Tag Archives: alzheimer’s caregiver

National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month: Health-eBrain Study

31 Friday Oct 2014

Posted by in Advocacy and Awareness, Caregiver Burnout, Caregivers, November-National ALZ Awareness Month, Research, Sandwich Generation, USAgainstAlzheimer's

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Here’s a great way to participate in National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month!

If you are one of the 15 million caregivers looking after a loved one with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, your input is crucial to the success of the Caregivers’ Health-eBrain Study! Please join Meryl Comer, advocate, journalist, author, and caregiver, as a participant in this important online study.

Just 30 minutes of your time will help scientists understand how the caregiving lifestyle impacts brain performance. And you can complete the questions right from your home computer! 

You may be reading this and thinking, “I’m not caring for my parent/spouse/loved one 24×7 at home. I just oversee her care and help out with things. I’m not really a caregiver.”

I get that line of thinking. There was a time when I thought being a caregiver meant caring for a loved one at home, period. However, the definition is much broader than that.

You’re a caregiver if:

  • You’re a son or daughter supporting a parent with memory problems. They might live three doors down or in another state, but regardless, you are a caregiver.
  • You missed your daughter’s school play because you were called into action to handle a crisis with your loved one. You are a caregiver.
  • You’ve had to take time off work to drive a parent to doctor’s appointments or run home to handle a crisis. You are a caregiver.
  • On Sunday afternoon, you can be found at Mom’s house setting up her meds for the coming week. You are a caregiver.
  • You’re sandwiched right between the children you’re still raising and the parent who needs your support on a regular basis. You are a caregiver.
  • You spend your lunch hour on the phone making medical appointments and dealing with insurance companies. You are a caregiver.
  • You couldn’t get away for your usual summer vacation this year. Who would look after Mom while you were away, and what if there was an emergency? You are a caregiver.
  • You coordinate in home assistance or oversee the care provided to your loved one in a care facility. You are a caregiver.
  • You can often be found at your loved one’s house helping with household tasks like cooking, cleaning, yard maintenance, caring for pets, or shopping. You are a caregiver.

If any of these sound familiar, we hope you’ll take just 30 minutes to participate in the Caregivers’ Health-eBrain Study and share the link with others.

To begin click here –> https://www.health-ebrainstudy.org

 

 

 

Gratitude

05 Tuesday Nov 2013

Posted by in Caregivers, Caregivers.com, Helpful Resources, Inspiration, Ruminations

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grat·i·tude noun \ˈgra-tə-ˌtüd, -ˌtyüd\
: a feeling of appreciation or thanks

In November, as Thanksgiving approaches, the word “gratitude” seems to be popping up everywhere. It’s a shame we don’t focus on our blessings as much as we should year ’round, but I’m thankful to be surrounded by reminders this month.  autumn

Even under the best circumstances, it’s easy to get caught up in the crazy pace, endless demands, and mind-numbing routines that tend to define life in the 21st century. The danger, of course, is that we become oblivious to the little miracles that surround us daily.

And Then There’s Caregiving

Let’s keep it real here – when you’re a caregiver, gratitude can be hard to come by. You’re pulled in a million directions, stressed to the max, and you often find yourself just trying to keep your head above water. You’re likely faced with some of the most difficult decisions of your life and each step forward leads you deeper into the unknown.

The days of being proactive are a distant memory – these days, reactive mode is the norm. To add insult to injury, you’re watching someone you love dearly slip further away with each passing moment.

It’s easy to see why gratitude isn’t the foremost thing on your mind…

Conscious Cultivation

autumn-leavesAs hokey as it may sound, the truth is gratitude has the power to get us through the most challenging of times if we just make a small effort.

Several months ago, I wrote an article for Caregivers.com discussing the idea of “cultivating gratitude”. It’s all about being aware of the world around us and realizing even in the seemingly mundane, there are great blessings.

November is the perfect time to give this a try. Each day this month, take just a few minutes in the morning or right before bed to jot down a couple of things you’re thankful for. There’s plenty of inspiration at every turn, and you can even join a group of 6,000 or so new friends in the KindSpring 21-Day Gratitude Challenge beginning November 7th.

Happiness is not what makes us grateful. It is gratefulness that makes us happy.  -Brother David Steindl-Rast

It’s a Journey

What do you have to lose, right? Give it a whirl and see if you don’t notice your outlook is a little brighter and you’re consciously experiencing more moments of joy.

Remember that some days, you may really have to dig deep to find just one thing you feel grateful for. It’s not always going to be a big-ticket item; in fact, most often, it will be something small.mom hands

  • Having 20 minutes to enjoy your coffee before the rest of the house wakes up.
  • A smile from the loved one you’re caring for.
  • Your warm bed on a cold night.
  • The fact that Mom ate her lunch.
  • The scent of a favorite candle.

Perspective

In hindsight, with it all said and done, I truly believe our Alzheimer’s journey taught me that the little things in life really are the big things. I’m not saying I walk around in a state of euphoria all day long (I wish!), but it’s all about perspective.

In my case, it’s an ongoing process; I have to consciously remind myself of what’s important and of my many blessings. In fact, I’m using the 21-Day Gratitude Challenge as motivation to get back into the habit of writing down the things I’m thankful for each day.

Join me in the challenge and let me know how it goes!!