"Saving the Best for First"
Caregiver Tips©
December 2005
Contents
*Self Care Focus: Saving the Best for First
**Words of Encouragement
***Book Award
****Reminders
*****Messages for Caregivers
******So Good I Want To Share It
*******Internet Sites 2Good2Miss
********Thank You
********* Self Care Tip
********** Share A Tip
Self Care Focus: Saving the Best for FirstBy Jo Cavanaugh
We all have a rhythm of working and living. Some live full out and find that if they don't pace themselves, they are tired and "burnt-out" at the end of the day.
Some pace themselves and dole out emotion and living on a budget. Purchasing a small quantity of love or expression and stretching it to make do.
No matter what rhythm we have for living and expressing ourselves, we all need to make sure that we save the best for first. Don't hold on to the finer things in your life until you run out of time or life. Live your life full-on every day.
Take responsibility for the full expression of your dreams and your life by saving the best for first. That is how life gets better. We express our best and then we are able to stretch and grow into something more. Something better..
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Words of Encouragement
One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will
strike you as the most beautiful.
- Sigmund Freud
In the long run you won't remember the long hours, the fear, nor the work. We remember those times when we felt loved, helpful, and alive. When you are at the end of your rope, stop and take a deep breath.
Recall the last time you were stressed or tired. What do you remember? the stress? the fatigue? probably not... you remember the need and how you felt doing your best.
Approach each day with the knowledge that you are doing your best and that's all you need to remember.
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Book Award
Kitty, a caregiver from Florida, will be sent Ask and You Shall Succeed, by Ken D. Foster. Enjoy the read.
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Reminders
Don't forget that December is:
National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month
National Commission Against Drunk Driving
8403 Colesville Road, Suite 370
Silver Spring , MD 20910
(240) 247-6004
ncadd@ncadd.com
www.3dmonth.org
Safe Toys and Gifts Month
Prevent Blindness America
500 East Remington Road
Schaumburg, IL 60173-5611
(800) 331-2020
info@preventblindness.org
www.preventblindness.org
Don't miss the January 2006 issue of "Caregiver Tips©" with tips and information on "Change is the Norm."
iBALANCE™ Teleclasses
Are you longing for the time before caregiving? What to find a way to get back to your dreams and goals? Enroll in iBALANCE™ a four-part teleclass designed to help you take control of your life.
Meet once a week on the telephone and give yourself an hour to clear away the guilt and stress of caregiving. Develop tools and tricks to become more comfortable with caregiving. Learn life skills that will change your life for the better.
Click this link to get more information about teleclasses:
Get More Teleclass Information Here
Can't find what you are looking for? Try Google Search!
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Messages for Caregivers
No Nursing Home for Me!!
Author Unknown
About 2 years ago my wife and I were on a cruise through the western Mediterranean aboard a Princess liner. At dinner we noticed an elderly lady sitting alone along the rail of the grand stairway in the main dining room.
I also noticed that all the staff, ships officers, waiters, busboys, etc.,all seemed very familiar with this lady. I asked our waiter who the lady was, expecting to be told that she owned the line,but he said he only knew that she had been on board for the last four cruises, back-to-back.
As we left the dining room one evening I caught her eye and stopped to say hello. We chatted and I said, "I understand you've been on this ship for the last four cruises".
She replied, "Yes, that's true."
I stated, "I don't understand?"
And she replied, without a pause, "It's cheaper than a nursing home".
So, there will be no nursing home in my future. When I get old and feeble, I am going to get on a Princess Cruise Ship. The average cost for a nursing home is $200 per day. I have checked on reservations on a Princess and I can get a long term discount and senior discount price of $135 per day. That leaves $65 a day for gratuities which will only be $10 per day.
I will have as many as 10 meals a day if I can waddle to the restaurant, or I can have room service (which means I can have breakfast-in-bed every day of the week). Princess has as many as three swimming pools, a workout room, free washers and dryers, and shows every night.
They have free toothpaste and razors, and free soap and shampoo. They will even treat you like a customer, not a patient. An extra $5 worth of tips will have the entire staff scrambling to help you.
I will get to meet new people every 7 or 14 days. TV broken? Light bulb need changing? Need to have the mattress replaced? No Problem! They will fix everything and apologize for your inconvenience.
Clean sheets and towels every day, and you don't even have to ask for them.
If you fall in the nursing home and break a hip you are on Medicare; if you fall and break a hip on the Princess ship they will upgrade you to a suite for the rest of your life.
Now hold on for the best! Do you want to see South America, the Panama Canal, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand,Asia, or name where you want to go? Princess will have a ship ready to go. So don't look for me in a nursing home, just call shore to ship.
PS: And don't forget, when you die; they just dump you over the side -- at no charge.
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So Good I Want To Share It
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Internet Sites 2Good2Miss
Link 2 Care Caregiver Resources and Support. Here is a site for California Caregivers.
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Thank You
I also want to thank those that have sent an email with a request for information. I enjoy hearing from you and hope that I can provide some support or help when you need it. Please continue to send me your comments and requests.
