a guest post written for Happy Healthy Caregiver by Kimber Westmore My Caregiving Medication Management Nightmare “What do you mean I’ve been giving my mom twice the dosage prescribed?” I could hardly keep my composure as I sat in the examining room next to my wheelchair-bound mother. She could barely catch her breath. “Yes, you […]
How My Caregiving Pain-point Made Me An Entrepreneur Read More »
A guest post written for Happy Healthy Caregiver by Annabelle Short. Four years ago, on a hot summer evening, I sat in my porch waiting for my mom. It had been three hours since she went to pick my son from school. Normally, it took her 40 minutes to and from school, but of late,
Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Became a Caregiver for My Mother with Dementia Read More »
This post is sponsored by Depend® brand. All opinions and statements are my own. Remember the TV series ‘Dirty Jobs’? In this Discovery Channel series, host Mike Rowe would explore what he deemed the dirtiest jobs in America. Rowe acted as an apprentice in these jobs and assumed responsibilities as a roadkill collector, septic tank
Caregiving can be a dirty job…and that’s ok Read More »
I have a confession to make. The Happy Healthy Caregiver Caregiver Spotlight episodes where listeners and family caregivers share their stories help me as much as I’m hoping they help others. Let’s call it a win/win or a ‘twofer’. As the podcast host of the Happy Healthy Caregiver show, I have the privilege of helping
Sharing Caregiving Stories and Self-Care Strategies Helps Everyone Read More »
On a recent radio show called Hope for the Caregiver, host Peter Rosenberger and I both shared how our platforms of writing, speaking, and podcasting are really helping us as family caregivers as much as they are hopefully helping you. In this recorded segment of the live show, you’ll hear more about this accountability as
Hope for the Caregiver – a Radio Show for Caregivers Read More »
A guest post written for Happy Healthy Caregiver by family caregiver Kristen Heller. It’s hard to describe how fast your days go by when you are caring for someone else. I imagine it is like having a child, except I can’t say for sure. I have spent most of the last few years caring for
Eating healthy. Exercising regularly. Getting enough sleep. Keeping up with our wellness appointments. All of these are important healthy habits that we as family caregivers intend to do. We know how to provide excellent care for others health but when it comes to our own healthy habits…we may not give ourselves a passing grade. Why?
Healthy Habits to Add, Subtract, Swap or Batch Read More »
There is a truism about me: the only thing I’ve ever been able to quit cold turkey is exercise. The Savvy Sandwicher would find that unacceptable and, as much as it pains me to admit it, she’s right.
30 Minutes for 30 Days: Making Exercise a Habit Read More »
My family has two lake homes in Hubbard Lake, Michigan. For health reasons, my mom hasn’t been able to visit Michigan in a few years. My siblings and I were determined to get her there this year. We have dangled this trip in front of her as an incentive for her to take better care of her health and we wanted her to be around the extended family as many have not seen her since my dad’s memorial last fall. Thankfully, she was able to go. It took much preparation, and patience but I know in the end we are all glad we went.
Driving mom from Michigan to Georgia…it’s what you do. Read More »
Finding the time to take care of your own health with all the competing priorities of work, children, and an aging parent is near impossible. There is no lost time to be found in a ‘sandwiched’ life. I’ve experienced first-hand what happens to a mother’s life (and father’s too!) when you put yourself last on the priority list. My parent’s believed they gave us everything growing up – all our needs were met and many of our wants. But because they did not prioritize their own health on their daily to-do lists, their health paid the ultimate price. Starting in their 60’s the lack of attention they gave themselves caught up to them in countless hospital visits, numerous prescription drugs, and a compromised lifestyle that caused them to be dependent on others to help care for everyday activities like cooking, showering, and running errands. I believe that my dad would still be with us and he and my mom would be enjoying their golden years and retirement savings by traveling and having the energy to maximize each day. Witnessing these choices, led me to wanting a different lifestyle for myself and others.
Seven ways to pay your health first and still be a super caregiver Read More »