Today is Groundhog Day in the United States and Canada. Along with the famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, I’m coming out of hibernation, too!

While I haven’t written here for over a month, my mind’s been whirring with ideas and I’ve been busy planning new, additional features for Tender Loving Eldercare (TLeC).

Why? It all began because . . .

I Became a Caregiver Again

Back in November, my son, age 22, had wrist surgery and I was his full time caregiver for one week post-surgery.  From this experience, I was reminded of some prior, and gained new, perspectives about caregiving:

• Care recipients are people of all ages, with many different physical, cognitive and/or emotional problems.  While my hands-on caregiving experience until November had been with my elderly parents, there are many caregivers lovingly helping people of all ages, with varying levels of health, and in different living arrangements.

• Not all caregiving is long-term.  Some caregivers only serve for short periods of time, and their daily work can vary from mild to very intense care.

• We are also “caregivers” to our pets as they age.

• Caregivers are champions of practicing thoughtfulness.

How Did My New Caregiving Experience Impact Tender Loving Eldercare?

After an 18-hour day caring for my son, I’d go back to my hotel room and collapse, both physically and mentally.  I needed to unwind in a big way.  I needed to re-charge my batteries quickly, get some sleep and be refreshed before my alarm went off before dawn the next morning.

I needed a quick fix of inspiration or motivation, either before bed or when I first awoke in the morning.  I realize ALL types of caregivers need that OOMPH to help get them through a long, challenging day!  So, while I will continue to write informative, how-to posts about caregiving, I’m expanding my role to become a Caregiver Cheerleader for our TLeC community!  No matter what type of caregiving you’re doing, I hope a dose of positivity wil help you on your journey.

How I Will Accomplish This New Goal? 

• There will be more posts about inspiration and motivation. I will also bring back the popular Friday Funnies, as laughter is always better than tears.

• We will present more positive thinking strategies for caregivers to use.  (And even if you’re not a caregiver currently,  won’t you enjoy some positive thinking tips?)

• I will highlight more “Golden Oldies” stories, because my passion for the older generation has not waned.  As a society we need to recognize and celebrate their accomplishments and wisdom.  This will also include the portrayal of elders in the media and the arts, both pro and con.

• Because we are all bombarded with mobile technology and social media, I will also focus more on how technology can aid caregivers, care recipients and their families.

If You Are Already On TLeC’s Email Subscriber List

I will be emailing you about special reports and guides I am writing to help you on your caregiving journey, with early-bird notification before they become available for purchase elsewhere.

If you’re not already on the TLeC email subscriber list, you may want to join now by filling out the brief form found in the top right hand corner of this page, under the words “Caregiving Guide — It’s Free.”  When you sign up, you instantly receive the free report about five important caregiving lessons I learned, as a thank you gift for joining our community. You may unsubscribe from this list at any time, and I totally respect and guard your email privacy.

Last But Not Least

If you know any other caregivers who might use even a little bit of  inspiration or motivation, please share Tender Loving Eldercare with them.  If you have any other topics you’d like me to cover, please feel free to write them in the Comments section below.

Thank you and I hope you are as excited as I am about the new additions to come!

Now . . . I wonder if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow or not?  :-)

________________________________________

Photo Credit:  tachyondecay’s photostream

No related posts.

I’m very proud and happy to announce that my article, “Daily Activities for Late Stage Alzheimer’s Disease Patients,” has been selected as the winning entry in The Great Alzheimer’s Blogging Competition run by The Disabled Shop Blog!

These are the flattering comments the judge wrote about my post:

An excellent blog – Linda identified a need for more information about caring for someone with dementia in the later stages and answered that need with a compassionate and revealing blog. It strikes a great balance between practical advice, realism and a touching personal account of how dementia fundamentally affects a person. This is a brilliant post.

Please also take time to read the other contest entries while you’re over at The Disabled Shop Blog. They each share different and important perspectives about this horrible disease.

My greatest wish is that a cure will be found soon so that no more families have to live with this progressive and debilitating disease.

Shameless Plug  :-)

Please remember you can hire me to write for your blog, business or organization.  Click on the Writing & Editing Services link above for further info. Thanks!

