http://archive.aweber.com/eldernewsletterTaking Care of the Folks NewsletterTue, 14 Feb 2012 05:47:18 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/eldernewsletter/Lqczg/h/The_One_Question_I_Hate_To.htm Master your role as a caregiver without losing your life in the process. Feature Article: The One Question I Hate to Hear A Note From Shelley: Happy Valentine's Day A Little Inspiration: by Benjamin Franklin Resources: Please add info@intentionalcaregiver.com to your address book in your e-mail program so that you have no trouble receiving future issues! February 14th, 2012 Volume 4, Issue 1 Published bi-weekly (almost) on Tuesday. To change your subscription, see link at end of e-mail. Sign me up for this e-zine! A NOTE FROM SHELLEY Hi, , Happy Valentine's Day! I know that Valentine's Day is another day that is difficult for many people, myself included. Sometimes there are no sweethearts in your life; sometimes there are financial struggles that make celebrating difficult and of course, there are the caregiving duties that sometimes wipe out thoughts of everything else. One thing many of us DO share is the love of a pet. So that is why I chose Valentine's Day to launch a new feature at The Intentional Caregiver: Our Beloved Pets! Each Tuesday starting today, we'll feature the pet or pets of one of our readers. The pet can also belong to the person for whom you are caring. Here's all you need to do: Respond to this e-mail with a photo of your pet(s) and the answers to the following questions: 1. Name: 2. Breed: 3. Owner: 4. Favorite activity: 5. Favorite snack: 6. Favorite place to nap: 7. A story about how they are important to your caregiving life (optional) I can't wait to hear more about your fabulous furry (or not) friends! In support of you, PS: Again, a HUGE welcome to all those who have joined us. We're glad you're here! I also want to thank every single reader and send Valentine's Hugs to all of you! RESOURCES Have you visited our Facebook Fan page which you can find here ~~~> http://facebook.com/TheIntentionalCaregiver. Please stop by and leave us a note! We've been getting a lot of interaction lately. Or if you have any question what-so-ever, you can reach me at info@intentionalcaregiver.com . FEATURED ARTICLE The One Question I Hate To Hear (and I'm not the only one who feels this way) During the winter holidays, I was attending a family gathering in Seattle. Millie (not her real name), the matriarch of the family was not able to attend this year as her health has declined to the point where she can't leave her facility. She has had dementia for several years but now has some other issues as well. Her granddaughter and I were chatting and the subject of Millie's friend and family visitors was raised. One of Millie's friends had come up to her and said Hi, Millie, do you remember me? Well, of course, Millie didn't and her granddaughter could see how uncomfortable she suddenly became trying to remember this person who she was clearly supposed to know. UGH! This infuriates me. It happened at my father's memorial service, as well. My uncle had recently suffered a stroke but was allowed to attend the service. By the smile on his face, I knew that he wasn't really sure about why he was there, but he was entertained by a collage of photographs that we had scrolling on a computer screen - and he did recognize many of the people in the old photos. But as he sat in his wheelchair by the photos, time after time, friends and relatives would come up to him and say Hi, Do you recognize me? Of course, he would say that yes, he did, in order to save face. They would then proceed to ask him Who am I? He didn't know. His brows furrowed. The smile disappeared and silence remained. Why do people do this? Why is it more important for them to be recognized than to maintain the dignity of the person they are visiting? As family caregivers, we have the opportunity to teach our visitors to introduce themselves by name, give their relationship to the person they are visiting and then make a general statement in order to get the conversation off to a neutral chat. Don't make them guess. It will only cause them consternation and could in fact, ruin their entire day (and the day of the caregiver) as they go over and over in their mind who the visitor might be. With a little fore-thought, a visit to a family member can become a much better experience for all. A Little Inspiration While we may not be able to control all that happens to us, we can control what happens inside us. ~ Benjamin Franklin ~ SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Both The Intentional Caregiver and Shelley have been nominated by Senior Homes for Best of the Web Awards. Last year, we were a finalist. The Intentional Caregiver has been nominated for Best Website and Newsletter for Caregivers. http://www.seniorhomes.com/d/intentional-caregiver/ Shelley has been nominated as a Social Media Rockstar. (I just have to add an LOL to this.) http://www.seniorhomes.com/d/shelley-webb/ I would love if you could pop on over to the above links and vote for us! Thanks so much in advance! ABOUT US Taking Care of The Folks is a publication of The Intentional Caregiver, an online support group established to provide education, encouragement and empowerment for those involved in the care of an aging parent or loved one. Founder, Shelley Webb, has been a registered nurse for over thirty years, is a geriatric care manager and was blessed to have cared for her father in her home. Shelley offers geriatric care management, caregiving strategy consultations and coaching. For more information, please visit us at http://www.IntentionalCaregiver.com Connect with us online: Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/ShelleyWebbRN Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/TheIntentionalCaregiver MANAGING YOUR SUBSCRIPTION Do you know anyone who is caring for an aging parent or relative? I'd be delighted if you would share this newsletter with anyone you think may enjoy it. When doing so, please forward it in its entirety, including our contact and copyright information. Thanks and enjoy! Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:47:18 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/eldernewsletter/CAifc/h/12_New_Year_s_Goals_That.htm Hi ! As we look forward to tonight's festivities or to just relaxing by the television watching the ball drop in Time's Square (one of my favorite ways to spend New Year's Eve), I wanted to take the time to wish you and your loved ones a Happy and Peaceful New Year! Many of us are making resolutions or goals today and some are even making vision boards. I haven't made my vision board yet; I need to give it a bit more thought. As caregivers, we sometimes feel that it's pointless or hopeless to make goals but there are goals that we can strive to achieve and by doing this, we empower ourselves, even if just a little. I wrote the following article last year but because we have so many more readers and because many of us may need a reminder, I am presenting them again - with an additional one added for the coming year. I hope that you'll find at least a couple that you resonate with and will strive to achieve in the coming year. In support of you, Shelley PS We have no snow on the ground here which is very unusual for us, hence the newsletter title. I should know better though - I might just get what I ask for. ________________________________________________________________________ 12 New Years Goals that Caregivers Can Achieve If you've been following me for awhile, you KNOW that the majority of these goals are about taking care of yourself. Yes, I know I'm being repetitive, but you can't take care of anyone else effectively unless you take care of yourself first. Remember......vehicles do not run with an empty gas tank ! 1. Learn to take 1 hour each day for yourself. Whether it be for reading, taking a bath, journaling, calling a friend, using Wii Fit, meditating or perusing a magazine, it is important to find 60 minutes to give your mind a rest. You could do this while your loved one is sleeping, reading the paper or watching a program or you could hire a teen to come over after school for an hour. You could even break the hour up into 2 1/2 hour segments. 2. Resolve NOT to be right. It doesn't matter. If you're talking with your Mom long distance on the phone and she insists that Merle Streep starred in a movie in which you know that she didn't, what does it really matter if you let her have the last word? (Just be sure you have the ability to look into the matter if it is something that might be dangerous...such as financial issues or abuse by a hired caregiver.) 3. Learn to accept help. People want to help (as long as you don't over-whelm them) and if you continue to decline it, they will stop offering (which brings me to my next suggestion). 4. Keep a Things that People Could Help Me With list by the phone. When someone calls and offers help, you will have an immediate answer for them. These could be little things like picking something up from the dry cleaner, dropping off a prescription at the pharmacy or .... spending that 1 hour with Mom so that you can relax. 5. Bite your tongue when what you WANT to say is..........You JUST asked me that !! Again, it doesn't matter. Sometimes moving to a different room or moving the item of conversation helps. For instance, there was a photo of my daughter and her boyfriend on the table where my father and I were sitting having coffee. My father would say he's a handsome young man; what does he do? I'd explain and less than 30 seconds later, he would ask the same thing. I finally got up, got more coffee and moved the photo to the other room. Problem solved....for the moment. 6. Don't despair if you lose patience.............because you will. Caregiving, from near or far, is tough work. Just do the best you can and remember that you're human. Apologizing is good though, even if you think that your loved one doesn't understand you....try a soft touch. 7. Attend at least one support group meeting. Just try it once. Support groups are educational and encouraging. If you really detest the idea of attending one in the community, try one on-line. 8. Celebrate the small stuff. There is a new normal now and it's highly unlikely that the old normal is coming back. Maximize the quality of each day for you and your loved one. Maybe take a drive to a pretty area, or reminisce about the old days (you might want to set up the video camera for that, or take notes), or make cookies, or just sit on the patio. A friend of mine puts on a DVD of an orchestrial performance and her mother conducts the symphony, usually with a broad smile on her face. 9. Find ways to help your loved-one stay occupied and connected. If your loved-one enjoyed attending Sunday services, try to enable them to continue that. Senior Centers or Day Care Centers might be an option. My father was not good at walking around stores with me, but he liked to go for the ride and was safe enough to sit in the car while I ran in. He just enjoyed getting out as long as the outings were short. 