March 2009 Support For Caregivers and Seniors
Minding Our Elders®: Caregivers Find Support When They Have Time - Which Isn't Often
 
A Note From Carol

Dear friends,

I've got exciting news, at least from my perspective. I'm going full time with Minding Our Elders projects. Elder care and support for caregivers took over my private life decades ago. In these last few years, it's been a large part of my professional life, but lately interest in my work has exploded.

So my friends, I'm making my passion for caregiving support through all things Minding Our Elders a full-time occupation. My elder care work includes a newspaper column, blogs, forum moderating, cargiving community leadership, resources , speaking engagements and direct support. My passion has now become my sole work focus.

So, spread the word. Share the articles. Share the Minding Our Elders Web sites and anything else you find helpful.

Please also share your hard-won wisdom with me, so I can help you contribute your wisdom to your peers. I've learned an enormous amount from generous readers who want to share their personal experiences with others, and I want to pass that on.

I can't think of any way to honor my mother during her birth month of March more than this move to expand my business. She was a caregiver to the elders in our family. I followed in her footsteps. Now, to celebrate her birth month, I'm expanding my caregiving business. I know she would be (is) pleased. Thank you, loyal readers, for allowing this to happen.

Please take care of yourselves and keep in touch,

Carol

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Hello!

Welcome to Minding Our Elders! Our hope is to break the isolation that caregivers often feel. We'd also like to share ideas, comfort and information that will help you along your caregiving journey. Thanks for reading.


Caregivers Find Support When They Have Time - Which Isn't Often

The wee hours. I started the habit of getting up at 4 a.m. during my most intensive caregiving days, as it's the only way I could find peace and quiet. No demands. A time to connect with my soul and listen for universal guidance. It's often all that's kept me somewhat sane, though some may differ with me on the success of that last point.

Now, as moderator for the Agingcare forum, I see in black and white that I am not the only caregiver who operates in this fashion. I receive e-mail alerts when people post on the site and most come very late at night or very early in the morning (late night and early morning are subjective judgments and depend on individual mindsets, I have found).


The Alzheimer's Store

Ageless Design is a wonderful site for those interested in aging and especially those interested in Alzheimer's and other dementia.

Not only do they have The Alzheimer's Store, which I've written about many times as a great place to shop for elders, they offer a chance to sign up for a wonderful newsletter on studies and other things happening in the Alzheimer's world.

Check out this great site and sign up for The Alzheimer's Daily News, while you're at it. It's well worth the stop.


When the Car Keys Are the Last Means to Independence

Kathryn Kilpatrick, Geriatric Speech and Language Pathologist, is a frequent contributor to this newsletter. This article about elders and driving cessation is excellent.

Among the principles that Dale Carnegie noted in How to Win Friends and Influence People was, "Let it be the other man's idea."

Several years ago my 78 year-old mother had a serious fall and lost the sight in her left eye. It was a difficult adjustment but she temporarily gave up driving, relying on family and local transportation. I suggested that she undergo a driving assessment which included both on the road and a simulated reaction time evaluation.


On the Wings of Memories

by Karen Miller - owner/developer of Memory Jogging Puzzles

Fall of 2007

There was a sequence of television shows and commercials about Alzheimer Disease, and then I saw Muhammad Ali watch his daughter Laila, dance on "Dancing with the Stars". His presence had a huge impact on me and it still brings tears to my eyes thinking about it. Isn't it strange how someone or a television show will take you right back to that moment of time and you feel the hurt and see the sorrow in the eyes.


About Carol

Caregiving expert Carol Bradley Bursack, Author, speaker and columnist, presents a collection of articles, stories, news and research for you to browse. Please check the blog and Web site links for more information and feel free to email Carol at carol@mindingourelders.com to chat or ask questions. Minding Our Elders is a registered trademark.

If your group or organization would like to buy "Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories" in bulk, please email carol@mindingourelders.com for information. Bulk rates are available.




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