Caregiver's Guide
A Caregiver's Story...
Five years ago, Dave's mother moved from the old house in Philly to an apartment in Baltimore that was closer to his sister. Dave didn't give much thought to how the increased distance would affect their relationship. Until then, they'd only lived 30 minutes from each other. Dave had lunch with him mom about once a week; sometimes they'd go to a ballgame together. After the move, neither Dave nor his mom expected much to change - what was another hour or so of drive time? But over the years, the drive seemed to get longer and time together was harder and harder to arrange... Continued
Caregiver Basics Being a caregiver requires a lot of time, thought, and planning. These "Caregiver Basics" provide answers to many common questions about what you should do (or think about doing). You may be wondering how to stay "on top" of your loved-one's health, how to manage the financial burdens, where to turn for help, or even the steps in planning a doctor's visit. Solving each of these issues will help calm a stressful situation. Continue
Dealing with the Tough Questions Not every caregiving situation is a "walk in the park." Like anything there will be ups and downs. Knowing what issues could come up is important, in order to create the most effective plan. We explore some of the tough questions caregivers face. Becoming aware of these issues in the beginning can put you steps ahead. Continue
Tips for Long Distance Caregivers While most caregivers wish they could be around the block from their loved-one, it's not always possible. Being hundreds or even thousands of miles away doesn't mean you can't be involved in your loved-one's care. Long distance caregivers have special hurdles to overcome, so here are some tips to make long distance caregiving much less difficult. Continue
Special Needs We all have individual needs and wants, but some of these needs require extra special attention. Severe, chronic, or even debilitating illnesses like Alzheimer's disease can be significantly more difficult than other illnesses. Dealing with a loved-one's "special needs" is an important task. Here are some helpful hints on where to begin. Continue
Caring for the Caregiver Caregiving is hard work whether in the same neighborhood or across the country. Stress, frustration, and even anger are common emotions that caregivers go through. It's important that caregivers take care of themselves, so they can take care of their loved-one. There are numerous ways to ease the anxiety of being a responsible caregiver. Here are just a few ways. Continue |