10. Try jounaling or collecting quotations. Journaling is very therapeutic, but if it's not something you enjoy, perhaps collecting quotations might interest you. As I was searching for a quotation for the newsletter today, I came across an old journal of mine (started in the 80's, no less) where I had collected quotations that meant something to me at the time. As I looked at the quotation and the date it was written, it was a window into my life at the time. The very first quotation I wrote was We all need someone to kiss away tears by Charles M. Schultz (very telling). 11. Get all necessary legal paperwork in order. Perhaps you've already done this but even if you have, legal documents should be updated at least yearly. For a reference on which documents you should have please go HERE. 12. Last but not least, forget about planning out the entire year. Caregiving is much too uncertain to be able to make long term goals and it will only frustrate you to do so. The time to be able to do that will come again. ________________________________________________________________________ Just a reminder that all previous newsletter articles are available on my website www.IntentionalCaregiver.com ________________________________________________________________________ Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. ~ Oprah Winfrey Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:45:13 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/eldernewsletter/I_wnc/h/Merry_Christmas_.htm Hi Just popping in to wish you a safe and joyful holiday season. May you gather many wonderful memories to carry with you into the new year. In support of you, Shelley Sun, 25 Dec 2011 15:20:54 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/eldernewsletter/BDLyM/h/6_Things_I_ll_Never_do.htm Master your role as a caregiver without losing your life in the process. Feature Article: 6 Things I'll Never Do Again A Note From Shelley: Happy Holidaze! A Little Inspiration: by anonymous Resources: Please add info@intentionalcaregiver.com to your address book in your e-mail program so that you have no trouble receiving future issues! November 23rd , 2011 Volume 3, Issue 25 Published weekly (almost) on Wednesday. To change your subscription, see link at end of e-mail. Sign me up for this e-zine! A NOTE FROM SHELLEY Hi, , First off, if you live in the United States, Happy Thanksgiving! I hope that you'll have a wonderful holiday. For me, it will be very quiet as this is the first year that I've not celebrated it with my kids, but what with marriages, brand new (post college graduation) jobs and the state of the economy, we're not able to be together. Despite the fact that there will only be 2 (maybe 3) of us at the table, I'm going ahead with my traditional Thanksgiving meal, just in smaller proportions. I always make air buns and cinnamon rolls the day before so I currently have the dough rising in the bathroom where there's a space heater. Yep, I said the bathroom. The kitchen is too chilly and the air too moist for it to rise properly there or anywhere else in the house. Even if you're not celebrating Thanksgiving, you're probably aware that tomorrow is Black Friday and what many people believe to be the beginning of the holiday madness (or as I Like to say, holiDAZE). In my last newsletter, I mentioned that I was considering giving my mother a computer for her birthday or Christmas. I also mentioned that she is a very difficult person for whom to find the right gift and that she has returned many an item in the past. I was right...........she wants the computer returned. Oh well, back to the drawing board. We'll talk about some other (perhaps better) choices in next week's newsletter. This week we're talking about traveling with a senior. Hopefully you can learn a thing or two from my experiences. And if you're going out to the stores on Friday, you're braver than me. Please be safe. Yours intentionally, PS: A HUGE welcome to all those who have joined us this week. We're glad you're here! RESOURCES Have you visited our Facebook Fan page which you can find here ~~~> http://facebook.com/TheIntentionalCaregiver. Please stop by and leave us a note! We've been getting a lot of interaction lately. Or if you have any question what-so-ever, you can reach me at info@intentionalcaregiver.com . FEATURED ARTICLE 6 Things I'll Never Do Again While Traveling With an Elder (I published this earlier this week on my website, but thought it important to include in the newsletter, in case you've not had time to check the site.) Whether accompanying an elder home for a holiday or bringing them back to your own home, traveling can be daunting to say the least. Having traveled with my father several times during the years that he lived with me, I learned several things that I'd never do again. 1. Do it alone! Whether by plane, train, bus or auto, when there is no one to help you manage luggage, get through security check points (UGH!), manage rest room needs (especially when the elder is of the opposite sex), help elders navigate narrow isles, it is only a set up for an emotional break-down. I remember standing in the middle of an airport in San Diego, my father in a wheelchair, enormous amounts of luggage at my side, and me in tears! Don't think that airport personnel, or any other type of transportation worker is going to assist you - because they aren't. Do NOT do it alone. 