I am a Male Caregiver
Almost 40% of the 53 million family caregivers in the US are men.* Male family caregivers often feel more isolated than there female counterparts and they want to be included in the conversations about caregiving. Below you will find stories, books, and more all targeted toward the male family caregiver.
Podcast Episodes
Music Changes People
Anthony Cirillo cared for several family members and these experiences prompted him to focus his professional career on helping older adults and advocating for seniors and their caregivers through singing, speaking, consulting and writing. In this episode of the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast, we learn about Anthony’s new legacy project and product called Sage Stream which provides social engagement and entertainment for seniors using music. We also chat about everything else; from laughter and social prescriptions, to hospice and compound grief.
Beyond a Celebrity
Steve Guttenberg is a beloved Hollywood actor, known for his role in films including Diner, Police Academy, Short Circuit, Three Men and a Baby, Cocoon, and television shows including Ballers and Veronica Mars. We have enjoyed Steve Guttenberg in many roles and now I’d like to spotlight maybe the role that was the most difficult for Steve – the role of family caregiver to his dad and hero, Stanley. Steve wrote about his care experience while reflecting on his childhood and Hollywood career in his new book, Time to Thank. We learn about why Steve and his sister pursued home dialysis training, how Hollywood’s portrayal of care and death differ from real life, the self-love creed Steve recited with his dad, and all the terrific micro acts of self-care Steve practices to remain happy and healthy.
Aging in Place
Vinnie Venugopal cared for his father and is a Certified Aging In Place Specialist with a passion for entrepreneurship and building solutions. In this episode of the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast, Vinnie shares how a 2-week vacation to India with his parents turned into an 8-week caregiving nightmare. Then, when his family was able to return home, more attention was needed to help his dad age. We also discuss the small changes online and brick-and-mortar businesses and home builders can make to serve a growing older adult community. We also learned about a curated website and newsletter Vinnie created to highlight news and popular articles related to the Baby Boomer generation.
- Managing Falls – Steve Powell
- Hope for Caregivers – Peter Rosenberger
- New Perspectives – Matt Perrin
- Nomad Caregiving Life – Anthony Copeland Parker
- Paying for Long Term Care – Jason van den Brand
- Caregiving Support from Tik Tok – Joe Vazquez
- Staying Afloat – Matthew Cauli
- Balancing the Selflessness Sacrifices – Richard Lui
- Emotional and Social Self Care – Carlos Olivas
- Help with Medicaid – Ben Mandelbaum
- Aging with Dignity – Paul Malley
- Caregiver Burnout – Geoff Grant
- The Power of Resiliency – Bruce McIntyre
- Early Onset Alz – Pat Moffett
- Quitting Your Job to Care – Ryan McEniff
- Caregiving Can Be Funny – Christopher Chaney
- Surviving the Double Decker Sandwich Generation – Jason Miller
Articles
From Our Gift Shop
Books
Self-care Items
- Running All Over the World: Our Race Against Early-Onset Alzheimer’s by Tony Copeland-Parker
- The Intentional Caregiver by Geoffrey Grant
- Enough About Me by Richard Lui
Other Caregiving & Self-Care Resources
- Into the Dark Blue – a non-profit group focused on men’s mental wellness
- This is Us episode clip – Miguel (dementia caregiver) accepts help
- Connected Caregiver App – Coordinate Care
- AlzAuthors replay: Caring for a Wife with Alzheimer’s or Dementia
Source: AARP and The National Alliance for Caregiving report: Caregiving in the US 2020
