It is well- known in the field of aging, that too often, caregivers of persons with Dementia,  Alzheimer’s,  Stroke,  Parkinson’s Disease, for example, overlook their own health and wellness while taking on the care of a family member.  “You can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself” is a common reminder that you will burn out if you don’t improve your life balance, and expand your supports and resources, so you are able to continue for the duration.

A simple to question to answer:

Are you being driven by your caregiving responsibilities, or are you at the wheel??

• “There’s nothing I can do about it….”
• “It’s just the way it is…”
• “I have no time for my own needs…..”

If these sound like your response to that question, its time to get back in the driver’s seat!!

Have you overlooked increasing the following activities, which will help you maintain your health and strength for the long run?

• Exercise
• Nutrition
• Sleep
• Friends, social support
• Enjoyable activity
• Family cooperation and collaboration
• Updated resource information

Getting a handle on these areas will help you maintain your own  health, and sense of balance and well-being.

Coaching to improve YOUR health and wellness while caring for an older family member is critical if you want to be the best you can be.

Telephonic coaching is a great way to start because it doesn’t require leaving the house to start taking care of your own well-being!!



Seems like everyone is stressed or in major activity overload these days!!

I thought it would be timely to share some techniques to remind us how easy it is to turn away from on-going tension.See if you can turn low moods into joyful moments by incorporating some of the following into your home and work life, sharing these with the folks with whom you come in contact, like caregivers and older adults who sometimes get tunnel vision. See what a session on humor does to your next group with these clients/customers/colleagues.
Here we go:
1. Make a joy journal, listing the gifts that come to you each day, for example, smiles, finding something, a pleasant event, a joke.
2. Take “healing breaks” — at least 20 a day (30 seconds, to 1 minute each).
3. Give yourself a “standing ovation.”
4. Be a child, play with toys, wear a tiara, blow bubbles.
5. Surround yourself with funny pictures of yourself and your family.
6. Have a positive party funded by negative people. Negative remarks throw $1 into a positive pot and use the money every couple of months to do something fun. (We can’t keep negativity out of our lives, but we can turn the inevitable upsets into positives.)
7. Pretend you are in control.
8. Place a mark on your body to show where you have “had it up to.”
9. Too much to do? Complain loudly (you will get further behind, but you’ll feel better, and….your party collection will increase).
10. Whine — do a group, family or friend whine.
11. Breathe and let go.
12. Do not sweat the small stuff, it’s all small stuff.
Enjoy this list. Copy it, distribute it and most importantly, use it!!
Try something you would not expect yourself to do. Surprise yourself! Life comes at us, and all we can do is choose how to respond. Give those around you the gift and it might even be returned.