Don’t fall into these 3 caregiving misconceptions

By Lisa M. Petsche

Caring for a chronically ill or frail senior relative can offer many rewards, but it also involves physical, psychological, and emotional demands. Stress can be further compounded by certain thoughts and belief systems. Read on for 3 common misconceptions and unhealthy behaviors among caregivers you should watch out for.

What to do to help an aging loved one with depression

Seniors who have a chronic illness are more likely to become depressed. Kayla Cook, owner/director of Caring Excellence Personalized Home Care Services, shares what you can do if you suspect your aging loved one is dealing with depression.

5 ideas to entertain your loved one today

When you’re caring for an aging loved one, it can be hard to come up with engaging activities that will both benefit your loved one and help pass the time. Our Caregiver Circle panel shares five easy ideas you can try at home today.

4 questions to ask your director of nursing

Choosing a nursing facility for your loved one can be stressful — especially when you don’t have much time to make a decision. Angela Allen, director of nursing with Christian Care Communities’ Christian Health Center Louisville, answers some common questions about nursing facilities.

3 questions to ask your aging parents

It’s hard to think about our parents aging, but being prepared can ease the stress and make difficult decisions go more smoothly. Being able to make choices about the continued care of your parents while they still have the cognitive abilities to express their wishes is the first step. Use these questions to start the discussion every adult child should have with his or her parents. They were compiled by expert advice from Corey Vallandingham, marketing director of Springhurst Pines, and Kelly Gannott, elder law attorney. You might want to think about these questions for yourself as well.

The winter issue is out!

The winter issue of Today’s Transitions has hit the stands! Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find in it:

• What you can do to avoid getting sick this season
• What to wear when traveling to a warm place
• Caregiving misconceptions you can avoid
• A new location chart you can use to identify which local care facilities are close to you

Happy holidays, and happy winter!

Caregivers: Remember to have fun with your loved one

“I remember that when I was helping care for my mom at home, it was easy to become focused on her health needs, nutrition, exercises, and doctor appointments but forget to have fun together,” says Kayla Cook, owner and director of Caring Excellence Personalized Home Care Services. “One day when she was not responsive to therapy and wouldn’t eat, we...

2 techniques for soothing your loved one’s emotions

If you’re a caregiver and the person you’re caring for gets upset, it can be tricky to know how to handle the situation. Becky Beanblossom, president of Home Instead Senior Care, offers two techniques for calming your loved one.

How she handled a situation where multiple loved ones needed care

Sheila Carter, founder and president of Heartsong Memory Care, gives her solution to a caregiving quandary:

Help your loved one get more out of mealtimes

If your aging loved one isn’t eating enough or if mealtimes are proving difficult, remember this advice:

Build your caregiver confidence

How do you stay confident as a caregiver? “Educating myself on the condition of my loved one helped,” says Janice Baldon-Gutter, online instructor and facilitator for adult higher education at Kaplan University and author of Caregiving: A Daughter’s Story: Life After Loss - Surviving Caregiving. “I didn’t always accept the initial advice of the physician, but I educated myself on alternative treatments or needs. I learned to participate in the decisions for my loved ones.”

Click here for more caregiving advice or find more help in our latest issue.

Two rules for a stress-free day of caregiving

Kayla Cook, owner/director of Caring Excellence Personalized Home Care Services, shares her two rules for caregivers to have a stress-free day:

The biggest challenge a caregiver can face...

The biggest challenge a caregiver can face is balancing what is best for the person being cared for and what is best for the caregiver, says Becky Beanblossom, president of Home Instead Senior Care. Her advice for this challenge? “Sometimes as a caregiver we have to realize that these two things might be at odds,” she says.

Caregiver tip: Understand that each patient is unique

Treating each patient individually is important, says Christian McCutcheon, owner of BrightStar Care.

Caregiver uses music to help mother

Lucy Martin, an IT manager at UPS, says music was something she used to help her mother. Lucy bought a keyboard, and before long, her mother was playing music herself.

Helpful tips when caring for an ailing spouse

Carol Cockerel’s time caring for her ailing spouse taught her valuable lessons on not only how to care for her spouse, but also how to care for herself.

Caregiver advice: “Don't sweat the small stuff.”

Dealing with a loved one suffering from disease can be frustrating, but Mary Kay Flege, chair of HCM Senior Services, says accepting the situation for what it is will help in the long run.

A simple way to keep track of all your medications

Pate Rita, President of ElderCare 4 Families, dishes on a trick she has learned to make taking and keeping track of different medications easy on aging adults and their caregivers.

Find local help from the Alzheimer’s Association

If you’re caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, then you should know about the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Their website is complete with events to raise awareness, local classes, a 24-hour helpline, and caregiving resources. Click on over today to find help for your caregiver journey.

Caregiver advice: “Don't expect others to know what your needs are.”

Remember this advice from a member of our Caregiver Circle panel, Helen Smith, physician office receptionist and patient support coordinator with Floyd Memorial Hospital Cancer Center.