» caregivers help http://blog.caringbridge.org Thu, 23 May 2013 19:44:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Caring for Someone with Special Needs? Here’s Some Help. http://blog.caringbridge.org/care-for-special-needs/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=care-for-special-needs http://blog.caringbridge.org/care-for-special-needs/#comments Tue, 02 Apr 2013 21:44:47 +0000 Tom McNulty http://blog.caringbridge.org/?p=780 Caring for a family member with special needs can be a lifetime commitment. Whether a stroke or other major health event causes a disability, or a condition is diagnosed while one is an infant, taking care of individuals with special needs comes with a unique array of challenges. While there are no shortcuts or magical solutions, CaringBridge would like to share five suggestions that we hope will make your life easier. 1. Learn Everything You Can. Research the specific condition and the caregiving needs it creates. You can ask special needs professionals about how to accommodate your loved one’s challenges, [...]

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]]> http://blog.caringbridge.org/care-for-special-needs/feed/ 2 Self-Care for Caregivers: Tips on Balancing Your Own Needs with Those You Care For http://blog.caringbridge.org/self-care-for-caregivers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=self-care-for-caregivers http://blog.caringbridge.org/self-care-for-caregivers/#comments Fri, 22 Mar 2013 21:09:35 +0000 Kaitlyn Teabo http://blog.caringbridge.org/?p=765 Taking care of someone else is a selfless act of love, but it can easily become overwhelming. If you are a caregiver, you know how easy it is to put the needs of the person for whom you’re helping before your own. While it’s rewarding, it may also lead to illness, frustration, depression or exhaustion, any of which may undermine your effectiveness. Some Great Ways to Take Care of Yourself One of the most important, and often neglected, tasks of a caregiver is to take care of yourself. Your physical, emotional and mental health is vital for the well-being of [...]

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]]> http://blog.caringbridge.org/self-care-for-caregivers/feed/ 1 Great Ways to Help You Cover Long-Term Caregiving Costs http://blog.caringbridge.org/cost-of-caregiving/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cost-of-caregiving http://blog.caringbridge.org/cost-of-caregiving/#comments Thu, 14 Mar 2013 20:06:25 +0000 Brent Swanson http://blog.caringbridge.org/?p=736 Whether you’re taking care of an elderly parent or anyone else with ongoing care needs, expenses — often very significant ones — add up quickly. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving and Evercare, Americans devote nearly $375 billion a year in time and money to care for older adults — which is nearly twice as much as what we spend on all homecare and nursing home services combined. The day-to-day costs of caregiving and the financial worries they may create can easily add to your emotional load and stress level. Many of us at CaringBridge have been there, and now we’re [...]

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]]> http://blog.caringbridge.org/cost-of-caregiving/feed/ 2 Tips for Meaningful Visits to People with Memory Loss http://blog.caringbridge.org/tips-for-meaningful-visits/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tips-for-meaningful-visits http://blog.caringbridge.org/tips-for-meaningful-visits/#comments Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:36:58 +0000 Karoline Hutson http://blog.caringbridge.org/?p=651 If you are a caregiver for someone who is suffering memory loss, it may fall on you to schedule visits with other family members. For those who are not used to the changing behaviors conditions such as Dementia or Alzheimer’s can bring, a visit can feel intimidating and unfamiliar. Here are some caregiving tips to help make each visit more positive and meaningful: Visit the person in a setting they are used to – in their own room or their home. Unfamiliar settings may trigger increased anxiety and confusion. Do not overwhelm them by bringing them to crowded, noisy gatherings. [...]

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]]> http://blog.caringbridge.org/tips-for-meaningful-visits/feed/ 1 How does a martyr ask for help? She doesn’t. http://blog.caringbridge.org/how-does-a-martyr-ask-for-help-she-doesnt/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-does-a-martyr-ask-for-help-she-doesnt http://blog.caringbridge.org/how-does-a-martyr-ask-for-help-she-doesnt/#comments Wed, 24 Oct 2012 03:53:13 +0000 Melissa Bear http://blog.devsvd.cbeagan.org/?p=79 Back to my status as martyr. For some history on this, read my first blog post, Top 3 reasons why I’m a martyr…not a caregiver. In dealing with cancer in my family, these unexpected people began to pop up in my life in roles I never would’ve assigned to them. Some people I knew well, but there were some people I didn’t know at all. Since I’m not casserole caregiver, nor would I ever confess to being underwater or failing in this role, I had to rely on the small miracles of people who stepped in. As a classic martyr, I [...]

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