When people think about caregiving, they often imagine the big, heavy moments: medical appointments, medications, emergencies, end-of-life decisions. What doesn’t get talked about as much are the smaller, quieter skills we develop along the way—the ones that don’t come with instructions but shape us just as deeply. One of those skills is learning how to …
The Low-Hanging Fruit of the Emotional Response
Mom is mad at me again. I did not give her the response she wanted from me and she got angry. Angry enough to hang up on me, only to call again the next day. Dementia strips away a lot of the filters we all use to be civil in society. It has been said …
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Managing Caregiving
Whether alone or with the support of friends and/or family, caregiving is a lifestyle that demands attention. I did the group care thing my first time down this road, but as I am finding, the experience of managing the demands of caregiving by yourself has a decidedly different flavor. Caring Together Photo by Andrea Piacquadio …
Acquiring An Independent Nature
While not a rule (we are notable for a diversity of skills and attitudes), caregivers are more often made, than come equipped for the job. Stepping out of a comfortable role as a family member, only to hit the ground running in a leadership role, is quite the change. As we become leaders in our …
