Caregiver

Food for Thought May Not Be Food at All

March 9, 2022

| Categories: Caregiver, Exercise, Health

As I wrote in last week's column, March is National Nutrition Month. In discussing nutrition, I emphasized that it is more than what you eat - it's also how you treat your body, mind, and spirit. In that theme, I'd like to introduce a new (to some of you) concept: Primary vs. Secondary food. When you think of "food," you likely think of what you put in your mouth - breakfast, lunch, and dinner. However, The Institute for Integrative Nutrition actually considers the food you eat your...

Time to Rest and Recharge: The Impact of Stress on Your Heart

February 16, 2022

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| Categories: Caregiver, Health

As we continue through Heart Health month, I'd like to do a deeper dive into stress management and how it can affect your heart. When discussing heart health, we tend to focus on food and fitness – however, there are other major players in the health game when it comes to your heart: stress and sleep. There is growing evidence that stress can contribute to heart disease. Sometimes it’s difficult to recognize the impact daily stress has on our lives – we become accustomed...

Caregivers are Only Human – Guest Contributor Jill Gafner Livingston

February 3, 2022

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| Categories: Caregiver, Challenging Diseases/illnesses/Conditions

Caregiving for your loved one can be an emotionally and physically exhausting experience. For many families, the need for care comes on suddenly, and without the time and resources to adequately prepare for the circumstances. Throughout my career, I have counseled families as they make difficult and emotional decisions about the next steps for their aging family members. As a care provider, I found much comfort in the experiences and stories of individuals who have managed a care plan and hearing how they...

Haven’t Got Time for the Pain? Tips for Managing Chronic Discomfort

January 26, 2022

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| Categories: Caregiver, Challenging Diseases/illnesses/Conditions

Chronic pain is more common than you might imagine. Everyone experiences pain from time to time; Pain alerts us to potential health concerns and injuries. Chronic pain occurs when it lasts longer than 12 weeks. The National Center for Health Statistics approximates that 76.2 million Americans (1 in 4 people) regularly experience pain that lasts longer than 24 hours, and millions more have acute pain. It is the most common cause of Long-Term disability in the United States. Symptoms of...

Does Your Loved One Need Help? A Guide to Recognizing Red Flags for Our Aging Family Members

January 18, 2022

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| Categories: Caregiver, Family

It can be difficult to know when your aging loved one could use assistance in their home. The desire to maintain independence can make them more secretive. As things become increasingly challenging, they may hide or minimize incidents. The fear of losing independence can outweigh their ability to see the risks to their health and safety. The bottom line is many older adults find it difficult to accept they need help. When you visit your loved one, you need to...

Taking Care of Yourself During National Family Caregivers Month

November 22, 2021

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| Categories: Caregiver, Family, Personal Care Topics

If you’ve ever been the primary caregiver for a child, parent or someone with disabilities, you already know the strain being a caregiver can have as well as the importance of taking care of yourself. The month of November was established as National Family Caregivers Month by President Bill Clinton to show appreciation and support to those who provide much-needed care for others. Below are some things to keep in mind while you are serving as a caregiver for your...

The Benefits of Companionship

August 31, 2021

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| Categories: Caregiver, Senior Care

Healthy living is always important, but it becomes even more so as we get older. Aging is commonly associated with a number of different health complications, from the flu to arthritis. While there are many healthy precautions that senior populations can take, there remains one risk that they should look out for: loneliness. According to a report from the University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging, one in three seniors feel lonely and that chronic loneliness can impact seniors’...

Easy Ways to Keep Your Senior Safe at Home

August 10, 2021

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| Categories: Caregiver, Senior Safety

There is no place like home, but as our loved ones get older, it is not always safe to keep things the way they are. Deciding whether the home environment is safe for your aging loved one is essential, but there are some simple steps you can take during this process: Fall hazards. Falls are the leading cause of injury for seniors, so one simple way to prevent this is to remove fall risks such as throw rugs, unneeded furniture...

How to Beat Caregiver Burnout

June 29, 2021

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| Categories: Caregiver, Family

Family caregivers do a lot and all that they do requires energy. If your own energy levels aren’t where you want them to be, there might be a good reason for that. There are some simple tricks you can put into place to boost your energy. If you’re still feeling sluggish, be sure to talk to your doctor about what might be going on with your overall health. Watch the Caffeine Caffeine definitely gives you an energy boost, but it...

Independent, Assisted or Nursing? Which Living Option One is Right for Your Loved One?

June 1, 2021

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| Categories: Caregiver, Senior Care, Senior Safety

When one thinks of moving their loved one into an assisted living facility, several things come to mind. What will it look like? What amenities are included? What are the activities and food like? Will their needs be met so they can be happy, healthy and safe? All of these questions are crucial ones, but it is also important to understand the difference between the three living situations and what it will look like. Independent living. The independent living category...

Category: Caregiver

Food for Thought May Not Be Food at All

Time to Rest and Recharge: The Impact of Stress on Your Heart

Caregivers are Only Human – Guest Contributor Jill Gafner Livingston

Haven’t Got Time for the Pain? Tips for Managing Chronic Discomfort

Does Your Loved One Need Help? A Guide to Recognizing Red Flags for Our Aging Family Members

Taking Care of Yourself During National Family Caregivers Month

The Benefits of Companionship

Easy Ways to Keep Your Senior Safe at Home

How to Beat Caregiver Burnout

Independent, Assisted or Nursing? Which Living Option One is Right for Your Loved One?

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