Caregiving Advice

  We all know how important self-care is for caregivers. But have we ever considered our caree’s need for self-care? We help meet their needs every day: meals and snacks, clean clothes, rest, medical care, and a host of other things. And while we don’t want to add another thing to your lengthy to-do lists, we encourage you to think about how your caree might need some self-care too. Here are 5 ways to set them up for self-care success (without much work on your part!). #1. Keep a mirror handy. A big part of having a sense of self-worth and identity is being able to see yourself. Make sure if you care for someone young, they have a mirror low enough that they can see into it; if you care for an older adult who can’t easily get up, set a hand mirror within their reach. #2. Give them alone time with self-care products they can use independently. For my grandmom, AJ, this looks like washing her hands with a sudsy washcloth, then setting her up with a warm washcloth (without soap) and a...

  3 tips for making it a daily practice I used to think getting a massage every four months was enough self-care for me. But after a few  severe fatigue episodes  landed me on the couch— completely unable to stay awake or do anything for anyone—I got the wake-up call I needed to make a change. Here are 3 things that helped me make self-care part of my everyday life: A positive self-talk is a form of self-care. I had two therapists tell me this. And as I reflected on their statements, I realized I was failing miserably in that department. A little back story: I’m an enneagram 1, a personality type that’s characterized by a harsh inner critic. (Not familiar with the enneagram? It’s a type of personality assessment and we wrote about it here  blogs for caregivers .) Once I understood how often I was berating myself for a. not doing enough self-care, b. not doing enough as a caregiver, and c. not being the perfect caregiver I thought I should be, I understood just how im...

We’re big believers in using creativity to brighten our caregiving lives—like finding a new solution for an everyday challenge (for example, our #caregivinghacks), finding a way to break out of a mental or emotional rut, or finding a way to add color to the dullness of everyday tasks. Here, we’ll offer 3 creative resources to help you refuel regularly. #1. Poetry I find tremendous comfort and power in the written word. In fact, during my journey with breast cancer over the last few months, words have been among the most meaningful gifts I’ve received. So for me, reading and savoring poetry—or even just choosing an inspiring quote as my daily mantra—is a form of creative self-care that really works. Poems are short. Quotes are even shorter. If I’m interrupted, it’s easy to jump back into it. And I can revisit the words throughout the day when I need a pick-me-up, or if I just want to be transported to another place. I’ve selected a few beautifully written words that I hope will reso...

Tools to keep close while you’re caring If you follow us on Instagram, you’re probably familiar with our popular #CaregivingHacks posts. Every week our team shares creative tips & tricks for the challenges of everyday caregiving. Follow us to see them all! Invest in a  Mermaid Pillow I’ve been using one with my grandmother for about two years now, and she’s absolutely entranced by it. I let her watch me draw on it first, then I take her hand and draw with her. Once she gets the hang of it, she enjoys running her finger along with the sequins and watching the colors change from sparkly purple to white. Watch AJ enjoying it here. These sensory-friendly sequined pillows were all the rage a few years ago. And today, they still make a great tool to keep in your caregiving toolbox. We got ours on clearance in the kid's section of a favorite store, and it’s been an excellent tool when my grandmother seems anxious, restless, or even just bored. Caregiving tools don’t hav...