Have a caregiving post and haven’t sent it? You still have time! Our carnival is going through Monday, July 13, so send us your links or submissions. We are talking about caregiving in ALL its various forms. And get ready for Twittercast with the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) and the Christopher and Dana Reeve [...]
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The Cost of Caregiving: Warm Fuzzy Feelings Don’t Pay the Mortgage
I’ll never forget the day I found out that one of my best friends from high school was pregnant with her second child—and she came to me mid-anxiety-attack because she realized that taking time off work to care for the baby might very well lead to her financial ruin. We were 24, and she had [...]
For me I wish strength, faith, patience, and occasionally a minute to myself
Teresa’s story originally appeared as part of The NFCA Story Project. Teresa lives in Martinsville, Indiana. My name is Teresa. I live next door to my mother, Patricia, who has Parkinsons. My very large family has left it to me to help and care for her for many years because I am "right there," and [...]
Are Alzheimer’s Caregivers the Forgotten?
Forty percent of Alzheimer’s caregivers end up suffering from depression. Do you want to see this happen to a loved one or friend? One issue that really frustrates me is the treatment of Alzheimer’s caregivers. Most Alzheimer’s caregivers hear people tell them how wonderful they are for taking care of their loved one. As a [...]
Sometimes I Feel As Thought I’m Going to Pull My Hair Out
Juliette’s story originally appeared as part of The NFCA Story Project. Juliette lives in Nashville, Tennessee. I’m Juliette and on February 28th I began the process of being a caregiver to my 75 year old grandmother, Lou. I’m 27, work full time and volunteer on the weekends through May. At the end of Feb., Nana [...]
Unless You Have Lived This Life You Can’t Possibly Understand
Teresa’s story originally appeared as part of The NFCA Story Project. Teresa lives in Gastonia, North Carolina. My name is Teresa. I have lived alone with my 12 year old son, Tucker, since he was born. Tucker lived despite the odds when he was born 8 weeks early, suffering fron IUGR, weighing 2 pounds 11 [...]
Caregiving in Context: A Powered Woman
(This was originally written during the presidential campaign of 2008, specifically to submit a feminist platform to the Democratic party.) Imagine the world without mothers. Do we have a world? No. The center circle in the middle of our world of concentric circles is a mother, a woman who wants to be a mother and [...]
Helping Caregivers Get What They Need Most: Time
Published with permission from Take Care! Summer 2008, National Family Caregivers Association It seems that just about every list of tips for family caregivers ends with the earnest and oft-repeated advice, “Take time to care for yourself.” NFCA gives this advice as well, while recognizing that the problem, of course, is time — or, rather, [...]
Work/Life Balance? Time to Lighten the Caregiving Load
I’m tired. My job and two kids take it out of me both physically and mentally, every day. The husband, a most loving partner and doting father, is happy to help, eager for instruction like a dog waiting for its master’s next command. When he’s not focusing on his 70-plus-hours-a-week job, that is. Some days, [...]