Category Archives: health care

Surprise – Mom got old!

It still amazes me how many people I have met over my 25+ year career that seemed genuinely surprised that their parent had gotten old.  Especially since the alternative to getting old would be death (not trying to be crass, it’s … Continue reading

Posted in aging, caregiving, eldercare, health care, hospice and end of life care | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Having a Heat Wave

Summertime tips for Caregivers Seniors are especially at risk in high heat situations. Large stretches of the USA are experiencing extreme temperatures. Here are some summer heat tips for helping elderly loved ones avoid heat stroke or heat exhaustion Encourage … Continue reading

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POA – The Chosen One

A friend called me the other day and shared her concerns about being chosen to be the health-care and financial power of attorney for her mother.  She had heard me speak on the topic and the challenges associated with the … Continue reading

Posted in aging, boomers, caregiving, eldercare, health care | 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

Posted in caregiving, chronic conditions, eldercare, encouragement, health care, making a plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Boobs, Bowel Movements and Caregiving Humor

Several years ago, my sister shared with me that when she called our aunt to wish her a “Happy Birthday” her reply was “I had a bowel movement today”, to which I commented “well then that was a happy birthday … 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

Posted in boomers, caregiving, chronic conditions, eldercare, encouragement, health care, healthy living | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in aging, caregiving, chronic conditions, eldercare, encouragement, health care | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Having a Heat Wave

Summertime tips for Caregivers Seniors are especially at risk in high heat situations. Large stretches of the USA are experiencing extreme temperatures. Here are some summer heat tips for helping elderly loved ones avoid heat stroke or heat exhaustion Encourage … Continue reading

Posted in aging, boomers, caregiving, eldercare, elders, health care, taking care of yourself, work/life/flex, working caregiver | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Chosen One

A friend called me the other day and shared her concerns about being chosen to be the health-care and financial power of attorney for her mother.  She had heard me speak on the topic and the challenges associated with the … Continue reading

Posted in aging, boomers, caregiving, eldercare, health care | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

FYI about POA

Medical Power of Attorney (POA) is something each of us, no matter our age, should have. Frequently, people grant POA to their spouse, children or siblings. POA goes into effect only if you are not able to make competent decisions. … Continue reading

Posted in boomers, caregiving, eldercare, health care, making a plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

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

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

Posted in aging, boomers, caregiving, eldercare, elders, encouragement, health care | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

10 ways to Maintain Your Brain© from The National Alzheimer’s Association

Head first: Good health starts with your brain. It’s one of the most vital body organs, and it needs care and maintenance. Take brain health to heart: Heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke can increase your risk of … Continue reading

Posted in health care, work/life/flex, working caregiver | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Fighting Imaginary Foes

Today, in my allotted few minutes of brainlessness when I play online scrabble against the “robots” I realized that when I won the game I found myself smugly amused as if I had defeated some a real opponent.  In reality, … Continue reading

Posted in against all odds, eldercare, health care, taking care of yourself, work/life/flex, working caregiver | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What if…?

“I wish I had met you a few months ago.”  I hear some variation of this phrase weekly from people I meet through both networking and personal events.  The comment comes from people who have experienced family caregiver in some … Continue reading

Posted in aging, boomers, caregiving, eldercare, encouragement, health care, sandwich generation, taking care of yourself, work/life/flex, working caregiver | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

What’s the impact of caregiving on your business?

Caregiving negatively affects morale, productivity, and costs.  As a result of family caregiving responsibilities, a tremendous amount of talent, loyalty, and institutional knowledge leaves the workforce every day – either temporarily or full-time. Below are a few brief – yet … Continue reading

Posted in caregiving, eldercare, health care, work/life/flex, working caregiver | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

One Word Can Change Your Life

“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

Posted in caregiving, health care, hospice and end of life care, making a plan, working caregiver | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Wrinkles, Memory Loss and Erectile Dysfunction

Every time I turn on the TV I see a commercial for yet another thing I need to be concerned about as I age.  Wrinkles, weight gain, memory loss, chaotic hormones and even thinning eyelashes (not to mention the distressing … Continue reading

Posted in aging, boomers, caregiving, dying, eldercare, health care, hospice and end of life care, hot flashes, hysterectomy, making a plan, sandwich generation, work/life/flex, working caregiver | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments