How to Live While Declining – Stay Engaged
Despite the physical challenges, there's no need to give up on living. Stay engaged and focus on what you can do.
A COVID-19 Vaccine Love Story
Loving a needle phobic husband is challenging! He grasps the importance of vaccination; his overwhelming fear has resulted in many unusual situations.
My Job May Soon Be Gone!
The ways I have observed masks being worn is amazing. My desire to contain the spread and help us return to some “normalcy” is overwhelming. My ideal imaginary mask monitoring job may soon be gone! Oh, what a hopeful thought.
Volunteer COVID-19 Vaccinator
Serving as a COVID-19 volunteer vaccinator has been exciting, gratifying, and rewarding. There were many touching moments revealing the challenges individuals encountered coupled with hope for the future.
Immunization guilt, a new phenomenon
Immunization guilt, a growing phenomenon of individuals expressing remorse that they got vaccinated, before others they feel are more worthy. Feelings of unworthiness must be countered, as they are healthcare professionals and the vulnerable helping the population towards herd immunity.
Vaccine Envy: Where’s Mine?
Vaccine envy is a new social trend impacting relationships due to feelings of jealousy and resentment that others are getting the vaccine before you. Resentment over administration prioritization, vaccine availability, and long wait times are driving a wedge in relationships. Where’s my vaccine?
Hope is a Four-Letter Word
Hope is individual optimism, keeps us getting up in the morning, caring for ourselves and others. Hope is vital to survival, despite hardship, we anticipate a brighter outcome. Resilient individuals tend to hope more; they anticipate current challenges becoming lighter, and looking forward to the return of “brightness.”
A holiday season like no other. IVAN101 / GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
Celebrate While Waging War with COVID-19
Celebrating during challenging times is critical to wellbeing and happiness. Traditions can be modified to accommodate our times.
Happy Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving 2020: Flip The Perspective
Thanksgiving 2020: a time to flip the perspective. Despite all the difficulties that we or our loved ones experienced this year, the search for something to be thankful and grateful…
Elder Orphan, Solo Ager: What’s Your Plan?
Solo agers and elder orphans can’t afford to delay planning for aging. To ensure that their preferences and wishes are honored, they need to be proactive. Engaging a team of professionals to address Advance Directive, social engagement, aging in place, and in determining financial resources for the plan is vital.
Photo by Judith R. Sands
Anticipatory Grief: The Space Between
Anticipatory grief, the set of feelings associated with an impending loss. Anticipatory grief occurs when a death is expected, but before it actually happens. It helps caregiver, family members, and friends prepare emotionally for the pending loss. Culture and religion can influence how individuals address anticipatory grief.
Flu Vaccine Benefits
Flu and COVID-19: A Dicey Combination
Getting your flu vaccine is more important than ever this year. This is especially true for caregivers whose loved ones depend on them. Flu vaccine can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits, hospitalizations and been shown to be life-saving. This is a very important step that you can take to decrease the chance of getting the flu, especially since COVID-19 is another risk factor.
Photo by Judith R. Sands
Your Grief Journey Is Unique
One’s grief journey is unique and personal. Your sense of loss is impact by a variety of factors, and no two losses will be grieved in the same way. One does not have to navigate grief alone; there are resources and supports to get through the process. Stay connected! Take advantage of assistance and resources, to help you manage the pain on your grief journey.
Photo by Toby Tabachnick, Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle
Caregivers and “Lucky Life”
The award winning and captivating words of Pittsburgh’s Gerald Stern poem “Lucky Life”, serve as a balm for caregivers. Stern reminds us that life is made up of so many different feelings and memories. Caregivers can find relief from stress through his words!
Health Conditions and Sudden Symptoms Don’t Break for COVID-19
Staying healthy is vital; don’t delay getting time-sensitive medical care, or ignore a sudden change in condition. Addressing changes in medical conditions early and promptly responding to a medical emergency improves your outcome. This is especially important if you are the caregiver, and your loved one is depending on you. Look after both your mental and physical health; be sure to do something nice for yourself each day.
Caregivers Healing with the Power of Art
Creativity takes on many forms of expression. Feeling your own joy can activate the power of the healing potential inside this moment of transformation. Sharing of creative energy during caregiving can be healing, discover your inner creativity. Take advantage of the wonderful resources to guide you through the healing process.
Caregiving in the Midst of Hurricane Season
Caregiving is stressful and challenging, that’s an understatement. Preplanning can reduce your frenzy when a hurricane is looming in your area. The additional stressors, and changes in routine related to Covid-19 have resulted in extra unforeseen hurricane preparedness barriers. Eliminate the burden; complete your preplanning preparations. Make it easier for yourself to “weather the storm” by avoiding the last minute frenzy.
Being Happy with What I have
Being happy with what you have can be challenging when facing caregiving responsibilities and living during a pandemic. Modifying expectations and resisting the urge to compare your situation to those of others can help increase your level of happiness. There are simple things that you can incorporate into your routine to increase your level of happiness.
COVID-19: Are You Among the Frustration and Disappointed?
Frustration and disappointments are an inherent part of caregiving, yet recent events have added new aspects of frustration and disappointment, too often involving lack of caregiving support and companionship. These times of uncertainty challenge our support and coping mechanisms. Rechanneled frustrations and disappointments, into focusing on finding current rays of brightness and your hopes and wishes for the future.
Caregiver Surprises
Caregiving is full of unknowns. The role changes along with the unique needs of the loved one. It is one of the most challenging roles, yet there are rewards and surprises. There are caregiving commonalities, and no one came to the job with all the answers. Don’t be shy about reaching out for assistance.