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Self Care Tip
Eldercare/Caregiving Stress--Managing Holidays
By Jacqueline Marcell
Caring for a chronically ill loved one can be one of life's greatest challenges, but during holidays, when even more responsibilities are added to an already stressful schedule, caregivers can often feel guilty and frustrated for not being able to accomplish all the tasks they once did. Additionally, fond memories of past holidays, when a loved one was still healthy, can create a downward spiral with feelings of loss and sadness.
More than fifty million people, one in every five Americans, help loved ones who can no longer help themselves. But when caring for another, a caregiver often neglects their own well-being, oftentimes not even seeing themself as a caregiver, but simply as a loving family member.
STEPS CAREGIVERS CAN TAKE TO REDUCE STRESS AND ENJOY HOLIDAYS
* Take Care of You: You can't be an effective caregiver if you are so stressed that you get sick too. As hard as it is to find the time and motivation, realize that it's imperative that you nurture yourself.
-Eat healthy: set limits on high fat and processed foods, caffeine and too many sugar-laden treats that can increase fatigue.
-Exercise often: take a walk, stretch, lift weights, do isometrics.
-Get proper sleep: take naps when necessary.
-Meditate: practice deep breathing and visualize happy times.
-Attend a support group regularly: solutions will present themselves.
-Get respite care for your loved one: the break will help you.
-Do things you enjoy: read, music, hobbies, crafts, movies, etc.
-Use a hand sanitizer: viral and bacterial infections can be reduced.
-Treat depression: find a therapist, ask your doctor to consider prescribing an anti-depressant.
-Get yearly physicals and appropriate tests: cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, mammogram, prostate, colonoscopy, etc.
* Organize & Pace Yourself: Be careful not to take on more than you can manage. Make lists of things that must be done, and secondary lists of things you would like to accomplish if possible. Be sure to set strict limits with yourself and others of what you can and cannot do.
* Ask For Help: Don't wait for friends and family to ask what they can do to help. Instead, make a list and ask everyone to pick the tasks they feel comfortable with. In addition to the long list of caregiving chores, add: cleaning the house/garage/pantry, taking the car in for service/tire rotation, gardening, shopping, and include holiday tasks such as:
-Sending cards
-Writing a holiday letter
-Decorating
-Buying/sending gifts
-Grocery shopping
-Baking
-Cooking meals for the freezer
-Organizing social events
-Taking down decorations
-Sending thank-you notes
* Accept Invitations: Even if you don't feel like going out at the moment, having activities to look forward to will help you feel less isolated and deprived of a normal life. If your loved one cannot attend with you, arrange for their care with family, friends, or through an agency. Be aware that having fun, laughing, and focusing on subjects other than caregiving and ill health, will help to keep you in emotional balance.
* Use Adult Day Care: Enrolling elderly loved ones in Adult Day Care is often the very best thing for them, as well as for you. They'll be busy enjoying activities like singing, crafts, cooking, gardening, bingo, etc., with professionals who know how to motivate and manage them. They'll come home tired and probably sleep through the night. When you get several hours respite during the day and sleep better at night--your caregiving batteries will recharge.
* Seek Professional Help: Numerous resources are available to help caregivers. Consider hiring a Geriatric Care Manager, who can personally guide you through the complicated maze of eldercare. Also, many faith-based organizations offer support to family caregivers.
-Area Agency on Aging or Department of Aging
-Family Caregiver Support Program (800) 422-3263
-Eldercare Locator (800) 677-1116
-Alzheimer's Association (800) 272-3900
-National Family Caregivers Association (800) 896-3650
-National Adult Day Services Association (212) 494-0755
* Shift Perspective: Resolve to stay in the present, savor the good moments, and guard against focusing on the decline of your loved one. Imagine yourself in their position, needing a caregiver to do things for you all of the time. Now ask yourself what you'd want for your loved ones who'd be taking care of you? Would you want them to be continually sad, depressed, burdened, isolated, and not living up to their potential or following their dreams--because of you? Of course not.
Realize that your happiness is what your loved one wants most for you (even if it doesn't seem like it), and that you do them honor by living a balanced and fulfilled life, which includes enjoying holidays.
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Jacqueline Marcell is a national speaker on eldercare and the author of, "Elder Rage", a Book-of-the-Month Club selection being considered for a feature film. Over fifty endorsements include: Hugh Downs, Regis Philbin and Dr. Dean Edell.
Jacqueline also hosts a radio program heard worldwide on: http://www.wsradio.com/copingwithcaregiving . For more information: http://www.ElderRage.com
Permission is granted to publish all/part of this article free of charge as long as: the author's byline is included, the links are live, and the author is notified: J.Marcell@cox.net or 949-975-1012.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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Share A Tip
Share a tip and receive a CareSsentials Mirror/Sewing Kit. Have a great tip that you want to share on self care, coping,or humor that has helped you through the day?
Share the tip with us and receive a self-care gift for your kindness and generosity.
Email your tips to the link below and please include your mailing address so I can mail you the mirror/sewing kit.
Share a Tip
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Take care and don't forget to give yourself a gift this month,
Jo Cavanaugh
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It is not howm uch we give,
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