The Caregiver's Beacon Newsletter |
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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Caregiving challenges
each of us to be a more caring and compassionate person in the face of dire human
situations. Whether you are dealing with internal family problems, your loved one’s
medical crisis or your own feeling of anger or grief, you still must manage the day-to-day
personal chores and responsibilities. No one has an easy solution to how to balance the
extremes – but the wisdom and insight of other caregivers provides a well that you
can go to for refreshment and nourishment. Where does one start after a diagnosis when all seems so dark and futile? How do some people do it year after year? All journeys have a starting place. That beginning often serves as a touchstone to help you along the way. Start with a foundation and return to that foundation when the road is dark or the burden too heavy. The foundation of caregiving and all human relationships is one of Love and Respect for yourself and your care recipient. Loving and Respecting yourself means recognizing your limitations and asking for help BEFORE you need it. Loving and Respecting your care recipient means empowering him/her to care for themselves, making the most of their remaining abilities and easing medical problems. Love and Respect are the foundation of a healthy caregiving relationship. I hope that this simple insight combined with your own positive energy and spiritual strength can help you during difficult times. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ INSIDE THIS ISSUE Feature Article: “The 11th
Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Parent Thy Parent” by Mark Edinberg, Ph.D. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FEATURE ARTICLE: “The 11th Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Parent Thy Parent” by Mark Edinberg, Ph.D. Did
you know there were really eleven commandments? Most
people who are familiar with the Judeo-Christian worldview recognize the first ten
commandments, but not everyone has as much knowledge about the eleventh one, which has
become more important as our society has aged. As many of you readers know, the original
tem commandments are divided into the 5 shalts and the 5 shalt nots. One of them is
clearly related to caregiving: Honor they father and mother. However, there seems to be
considerable psychological confusion about how to do this, which has led to lots of
articles and even a few books about a term that brings fear into the hearts of many
caregivers: “Parenting your parent.” I’m here today to offer a very different approach that starts with a statement of the 11th Commandment: Thou shalt NOT parent thy parent. That’s right, don’t do it, don’t even consider it, don’t go there. Read the complete article at http://www.ec-online.net/Knowledge/Articles/11thcommandment.html NURSING HOMES: “Living in a Care Facility” by Peter Silin, MSW, RSW The experience of being the resident (and also of being the family member) of a care facility varies enormously. This is partly because of the vast differences in care facilities and care facility staff. It is partly because of the differences in the residents themselves. It is also different because of what family members/caregivers are able to provide and because of the larger system (government, health departments, etc) of which the facilities are apart. To truly appreciate life in a care facility, I think we must first have an understanding of the purpose of care facilities. The purpose is not care, it is to help the resident achieve and/or maintain the highest quality of life that is possible for that resident. Care is one aspect of how the purpose is accomplished, or a measure by which we can evaluate the extent to which the purpose is achieved. Quality of life comes from quality of relationships, and the meaning, purpose, and structure in life that people have. At the same time, quality of life is an individual matter, varying from person to person. Part of the home’s care quality comes from understanding what it means to each resident and the home’s ability to e flexible enough to meet that individuality. To read Peter’s complete article go to http://www.ec-online.net/Knowledge/Articles/livinginanh.html HEALTHY AGING: “Relaxation Resistance” by Thomas J. Schumacher Psy. D. Our widespread inability to relax is rarely acknowledged. Few of us are comfortable admitting that we have a tremendous amount of difficulty in being able to relax. Come Monday morning, when asked about your weekend, you reflexively spout out that is was “great.” It is equally as common for us to list our relaxation activities (i.e., we were at the beach house, out on the boat, etc., etc.) as though these activities clearly imply that we truly enjoyed them and we were readily able to relax. However, relaxation is usually about a state of “being” and not about a state of “doing.” Therefore, no list of relaxation activities guarantees “being” in a state of relaxation. Most people view
being able to relax as simply mind over matter. Should someone tell you that they were
unable to relax, you might listen sympathetically but also might feel that the person was
just not exercising enough control over himself or herself. Often, we see the inability to
relax as a sort of weakness on the part of the person. In addition, many people also
believe that relaxation is a natural state. You just take time off, do things you like to
do, and relax. If there is a barrier to relaxation, it is believed that it is linked to
stress – too much work, too little money, too little time, and too many
responsibilities. Many believe that if they
had both more time and more money, then relaxation would be sure to follow. News Flash: All of
the above beliefs are false … relaxation is an unnatural state Read the complete article, along with techniques to “trick” your brain into allowing you to relax at http://www.ec-online.net/Knowledge/Articles/relaxationresist.html CAREGIVER STORE: “Elder Care: A Six-Step Guide to Balancing Work and Family” There are literally hundreds of books that have been written to guide families through the caregiving journey. Many of them are exceptional – but you probably only need to buy or read four or five of them, depending on your specific needs. If you are working full-time (like most caregivers), John Paul Marosy’s practical book, “Elder Care: A Six Step Guide to Balancing Work and Family” should be on your reading list. John Paul’s hands-on book is the only resource of its kind that I am aware of. It is the only book that addresses some very difficult issues that caregivers with conflicting responsibilities at home and in the office regularly face. For example, detailed questionnaires that help to assess how your eldercare situation is impacting work. It also gives you insights on what to say – and what NOT to say to your supervisor. The book includes information, tips, worksheets, and wisdom on the following topics:
John Paul’s book is available directly from ElderCare Online’s secure caregiving store at http://www.ec-online.net/Store/store.htm ELDER JOURNAL: “Stress Reduction Techniques for Caregivers” Chat Transcript Each month ElderCare Online columnist Paul Takayanagi publishes an article and then hosts a live chat session on the same topic. For April, the topic was “Stress Reduction Techniques for Caregivers.” We have published the transcript of the April 22 session at http://www.ec-online.net/Community/transcript042203.htm. Read Paul’s complete column where he provides two detailed stress reduction techniques that you can practice on your own at http://www.ec-online.net/Knowledge/Columns/elderjournal0403.html. ELDERCARE BOOKSTORE: Featured Authors Several authors have long been affiliated with ElderCare Online and ALZwell Caregiver Support. This month, I would like to highlight them. For many of these authors we have chat transcripts, individual articles, book reviews, excerpts, and website links, so visit the Eldercare Bookstore at http://www.ec-online.net/Connections/bookstore.htm
The ElderCare Bookstore is more than a place for us to sell these books. It is a free “reading room” because of the numerous related articles, book excerpts, chat transcripts, and references. We continually update the store with new releases and additional items (including educational video tapes, DVDs, and computer software). Online shopping is a great way to save money and time. Visit the ElderCare Bookstore at http://www.ec-online.net/Connections/bookstore.htm The Caregiver’s Beacon is published bimonthly by ElderCare Online and ALZwell Caregiver Support. To subscribe to this free newsletter, visit the subscription information page at http://www.ec-online.net/Knowledge/Newsletters/subscribe.htm. You may also go to the main page of the website at http://www.ec-online.net or http://www.alzwell.com and add your e-mail address to the white box and click on the "Subscribe" button (just one click!). To unsubscribe from this list, follow the customized link that is provided below by our ListBuilder software. You may also customize your profile and sign up for additional monthly News Briefs on special topics. (c) 2004 Prism Innovations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Subscribe Now +++++ Return to Front Page +++++ Read Back Issues |