Related posts:

1. Daily Activities for Late Stage Alzheimer’s Disease Patients
2. I’m an Official SOB and I Couldn’t Be Happier!
3. Family Caregivers Communication Class — The Language of Dementia, Part 1

Each November is National Family Caregivers Month in the United States.  I wrote this tribute in 2008 and wish to share it again to honor and thank family caregivers world-wide.

What is Caregiving?

C is for caring more for others than for yourself

A is for appreciating that all human beings deserve dignity and respect

R is for respite which you need to refresh your body and mind

E is for excellence in all you do for the care recipient

G is for going the extra mile day in and day out

I is for inventing creative solutions to challenging situations

V is for victory over negative and self-defeating thoughts

I is for inspiring others to care more deeply

N is for not giving up when others would in such trying circumstances, and

G is for our gratitude for the TLC you give to others each and every day!

(c) 2008 Linda Abbit

“Day in and day out, more than 65 million family caregivers in this country fulfill a vital role on the care team. No one else is in a better position to ensure continuity of care. Family caregivers are the most familiar with their care recipients’ medicine regimen; they are the most knowledgeable about the treatment regimen; and they understand best the dietary and exercise regimen.”  (National Family Caregivers Association)

NFCA coordinates National Family Caregivers Month as a time to thank, support, educate and empower family caregivers.  NFC month enables us to:

• Raise awareness of family caregiver issues
• Celebrate the efforts of family caregivers
• Educate family caregivers about self-identification
• Increase support for family caregivers

Please read my previous article about eight easy ways to thank the family caregiver(s) in your life.

If you have an idea on how to thank or help a caregiver in some way, please share it in the Comments section below.  Thanks!

Related posts:

1. November is National Family Caregivers Month
2. Contests for Caregivers during National Family Caregivers Month — November 2009
3. A Caregiver Logistics Tip and Contest Winner Announcement

Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.

~ Oren Arnold (1900-1980)

No matter where you live, whether it’s warm, cold, snowing or raining outside, I hope you will get cozy and immerse yourselves in the joys of the holiday season with family and friends.

There is nothing more important for the human spirit than connecting with others who are dear to you!

Thank you for reading my words of advice, inspiration and humor this year!

Happy Holidays and see you in 2010!

—————————————————————–

Photo Credit:  Matti Mattila’s photostream

Related posts:

1. Tender Loving Eldercare Goes Back to School
2. Inspiring Quotes for Caregivers: On Caregiver’s Rights — 12/10/08
3. Inspiring Quotes for Caregivers

I actually heard this idea while at the hairdresser and thought it was simply brilliant!

The woman who came up with this idea has an elderly mother still able to live in her own home but only with the assistance of different caregivers on various shifts during the week.  Her mother has dementia so in order to keep track of the front door key from shift to shift, the woman’s daughter attached a lock box to the front door.  After they are hired, the caregivers are given the combination for the lock box in which the key is kept.  Upon arrival for their shift, they get the key out of the lock box and when their shift is over, they replace the key.  Voila!  No issues on where the front door key is or who has it!

*************************

The winner of the contest we ran the last few weeks in honor of National Family Caregivers Month was drawn randomly from the entries received.  Thank you to all who participated!!

And the winner is  (drumroll please) . . . Shiela!

We will send you an email today, Shiela, to get the mailing address you want your prize sent to.

Congratulations!!!

Related posts:

1. 25 Random Things . . . from a Family Caregiver
2. Announcing a TLeC Contest for National Family Caregivers Month 2009

“Music is part of being human.”

~ Oliver W. Sacks

To continue our celebration of and gratitude for all caregivers during National Family Caregivers Month 2009, TLeC is holding it’s very first contest!

• It is open to all caregivers, families employing caregivers, and/or eldercare professionals in the U.S.A.

• It starts November 16, 2009 and all entries must be received no later than 6pm PST on November 29, 2009.  The one (1) winner will be chosen at random and announced here on November 30, 2009. Prize will be shipped to the winner by TLeC.

