At Guardian Angel Hospice, we understand the pressures you are under as a family caregiver. This blog is designed to support you in the incredibly important work that you do.
As the North Central Indiana experts in family caregiving, we have resources, tips and information that can make your life much easier.
If you would like help, give us a call at: 800.338.4043.
Families spend three to five years caring for an aging relative. At first it may be light chores or small errands now and then. But over time, health challenges emerge and needs grow. In his book, My Mother, Your Mother, geriatrician Dennis McCullough outlines eight "stations" in the journey of late life. For each one,...
People who go through chemotherapy for cancer often complain about "chemobrain." If your loved one is under treatment and is having trouble with memory, thinking, and concentration, it is likely from the chemo drugs. The fuzzy thinking may not go away right when chemo stops. But it usually recedes over time. Encourage your loved one...
Juggling multiple schedules, keeping other relatives informed, ensuring prescriptions are filled … these are but some of the many duties you may face as a family caregiver. In some instances, a simple spreadsheet can do the trick. But an app makes it easier to coordinate with others. Admittedly, every app has a learning curve and...
Anxiety and stress commonly accompany family caregiving. The ongoing pandemic and its stream of variants are only adding to that. Perhaps you could use a little "psychological first aid." These are skills or techniques first responders are trained to teach or apply to distressed persons after urgent physical issues have been addressed. The goal of...
Is Dad asking if he should sell the house now that Mom is gone? Or perhaps Aunt Mary is anxious about her stock investments. Even if you are good at managing your own money, helping a relative make financial decisions can bring a lot of pressure. Consider hiring a professional to advise you. A financial...
If a loved one in your life is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, very likely they are dealing with the common side effects of nausea and vomiting. Not fun. Encourage them to follow these tips. To reduce nausea/vomiting Avoid strong odors: Reduce exposure to cooking, perfume, and smoke. Keep the house well ventilated. Spend time outside....
Care in a nursing home is expensive. For an extended stay, most people will need to pay quite a bit out of their own pocket. If there are no savings, Medicaid—the joint state-federal health insurance for low-income individuals—will step in. But it's not a free ride. Medicaid allows recipients living in nursing homes to own...
Romance crime is on the rise. Over 25,000 people reported a sweetheart scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2019, a threefold increase since 2016. Individuals age 65 and older were the hardest hit, with a median loss of $9465 (across all ages, the median loss was $2500 per individual). If your loved one...
It may surprise you to learn that the signs of a heart attack, especially in women, can be very different than those for men. Subtle signs of a heart attack We all know the classic heart attack portrayed over and over again in movies and on TV: Someone writhing in sudden, severe chest pain. But...
In the last two weeks, as a loved one is nearing death, it is natural to want to be at their side. But then, what? Especially if you have never been in this situation before, you may feel uncertain—even awkward—about what to do. The ideal is to be a calm, reassuring, and loving presence focused...
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