What is an after-loss professional?
After-loss professionals assist individuals and families deal with the administrative and logistical issues that surface after a death.
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October 11, 2023
Empowering People to Be Their Own Best Advocate
The Healthcare system is complex, fragmented, costly and can be dangerous. Empowering people to be their own best advocate when entering the healthcare system is critical.
June 14, 2023
Bathroom Safety & Minimizing Injuries
The bathroom is one of the most dangerous places in the house. Review and follow key bathroom safety tips. Minimize the risk of injury.
June 1, 2023
Two Nurses Who Have Seen It All!
Helping people get the care they need when they need it in an efficient way to meet THEIR needs.
May 15, 2023
Image by Sheena Pradhan, India.com
Caregiver, are you suffering from “Fudge”?
Caregiving comes with a personal toll. Knowing the "symptoms" can aid in pre-planning and making caregiving navigation smoother.
April 18, 2023
Moving Closer to Your Senior Loved One
Helping caregivers that are moving closer to a loved one. Utilizing tools and tricks for to smooth the move transition.
August 15, 2022
Avoiding Regrets: There’s No Turning Back The Clock
Often we focus on things beyond our control. Regrets are lessons learned along life’s journey. Avoiding them requires decision conscious making, redirecting one’s energies from the past to the future.
November 2, 2021
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.
March 11, 2021
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.
November 2, 2020
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!
August 3, 2020
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.
July 20, 2020
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.
June 6, 2020
Just In Case Planning
The free Just In Case Planning resource helps individuals work through the process of preparing for the inevitable. Keeping track of pertinent end of life documents, recording funeral considerations, creating a digital clean-up plan, and providing a space for reflections and messages for loved ones, this tool provides peace of mind for all. How can wishes be honored and respected if loved ones are not aware of your preferences? The Just In Case Planning resource provides a dynamic space for storing, sharing, and updating your important information.
February 4, 2020
Caregiver Stress: It’s Not What You Think
Caregiver stress goes beyond managing the myriad of the emotional and physical symptoms experienced by caregivers. Unfortunately, few approaches to caregiver stress address the root cause that produces the emotional and physical reactions experienced by caregivers. Symptom management is important, yet is vital to address the underlying cause of caregiver stress, unmet and unrealistic expectations. The mismatches of expectations surface for a variety of reasons, and often go unrecognized as the catalyst for emotional and physical symptom manifestation. Caregivers can explore ways to reduce stress by setting and managing more realistic expectations.
January 21, 2020
How Can Caregivers Protect Themselves and Remain Safe?
Caregiver personal safety is extremely important. If the caregiver is incapacitated from an injury, who cares for the loved one? While no one can eliminate the risk of injury entirely, the use of proper body mechanics will absolutely reduce the risk of injury. Taking advantage of supplemental equipment and devices can further reduce the risk of injury to both the caregiver and loved one.
January 7, 2020
Your 2019 Year End Personal Report Card
An annual year end personal report is status review that involves more than an evaluation of financial standing and legal documents; it also incorporates healthcare assessments and a review of your Advance Directives. Those are your wishes for future care and treatment, should you not be able to share them yourself. It is an opportunity to make modifications given changes in your health status and determine if individuals you named to carry out your wishes are still able and willing to do so. During times of celebration, reach out and reconnect with someone that you have missed or parted ways. Make time to recognize and acknowledge a caregiver for all the hard work that they do for a loved one. Share your gratitude with someone who could use a kind word, smile, or a hug.
December 20, 2019
Count Your Blessings
The ability to express gratitude, thankfulness or appreciation, when experiencing illness, undergoing personal challenges or grief is very challenging. This is one of the most important times when one needs to refocus. Redirecting our attention from our trials and tribulations to the acts of friendship and kindness that have been extended to us, and the beauty of nature that surrounds us can be uplifting. Failures to notice and appreciate the “rays of support” are missed opportunities for gratitude. May this Thanksgiving be a time of blessings for you and your loved ones.
November 25, 2019
November 2019 is Palliative and Hospice Care Month
November is National Palliative and Hospice care month. It is the time to recognize and raise awareness for the vital work done for those in need of symptom management and comfort care. The dedicated professionals are committed to controlling symptoms and providing end-of-life care. It is a perfect time for individuals of all ages to discuss their end-of-life preferences and wishes with loved ones and their physician. How you formulate your individual Advance Directive will be shaped by many aspects including your culture, values, experiences, religion, relationships, and environment. As you address your Advance Care Planning wishes, remember that aging in place may be part of your plan. Consider is your current home going to meet your needs or will modifications be necessary?
November 4, 2019
Destress – Stress Management Apps
Caregiver stress is real with many physical and emotional manifestations. Staying in control while caregiving is challenging, as the responsibilities and functions tend to grow over time. Self-care is critical for continued well-being, staying balanced, and being able to continue caregiving responsibilities. There are many stress management apps available to support general wellbeing, some are free and others have an associated subscription fee.
September 3, 2019
Palliative Care – A Top Priority
Palliative care is an underutilized service for individuals with serious medical conditions. Palliative care is focused on addressing the stress and symptoms that individuals with serious and chronic illness face on a daily bases. Physician practices and hospitals are redesigning, and expanding palliative care programs to better meet the growing need for individualized symptom management.
August 20, 2019