Caring for someone with dementia can be deeply meaningful, but it can also be exhausting.

Caring for an aging loved one can be one of life’s most meaningful experiences, but also one of the hardest, both physically and emotionally. While families often talk about the physical demands of senior care, the emotional strain is rarely discussed.

Explore heartfelt senior gift ideas curated with care and consideration from caregivers. Discover thoughtful and practical presents that bring joy, comfort, and appreciation to the seniors in your life.

Even though most of us have happy memories of holiday celebrations, this time of the year can be stressful. There are pervasive societal expectations that everything should be cheerful, regardless of the circumstances. Our elders used to be in charge of making the holidays merry while the younger generations were the focus. But as our elders begin to slow down and need more help, the holiday responsibilities increasingly fall to us.

I wrote this piece on Thanksgiving, but it has meaning 365 days a year. The truth is that seniors like me would be utterly LOST without our caregivers.

 

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is an agency that provides benefits for military veterans and their families.

One of the most important aspects of being human is appreciating and caring for each other. Younger ones showing appreciation for senior citizens, and vice versa, can help improve generational relationships.

Gratitude gives a sense of appreciation, contentment, and even joy. When someone demonstrates gratitude, they focus on their blessings rather than their worries. They feel happier and more optimistic about their future.

They say hindsight is 20/20. But things from the past that may seem “clear” to you now can still be distorted by difficult emotions—especially when it comes to something as impactful as caregiving.

Hear from our caregiver Stacy why she loves working with Senior Helpers in Tempe- we're so lucky to have you Stacy!

In a way, time management is a way of taking care of ourselves. Efficiency in doing for others can actually leave us more time for self-care. If we don’t prioritize our physical and mental health, we’ll become less efficient at all the other tasks on our plates.

The Dementia Caregiver Guide includes:
· An explanation of each of the GEMS States
· A description of the types of support needed as the condition progresses
· A demonstration of Positive Approach to Care techniques such as PPA and Hand-under-Hand
· A combination of visually appealing pictures and helpful text explanations

As anyone who has read any of my posts know, I have a mom (now 100 years old) in my care who has borderline personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder. She's been this way all of her life.

I have been caring for my dad, who moved into an Assisted Living Facility but has had so many issues where I had to step in and be there, and I had be there for so much. He has changed Assisted Living Facilities because his condition was not doing well and he needed more support, and I feel he may end up in a skilled nursing facility. But I am still needing to go see him all the time, even when I put boundaries up.

Written by Molly-An Overwhelmed Family Caregiver and New Senior Helpers Client. We recently started working with Senior Helpers of Tempe and things have gotten significantly better. I have more time for myself and my family while not feeling guilty about leaving my father. I would highly recommend Senior Helpers of Tempe.