Category Archives: encouragement

Surrender to Lower Your Stress – By Dave Balch

Posted on March 15, 2013 by

The life of a caregiver can be pretty stressful. (That sentence is a candidate for the Nobel Prize of understatement.) Everyone’s story is different, but the resulting stress is pretty much the same. I hope that my story will resonate with … Continue reading →

Posted in caregiving, caregiving and stress, chronic conditions, encouragement, healthcare, work/life/flex, working caregiver | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Random Stop Syndrome

Posted on March 8, 2013 by

While at a conference in Las Vegas, I experience a phenomenon I refer to as “Random Stop Syndrome”.  While walking through the casinos people would come to a sudden and complete stop for no apparent reason setting off a chain … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, alzheimer's, boomers, caregiving, caregiving and stress, employees and employers, encouragement, forgiveness, It's fun to laugh, just stuff, sandwich generation, work/life/flex, working caregiver | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

$10 Worth of Empowerment

Posted on February 26, 2013 by

Over the last year I’ve helped my Aunt out as she faces multiple health issues, including driving her to doctor appointments, the grocery store and to some family events.  On many of these junctures she has offered me money to … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, boomers, caregiving, caregiving and stress, disabilities, eldercare, encouragement, work/life/flex, working caregiver | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

CaregiverLife Radio – Music Therapy

Posted on February 14, 2013 by

Join me today from 10-11am (CST) for CaregiverLife Radio My guest: MARY ELLEN HEELAN Mary Ellen Heelan, a native of Downers Grove,Illinois has had an eclectic career, starting out as a Social Studies teacher in Oklahoma and Virginia; then moving into … Continue reading →

Posted in caregiving, caregiving and stress, chronic conditions, encouragement, forgiveness, health care | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Unrealistic Expectations

Posted on November 29, 2012 by

Each time I travel to Florida I have set the expectation of laying in the tropical sun and returning with a tan that would make the Bain de Sole tan woman jealous. However; the last few trips have been met … Continue reading →

Posted in against all odds, aging, boomers, caregiving, caregiving and stress, encouragement, work/life/flex, working caregiver | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Drive By Advice

Posted on November 14, 2012 by

At an event for business owners, a friend of mine used the term “drive by advice” in describing how, when starting a business it seems like everyone (even those who have never owned a business) want to give us advice … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, boomers, caregiving, caregiving and stress, eldercare, encouragement, work/life/flex, working caregiver | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

3 Minutes 17 Seconds

Posted on October 25, 2012 by

The other day I took my Aunt for her 6 month follow-up with her surgeon. During previous appointments the wait ranged from ½ hour to 45 minutes.  Each time the doctors’ staff blamed the scheduler.  Thankfully, this was her final … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, caregiving, caregiving and stress, eldercare, encouragement, taking care of yourself, work/life/flex, working caregiver | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Fundamental Rule of Caregiving (that No one can seem to Follow)

Posted on October 5, 2012 by

An essential imperative of caregiving is: Take care of yourself.  However; the majority of family caregivers are so busy taking care of others that they neglect to care for themselves.  The sad irony is that if caregivers made it a … Continue reading →

Posted in caregiving, disabilities, dying, eldercare, encouragement, healthcare, healthy living, sandwich generation, work/life/flex, working caregiver | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Guest Blog: Jump to it – How Certain Exercises Help Prevent Falls in the Elderly

Posted on October 4, 2012 by

By Sarah Jennings When it comes to ailments that afflict our golden generation, accidental falls rank right up there with heart attacks and strokes in terms of both frequency and severity.  Falls amongst the elderly are a significant public health … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, boomers, caregiving, caregiving and stress, eldercare, elders, encouragement, healthcare, healthy living | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

It Was Right in Front of Me in Black and White

Posted on September 17, 2012 by

As a national speaker I have presented to hundreds of family caregivers throughout the country.  In each presentation I highlight how, as caregivers, we can become task masters; focused on our to-do list more than the people around us.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, boomers, caregiving, caregiving and stress, disabilities, eldercare, elders, encouragement, sandwich generation, work/life/flex, working caregiver | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Caution: Idiots May be Offended by this Post

Posted on September 14, 2012 by

If I were an Idiot, I could… Be offered a contract with a major publisher to write a “how to have 6-pack abs and zero brains” book that my “people” would pay some PR agency large sums of money to promote … Continue reading →

Posted in caregiving, encouragement, Funny, It's fun to laugh | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Playing an Old Game in a New Way

Posted on August 31, 2012 by

During my husband Paul’s’ family reunion the group decided to go bowling.  Not being a pastime I particularly fancy, I dubbed myself “family paparazzi” and went along for photo ops.  As the group loaded into several cars, I noticed my … Continue reading →

Posted in against all odds, aging, caregiving, chronic conditions, disabilities, eldercare, encouragement, It's fun to laugh | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Permission to Fail

Posted on August 20, 2012 by

The other day I was part of an expert panel discussion on “How to care for yourself while caregiving” through WEGO Health and one of the other panelist, Ben Murphy (@athletdad) shared a great point.  He said that one of … Continue reading →

Posted in against all odds, boomers, caregiving, caregiving and stress, eldercare, elders, encouragement, forgiveness, health care, healthcare, just stuff, making a plan, sandwich generation, taking care of yourself, truth shall set you free, work/life/flex, working caregiver | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Reconciliation and Your Well-Being

Posted on August 15, 2012 by

Family and Forgiveness Growing up my family was very close.  In typical Italian style, every Sunday was spent at my grandparent’s home in Chicago where random aunts, uncles and cousins (most of which lived on the same block) gathered for … Continue reading →

Posted in against all odds, boomers, caregiving and stress, encouragement, forgiveness, health care, healthy living, sandwich generation, saying I'm sorry, work/life/flex, working caregiver | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Creative Communication

Posted on August 1, 2012 by

A friend of mine shared his communication challenges with his wife who has undergone several surgeries, rounds of chemo and radiation for brain tumors.  Since the treatments she has been suffering from aphasia, causing her trouble finding words, as well … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, caregiving and stress, chronic conditions, eldercare, elders, encouragement, sandwich generation, work/life/flex, working caregiver | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment