Blog
National Caregiver Month Kicks Off With the Caregiver Bill of Rights
November is the start of National Family Caregiver Month and to celebrate the 65 million Americans caring for a loved one who has a chronic illness, a disability or whose age requires more help, I thought I would present my 10 ideas for the Caregiver Bill of Rights....
Caregiving’s Tricks and Treats
In preparation for Halloween, I felt it was time to show that caregiving for an older loved one does not have to be something scary like Freddy or Zombies or Clowns (yes – like Carrie Bradshaw I’m one of those people who are really terrified of clowns). In order to...
Reese’s Accident Sheds Light on Older Drivers and Technology That Can Help Keep Us Safe
Today, Reese Witherspoon showed her compassion by announcing she would not press charges against the older driver who hit the Academy Award-winning actress as she jogged in Santa Monica, California over a month ago. Thankfully Reese’s story does not have a...
Think Pink – It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
Pink is typically associated with Spring, Schiaparelli or that fabulous Audrey Hepburn movie, Funny Face. And, while it is the color for princesses and ballerinas, it is also the color of Breast Cancer Awareness and the Fight for the Cure which we celebrate this...
Caregivers Who Are Changing the Game: Girls on the Gridiron – Taking the Fight Against Alzheimer’s to the Field
People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society. – Vince Lombardi It is officially fall and fall means football season – fans, cheerleaders, Friday night lights, afternoon tailgaters, Monday Night...
And the Awards Goes to . . . Third Annual CARE-Y Awards™ – Caregivers on TV
For the last three years I have bestowed my own version of the Emmy Awards – something I call the CARE-Y Awards™ that acknowledges the TV programming that showcases caregivers and caregiving situations. I also have bestowed honors on those TV personalities and talent...
What Is Your Caregiver Style?
Fashion fades, only style remains the same. – Coco Chanel As we gear up for some of the fun fashion events of the season (Fall Fashion Week just started and the Emmy Awards are on September 18), it had me thinking about the different styles we have when it comes to...
Caregiving Lessons from 9/11
The average is the borderline that keeps mere men in their place. Those who step over the line are heroes by the very act. Go! – Walter Schirra, Sr. Today we commemorate and honor the memory of those who lost their lives in the attacks of September 11th just 10...
How Caregivers Can Relax for National Relaxation Day
In today’s fast-paced, stress-filled, slow economic growth, multi-tasking world – the art of relaxation is like speaking Latin – an almost forgotten, dead concept. But, if you are one of the 65 million Americans caring for a loved one who is ill, has disabilities or...
Happy Birthday to Caregiving’s Pioneer – Rosalynn Carter
If there is one thing that is distinctly American – it is our pioneering spirit. Whether it was Lewis & Clark first exploring the country all the way to the Pacific Ocean (with more than a little help from Sacagawea), Neil Armstrong stepping foot on the moon and...
How to Cope with Caregiving – The Friendship Connection
August 1 is National Friendship Day which I thought was a good time to talk about the power of friendships when it comes to coping with caregiving responsibilities. We know from numerous studies that staying connected to family and friends improves your outlook and...
Celebrating the Sandwich Generation
July is Sandwich Generation Month and for everyone who grew up with Wonder bread and PB&J sandwiches – this is a different kind of demographic – one that represents the dedication, patience and caring of older or chronically ill loved ones. The “Sandwich...
Catherine Zeta Jones – Superstar Caregiver Helps Destigmatize Depression
When Catherine Zeta Jones elegantly glided onto the Tony Awards stage this past Sunday in a stunning, sequined red gown, she symbolized the comeback that all caregivers who suffer from depression hope to have – that you can face those dark clouds knowing you will step...
Handle With Care – Episode 1 “Staying Connected Through Technology”
The pilot episode of our new TV show, Handle With Care, is all about the wonderful products of the digital age -- how they keep older Americans connected to family, friends and the world and how this gives family caregivers better peace of mind. One of the great myths...
Meredith Viera Balances Career and Caregiving
Today, Meredith Viera officially announced her long-rumored June departure as co-host of the top-rated morning TV program, “Today.” While many speculated that her retirement from morning television was due to a decline in health of her husband who lives with multiple...
Caregiver Stress Is No Joke
While some people started off this month by playing a funny joke on a friend or co-worker, the beginning of April, which marks National Stress Awareness Month, makes me think about the stress that plagues those who are caring for an older loved one. And, believe me,...
Super Foods, Super You
March is National Nutrition Month and while it is sometimes hard for the average person to follow good nutritional guidelines, it is even harder if you are juggling your own healthy eating needs while caring for your loved one. A study by the National Alliance for...
And the Award goes to…the Caregivers!
One of the things I hear from numerous caregivers is that they feel all alone. The reality is that if you are caring for a loved one over age 50 – you are among a cast of 44 million other Americans! And, while you are the star of your caregiving story, you need a...
Heart Health for Caregivers
It is February and while a tremendous winter’s chill has gripped much of the country, this is the month we celebrate warm, heartfelt love. While most of you may think I mean Valentine’s Day, I am actually focused on those family members performing that “labor of...
How to Unleash the New “Super” You – Resolutions for Caregivers
It's that time of year when we make those lists, either on paper or in our heads, of all the things we're going to "do better," or "fix" or "accomplish" in the New Year. While New Year's resolutions are sometimes hard to keep (for the last four years I have said I...