Category Archives: encouragement

Learning from the Past

It’s amazing how insightful we are about situations faced in the past. Why? Because once  the chaos has subsided and the situation is over, we can analyze it from a new perspective. However; when in the midst of challenges in … Continue reading

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Caregiver Life with Dignity Podcast

Sue Salach-Cutler and Fran Piekarski co-host this podcast on the challenges caregivers face when helping their loved ones. Each episode is committed in ensuring that our listeners, and those they care for, live a life with dignity, no matter their mental or physical state. We advocate for our listeners in a system that grows more complicated each year. Continue reading

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Caregiving and Alzheimer’s: Asking the Right Questions

A frustrated friend called me for help while visiting her mother. Her mother’s Alzheimer’s was progressing and she was exhibiting some, let’s say, wearisome behaviors (to my friend that is). It had been over a week and her mother refused … Continue reading

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Keys to Caring for Yourself

It‘s one thing to gear up for a short-term crisis. But it takes different skills to provide care over a longer period of time. You’ll be more successful if you learn to take care of yourself, starting immediately. Some things … Continue reading

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Recognizing Caregiver Burnout

You try to hide the feeling of being overwhelmed, however; caregiver burnout is serious and can lead significant physical and mental health issues.  It is critical to know the signs and take steps to take care of yourself. Here are … Continue reading

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Recognizing Caregiver Burnout

You try to hide the feeling of being overwhelmed, however; caregiver burnout is serious and can lead significant physical and mental health issues.  It is critical to know the signs and take steps to take care of yourself. Here are … Continue reading

Posted in aging, boomers, caregiving, eldercare, encouragement, sandwich generation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Caregiving and Alzheimer’s: Asking the Right Questions

A frustrated friend called me for help while visiting her mother. Her mother’s Alzheimer’s was progressing and she was exhibiting some, let’s say, wearisome behaviors (to my friend that is). It had been over a week and her mother refused … Continue reading

Posted in against all odds, aging, caregiving, chronic conditions, disabilities, eldercare, encouragement, health care, making a plan, sandwich generation, unintentional caregiving, working caregiver | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Advocate and Empower

My sister and I have become the dynamic duo of caregiving, with her brains (she is the smartest person I know) and my health care background our family members have come to rely on us when it comes to making … Continue reading

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Choose your Attitude – You are in Control

I love this story.  I’m not sure who wrote it, but I do know it is always inspiring when I get in the way of my own joy. A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each … Continue reading

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A New You for the New Year!

“If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.” ― Thomas Jefferson As a new year rolls in many will set “resolutions” for the upcoming year.  Some will involve weight loss; career … Continue reading

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Rejoice in the Small Victories

Anyone who has had a loved one with cancer understands how stressful the ongoing 3-6 month marks are, waiting to hear if the blood work and bone-scans are clear. When those we love have had ongoing health issues and it … Continue reading

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The Word that Changed Our Lives – Cancer

“It’s Cancer”. My sister and I tried to compose ourselves and comprehend the significance of what we had just heard the doctor say. Did he just say that our mom has breast cancer? Having worked in hospice for many years, I … Continue reading

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DIY Lessons in Caregiving Part 3 – Ask for Help!

I will admit that I am mildly obsessed with the show Flea Market Flip. Though the contestants find the items and come up with the plan of how to reinvent the items, there is a team of professionals who support … Continue reading

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A Tribute to My Mom – Happy Mother’s Day

I have been blessed to have the best Mom in the history of Mom’s. Maybe I’m a bit biased (just a little), however; if you were to ask my friends from childhood through today about my Mom they would probably … Continue reading

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A Positive Focus for the New Year

Every year has good and bad moments.  Sadly, as we look in the rear-view mirror of the passing year, many will focus on the bad which, more than likely, were probably fewer than the good but can appear larger in … Continue reading

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Reconciliation and Your Well-Being

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, encouragement, forgiveness, health care, healthy living, sandwich generation, saying I'm sorry, work/life/flex, working caregiver | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Living Each Day with Purpose

It has been said that the definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” I can relate to this concept.  I have found that much of both my business and personal life … Continue reading

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One Word Can Change Your Life – Cancer

“It’s Cancer”, my sister and I tried to compose ourselves and comprehend the significance of what we had just heard the doctor say. Did he just say that our mom has cancer? Having worked in hospice for many years, I knew … Continue reading

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Celebrate Triumphs – No Matter How Large or Small!

Anyone who has had a loved one with cancer understands how stressful the ongoing 3-6 month marks are waiting to hear if the blood work and bone-scans were clear. When those we love have had ongoing health issues and it … Continue reading

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Nothing Left Unsaid

My mom recently visited New York and was showing me the pictures of the Ground Zero Memorial. One of my most unsettling thoughts regarding 9/11 was about what was left unsaid. My mind goes to a couple who possibly had … Continue reading

Posted in against all odds, aging, boomers, caregiving, dying, encouragement, forgiveness, healthy living, losing a loved one | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments