Care would be a lot easier if everyone involved had the same history, the same communication style, and the same idea about what’s best. But blended family care doesn’t work like that. When a second marriage or step-family dynamic is part of the picture, caregiving often reveals every difference in how people think, plan, and show love. It becomes especially complex when there’s an urgent, immediate need, and families need…
“I’ll take care of that once Mom’s settled.” “There’s just no time for me right now.” If those words sound familiar, you’ve experienced one of caregiving’s most common traps — believing your needs don’t matter as much. It feels right in the moment. Someone you love needs you, and pushing your own priorities aside seems like the loving thing to do. But the truth is simple: when you’re exhausted, no…
You’ve heard it before: “It takes a village.” And that’s certainly true in caregiving. But what happens when the villagers — the caregivers — are running on empty? It’s then that community support for caregivers becomes especially vital. If you’ve ever put off your own doctor’s visit because your dad had one, or grabbed a handful of crackers instead of sitting down for dinner, you already know the truth —…
No one prepares you for the moment when the person you’ve always known starts to change in ways you can’t predict. You do what feels right: you follow your instincts, skim a few articles, and promise yourself you’ll stay calm and patient. But even with the best intentions, Alzheimer’s caregiving mistakes happen. One approach works beautifully on Monday and falls flat by Tuesday.
Mom used to tackle housework and cooking like a pro—whipping up family favorites, keeping every corner spotless, and somehow making it all look easy. But now, things have changed. The vacuum feels heavier, laundry piles up faster, and cooking complex meals has turned into a draining chore. You’ve suggested getting a little help, but she shuts the idea down immediately. Where’s the resistance coming from? For many older adults, misconceptions…
If you’re managing the majority of care for your aging parents while your siblings remain uninvolved, you’re not alone. Caregiving can be a lonely journey, and many family caregivers find themselves carrying the burden without much help from other family members. In fact, a recent AARP report revealed that 50 percent of family caregivers are providing care alone. Understanding why this is such a common occurrence—and how to protect your…
At the end of every day, how much time do you have to spare? If you are like most family caregivers, carving out sufficient time to meet each day’s basic requirements could be hard enough. Having downtime can seem impossible.
The statistics are indeed alarming: more than half of all caregivers report injuries resulting from lifting or transferring older individuals. So many family members eventually assume the role of a caregiver, so it’s important to know the best safety measures for transferring a senior to ensure both your well-being and that of the person you care for.
There are many different types of brain injuries, but certain behavioral difficulties are common regardless of the type of brain injury that occurs. Some inappropriate behaviors caused by a brain injury may be more or less likely based on the area and severity of the trauma, but your loved one might demonstrate one or more of these behaviors throughout TBI recovery, regardless of the specifics of the injury.
If you are in control of the majority of the care for older parents while your siblings distance themselves from caregiving, you are far from alone. In fact, 50 percent of all family caregivers are providing care for an elderly loved one alone, based on a recent report from AARP.