Blog

How to Recognize the Rewards of Caregiving

Caregiving offers rewards that you don’t necessarily expect amid the struggle of providing daily service to your loved one. The rewards may pop up in a single moment, or they may become perceptible only after the long, arduous slog of care is over and your loved one is no longer with you. Often the hardest […]

Five Hard Realities of Caregiving

Family caregivers often report that caring for a loved one is among the hardest things they’ve ever done. Until you’ve assumed the responsibilities of caregiving, you’re probably unaware of the multi-faceted commitment that must be made to meet the ongoing needs of a loved one who depends on you. Nevertheless, when caregiving calls, you eventually […]

How to Honor Relationships While Caregiving

Caregiving changes relationships. While this can be disorienting and unwelcome, it’s among the most important things for caregivers to realize as they seek to meet the ongoing needs of a loved one who is aging, sick, or disabled. By recognizing that relationships are changing, caregivers are also uniquely positioned to honor their relationships with care […]

How to Understand Caregiving Roles

Roles are positions we occupy in the social world. Roles are central to our human relationships as well as our place in society. Consider these famous words from William Shakespeare: All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his […]

How Do Caregivers Develop Resilience?

Resilience is the ability to adapt to difficult situations. Resilient caregivers find the strength to continue to help others, even in the face of adversity. How do caregivers develop resilience? Based on research and practice, I have created a model of caregiver resilience. In this model, caregiver resilience is developed across five domains represented […]

What’s It Like to Hold a Virtual Workshop for Caregivers?

Are you seeking fresh ideas for your caregiver support program during the pandemic? You may want to consider holding a virtual workshop for your caregivers. I recently created a new workshop outlining the framework for caregiver resilience—which is something all caregivers need, especially now more than ever. I was invited to present the workshop for […]

5 Tips for Caregivers During the COVID-19 Holiday Season

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” sings Andy Williams in his well-known Christmas song, one of my personal favorites. The holiday season usually marks a time of happiness, togetherness, faith, hope, and thankfulness. But this year things might be a little different with the threat of COVID-19 and the measures you must take […]

4 Reasons Why Caregiving is Harder in the Era of COVID-19

A recent survey by the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving revealed that 83% of caregivers are experiencing an increased level of stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Caregiving right now is more stressful because caregivers must worry constantly about COVID-19 infection. As if your loved one’s condition wasn’t bad enough, knowing that COVID-19 is so […]

Why Add “Questions for Reflection” in a Book about Caregiving?

In a review of my new book, Kirkus Reviews observed, “The book is smartly organized into 18 brief yet highly relevant chapters, each addressing an aspect of caregiving. At the close of every chapter, questions are included for reflection. Rather than attempt to create a manual, the author shares salient observations about caregiving from a […]

New Book Offers Help for Caregivers

I’m pleased to announce that my new book, When Caregiving Calls: Guidance as You Care for a Parent, Spouse, or Aging Relative, will be released on October 13, 2020. An early reader told me that the book feels like an intimate conversation. She compared it to an evening curled up under a blanket, in front […]