Social Self-Care
Social self-care is about surrounding yourself with people you trust who will support and lift you up. It’s about spending time with those who are important to you and having FUN! For caregivers, this is also about creating your care team and asking for specific help. Below are the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast episodes, blog posts, product ideas, and other resources to help you with your social self-care.
Podcast Episodes
Living with Intention
Susan Bottega is a nurse by practice who became a caregiver when her husband was diagnosed with CLL (Chronic lymphocytic leukemia) over 12 years ago. Since then, Susan has adjusted her life to caring for Bob, researching CLL and treatment options, and helping other CLL family caregivers through her virtual support group. In this episode of the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast, Susan and I talk about adjusting retirement plans after a diagnosis, finding those who are ready and willing to support you in this new caregiving season, and living with intention to create a full and vibrant life while caring for someone with a chronic disease.
Creating Care Community
Kitty Norton left her job as an NBC assistant editor in Los Angeles in 2016, for her hometown of Portland, Oregon, to walk, stumble, crawl with her dementia mother to death’s door. While doing so, she authored the dementia caregiver blog Stumped Town Dementia, writing tales of dementia life which resonated deeply with readers around the world. After her mother’s death, Kitty turned her storytelling talents to creating and directing the dementia family caregiver documentary, WINE, WOMEN, & DEMENTIA. The film honors this journey with her mother, increases awareness of the caregivers side of the equation in dementia, and celebrates family caregivers, letting them know they are not alone, and are worthy of being, seen, heard, and respected, alongside their person living with dementia, on this difficult road to the end of life. We explore how Kitty built the care community she needed, why caregivers often start care businesses, and how she prioritized social and emotional self-care during 24/7 caregiving. Plus, find out why duct tape might belong in your caregiver toolbox!
Helping Hands
After struggling with the demands of caring for her aging mother, Paige Wilson made a bold move, leaving her corporate career and becoming an entrepreneur with a big idea to help family caregivers. In this episode of the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast, we learn about her disruptive care solution that utilizes technology to harness the strength of community. We also discuss normalizing asking for help, the longevity economy, downsizing possessions, and the self-care comfort of a McDonald’s diet coke.
- Music Changes People – Anthony Cirillo
- Creative Care – Loretta Veney
- Caregiver Support from TikTok – Joe Vazquez
- A Nomad Caregiving Life – Anthony Copeland-Parker
- Staying Afloat While Caregiving – Matthew Cauli
- Emotional & Social Self Care – Carlos Olivas
- Cocktails & Caregivers – Amanda Clark
- Share Your Story – Leeza Gibbons
- Faith Community Support – Sheila Welch
- Find Your Support Circle – Anne Tumlinson
- Can Caregiving Be a Party?! – Jenn Chan
- How to Find a Support Group – Elizabeth Miller
- Connecting from a Distance – Paula Muller
HHC Social Support Options
- Check out our upcoming events.
- 1:1 Caregiver Coaching – first 30-minute session is complimentary. Schedule your initial session or review additional coaching options.
- Find your local ACAP (Adult Children of Aging Parents) Community
- Join our email list and receive support and resources direct to your inbox.
- Elizabeth, along with two other Certified Caregiving Consultants, offers support and encouragement through the Self-Care Support for Caregivers FB Group.
Articles
From The Gift Shop
Books
Fun & Games
- Conversation Cards
- SkipBo Card Game or Bananagrams Word Game
- Digital Photo Frames are a Conversation Piece
- Mad Libs
- Jigsaw Puzzle
- Get Your Hands Dirty with Play-Doh
Other Social Self-Care & Caregiving Resources
- Check out Connectivities, Ageless Innovations, Singing at Home, and other products to help prevent social isolation on our Discount and Promo Code page!
- Nominate a family caregiver or yourself for a free caregiver respite retreat through Brutally Beautiful (national) or Nancy’s House (PA, NJ, or DE).
- Send someone who is providing care a caregiving card created by Senior Shower Project.
- Create a free personal CaringBridge website to communicate updates, photos, and more about a loved one’s health journey.
