elated by the discovery that there is a physiologic basis for the ancient theory that laughter is good medicine,” wrote Norman Cousins. …
Do you find you are experiencing a mixed range of emotions when it comes to your aging parents? It’s not uncommon to feel guilt, calm, sadness, anger, joy, resentment, love, and exhaustion at the same time.
In this excerpt of a fuller discussion — Aging Parents: What You Need to Know — Lisa Mayfield, Founder and Principal, Aging Wisdom, talks with Joanie Parsons, RevelEleven, about how to set health boundaries and best address time challenges. These healthy boundaries help to keep emotions in balance too. …
Whether caregiving for a family member, friend, or neighbor, anyone who has been in the role of caring for another understands that stress is a natural part of the journey.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) stress can be defined as “a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. Stress is a natural human response that prompts us to address challenges and threats in our lives. Everyone experiences stress to some degree. The way we respond to stress, however, makes a big difference to our overall well-being.” …
Summer celebrations are upon — Independence Day, family reunions, graduations, weddings. All are wonderful opportunities to gather, though often filled with high expectations, requiring lots of energy and engagement. For individuals and families living with dementia, it can be challenging. A time of high anxiety.
To minimize anxiety and encourage an inclusive, more enjoyable holiday and gatherings for all, a little advance planning can go a long way in ensuring everyone has a wonderful time. …
As we enter our third year of the COVID pandemic, it’s important to pause and acknowledge how it has stretched us all emotionally, physically, mentally, and financially. Daily life is challenging enough. Toss in an ever-evolving pandemic and the landscape becomes more complex.
Family caregivers, you have been hit exceptionally hard. We want to acknowledge that too. We also want to say “We see you. We celebrate you. We thank you!” …
Caregiver Burnout: Is Your Flame About to Fizzle? (Updated COVID Edition)Read More »
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. We thought it would be helpful to share some best practices we’ve adopted over the years in caring for ourselves, while also working to reduce our risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or delaying its progression or onset.
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8 Tips for Reducing the Risk of Developing Alzheimer’sRead More »