• How to Enter:  Sign up for the TLeC Newsletter in the top right hand section of this page, under the blue headline “Get More Caregiving Tips from Tender Loving Eldercare!”  Type in your name and email address, click on the “Sign Me Up” button, and complete the one last step of clicking on the link in the confirmation email that will be delivered instantly to your inbox.  That final step is important — it both completes your newsletter sign up  and also enters you into the contest.  That’s all you have to do! Easy Peasy!

What Can You Win?

The prize is a wonderful DVD set called “Toe-Tapping Songs” created by Darlene Hamby, a music specialist in the eldercare field.  The set centers around a collection of 20 songs to sing along to.  They are all “feel good” tunes, and caregivers, seniors (or Golden Oldies as I like to call them) and their families will enjoy them. It consists of a DVD of a music session, with Darlene playing the piano and singing with senior citizens, and also includes six sing-along song books.  Inside the song books, you will find one page dedicated to each song containing the lyrics in LARGE PRINT and a photo to match the song’s theme.  It is packaged in a compact binder which is both easy to store and easy to travel with.

Darlene’s love of both music and Golden Oldies shines through as she sings and plays the piano on this DVD.  I’ve had the pleasure of participating in one of her live music sessions and I’m sure people of all ages will enjoy having their own sing-alongs with Darlene via this DVD.  This set can be used to create fun music sessions during family gatherings or in an assisted living facility’s activity program.  It will be a big hit over and over again in either setting!

Here is a preview of the prize:

DVD Sing-Along Music Set

Sample of a Song Page

Toe-Tapping Songs Table of Contents

So get your entries in now!  And please feel free to tell others about this contest in your caregiving world as well!  Thanks!

Related posts:

1. Contests for Caregivers during National Family Caregivers Month — November 2009
2. November is National Family Caregivers Month
3. On Birthdays, Orphans and Family Caregivers

National Family Caregivers Month is about celebrating and showing our gratitude for family caregivers, both near and far. It is our chance to publicly or privately shine the spotlight on these wonderfully giving individuals.

Here is an excerpt from President Obama’s Proclamation about National Family Caregivers Month, 2009:

The true strength of the American family finds its roots in an unwavering commitment to care for one another. In difficult times, Americans come together to ensure our loved ones are comfortable and safe. Whether caring for a parent, relative, or child, our Nation’s caregivers selflessly devote their time and energy to the well-being of those they look after. During National Family Caregivers Month, we honor the individuals providing essential services to family members who could not otherwise look after themselves . . . . I encourage all Americans to pay tribute and support those who are caring for their family members, friends, and neighbors in need of assistance.

What You Can Do

If you know a caregiver, please take time to thank them for all they are doing for their care recipients(s).  And then take it a step further and ask what you can do for them — whether it be pampering them (manicure, pedicure, massage, hair salon appointment?), doing errands or chores for them, and or providing them with some needed time away (also known as respite) from their responsibilities to enjoy themselves in whatever way they so choose.

And what would be even better is to continue this practice all year round — not just this month.

Opportunities to Win Prizes for Caregivers this Month

TENA, an incontinence care company, asked me to announce its first “Caregivers Night Out” sweepstakes.

From October 19th to November 30th, 2009, caregivers from all over the nation can enter to win $100 to spend on an evening out at their favorite Olive Garden ® or Outback Steakhouse ® family of restaurants. Over forty winners from across the U.S. will be announced on November 30th.

To enter the contest caregivers should visit TENA’s site and share a tip or piece of advice about caregiving with others, which may be featured in future TENA email blasts or on their web site.  With over 54 years of experience, TENA is the worldwide leader in the management of incontinence, providing products and services for individuals and healthcare service providers in over 90 countries.

*************************

If you are on Facebook there is another contest where you can win a prize for a special caregiver in your life!

Become a Facebook Fan of Care.com and write on their wall about your “Care Hero.”  By doing so you automatically enter your caregiver into their contest to win him or her a night out worth $500.

Care.com will select three Finalists each week in November.  Each Finalist will receive a $100 dining gift certificate and each Finalist’s nominator will receive a free 3-month membership to Care.com. (Editor’s Note: The first week’s Finalists have already been selected, so enter ASAP to enter for the remaining two weeks of judging.)

At the end of the month, Care.com will select one Grand Prize Winner from among the 12 Finalists. The Grand Prize Winner will receive:

• $500 in dining, entertainment, and hotel gift certificates

• A bag of goodies from Care.com

• The Grand Prize Winner’s nominator will receive a $100 dining gift certificate and a bag of goodies

*************************

Forward this post on now to any caregivers you know or to the families of care recipients so they can enter the contests during National Family Caregivers Month.  Please let me know if you hear of other contests like these going on in November so I can let the TLeC community know about them, too.  Thank you!

Related posts:

1. November is National Family Caregivers Month
2. Let’s Honor Family Caregivers with a Stamp
3. Inspiring Quotes for Caregivers — July 22, 2009

I’m excited to share this blogging project with everyone here at TLeC and beyond!

Two bloggers, Lance Ekum and Joanna Sutter, teamed up to create a very special e-book and in doing so make a difference in the world.  They asked writers worldwide to contribute articles to their unique and on line vision of a Race for the Cure.

If “Race for the Cure” rings a bell, it is because the Susan G. Komen Foundation holds fundraisers with that name in cities nationwide on their mission to end breast cancer and raise awareness about this life-threatening disease. I’ve participated in our local Race for the Cure many times. And as a grateful breast cancer survivor for over 13 years, the Susan G. Komen Foundation is a charity near and dear to my heart.

A total of 150 writers contributed a favorite article to this e-book, creating a wonderful collection of stories.  Stories of inspiration, personal growth, fitness, food, humor, and more.  I am thrilled and honored to be part of this special e-book.

Today I am asking for your support in this effort.

Breast cancer has affected countless millions of people – from the women and men who have had this disease, to their family and friends who love them.

Estimates show that breast cancer is newly diagnosed in approximately 200,000 women each year.  And while the risks are much lower, men are not immune from this disease either.  That’s about 550 new cases of breast cancer EVERY DAY.

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure, founded in 1982, has become the world’s single largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to curing breast cancer at every stage from the causes to the cure.

Please visit the Susan G. Komen Blog-4-Cause website to learn how you can support the mission to end breast cancer.  In addition, you’ll find information on how to receive this Blog-4-Cause E-book as a gift to you.  A bonus e-book, from author and life coach Tim Brownson, is included as well.

Together we can all make a difference.

Thank you for your support in ending breast cancer forever!

Related posts:

1. Inspiring Quotes for Caregivers — 09/09/09

I have a guest post up at Silver and Grace for everyone to read.   The article is titled “Graceful Women: You are an Empty Nester when . . . .”  Stop over and check it out!  It’s a reflection about a part of my life I don’t share with my readers here.

Silver and Grace is a site dedicated to guiding women ages forty and older towards graceful and beautiful aging.  Eliza, creator and author of Silver and Grace, describes her goals as three-fold:  sharing knowledge, telling her personal stories, and building a community of like minded women. I think she’s doing a wonderful job on all three!

Please stop by and read my article along with all the other fine writings Eliza has posted there.  Also keep up with the latest at Silver and Grace by subscribing to it here.

Comments are closed.

Related posts:

1. Funny Fridays: Because It’s Better to Laugh than to Cry!
2. Funny Fridays: Because It Is Better to Laugh than to Cry!
3. Funny Fridays for March Madness: Because It’s Better to Laugh than to Cry!

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time.

~ John Lubbock

Commitments offline (some expected, some unexpected, but all good) will take me away from Tender Loving Eldercare until early September.

While here please feel free to sign up for the TLeC Newsletter (in the top right hand corner where it says “Sign Me Up”), read through previous articles, and/or add a comment.  “Recent Posts” as well as “Categories” are listed in the right hand column, and a simple click on any topics of interest will bring you to more articles.

My goal is always for you to feel better after having spent time here!

Thanks for visiting TLeC and I’ll see you in September!

Cheers,

Linda

——————————————–

Photo Credit:  Boby Dimitrov’s Photostream on Flickr

Related posts:

1. I’m Temporarily Missing In Action
2. Let’s Pay it Forward and Help Another Blogger!