2. Help an elder pack their suitcase. Just let your loved one pack their suitcase and then REPACK it (in stealth mode) when they are otherwise occupied. This is especially important when dealing with an elder who has dementia and may pack 10 pairs of jeans and 1 shirt, no coat, and 45 pairs of socks and who also cannot understand why their medications aren't sorted out into their pill boxes as usual (medications must be in the prescription bottles when traveling by air). It's no use explaining; just repack and get the luggage out of their sight quickly. 3. Assume that when the elder says they don't need to use the restroom, they don't. Apologize for drinking too much coffee, having a weak bladder, being worried that rest room facilities won't be available later, whatever you can come up with in order to justify your frequent restroom visits. Just stop frequently. Enough said about that. 4. Forget to take photos. Sometimes in the rush of the moment and the desire to get there or get somewhere else, we forget to stop and capture memories of our elders. Take way too many photos. That's the good thing about digital cameras - we can delete the not so great ones later. You'll also find that these photos will become treasured by your elder loved one, as well and can serve to remind them who is who. 5. NOT ask a hotel or motel if they have handicapped accessible rooms. More and more hotels and motels have at least one ADA (American Disabilities Act) equipped rooms. These rooms can make life a whole lot easier for both you and your loved one because they are generally larger with over-sized bathrooms featuring walk in or roll-in showers, grab bars, and higher toilets. They also feature lower door knobs, lowered peep-holes and specialized emergency plans. 6. Forget that traveling can be worrisome and even scary for an elder. I'll never forget the time when the TSA agent insisted upon giving my 86 year father a pat down because he couldn't go through the check-point with his pacemaker. I was FURIOUS. But my father put on his best smile and cooperated as well as he could. The pat down took 30 minutes. This kind of thing actually happens all the time and elders are not used to people violating their spaces, are not sure WHY they are being singled out and are usually already having a difficult time maintaining the stamina it requires to travel. They may be afraid of things that might happen while traveling such as falling, not remembering people, not being able to tolerate the trip (or the visits by family members) physically, becoming separated from you or having an incontinent episode. Those with dementia, especially those who live in assisted living or memory facilities, may continuously remind you that they must get back to their room before dinner is served. Redirection can help. Although traveling with an elder is much more difficult than traveling alone or with family members who can function on their own, it can still be a pleasant experience and will create wonderful, lasting memories. A Little Inspiration Gratitude consists of being more aware of what you have, than what you don't. ~ Unknown SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS From now until November 30th, if you purchase our 12 week e-course Just One Step Ahead, you will get our Caregiver Mobile Organizer F.RE.E. mailed directly to your home. Visit JustOneStepAhead.com for more info. ABOUT US Taking Care of The Folks is a publication of The Intentional Caregiver, an online support group established to provide education, encouragement and empowerment for those involved in the care of an aging parent or loved one. Founder, Shelley Webb, has been a registered nurse for over thirty years and was blessed to have cared for her father in her home. We offer geriatric care management, caregiving strategy consultations and health coaching. For more information, please visit us at http://www.IntentionalCaregiver.com or http://Facebook.com/theIntentionalCaregiver Follow me on Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/ShelleyWebbRN MANAGING YOUR SUBSCRIPTION Do you know anyone who is caring for an aging parent or relative? I'd be delighted if you would share this newsletter with anyone you think may enjoy it. When doing so, please forward it in its entirety, including our contact and copyright information. Thanks and enjoy! Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:56:51 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/eldernewsletter/Fb1N6/h/Gramma_Goes_Techie_the.htm Master your role as a caregiver without losing your life in the process. Feature Article: Gramma Goes Techie: the Best Computers for Seniors A Note From Shelley: A Little Inspiration: by Herm Albright Resources: Please add info@intentionalcaregiver.com to your address book in your e-mail program so that you have no trouble receiving future issues! November 1st , 2011 Volume 3, Issue 24 Published weekly (almost) on Wednesday. To change your subscription, see link at end of e-mail. Sign me up for this e-zine! A NOTE FROM SHELLEY Hi, , I hope you're enjoying the fall season and if you're in an area where the leaves change colors, I hope you're as delighted as me to be able to see all the gorgeous foliage.....and maybe play in a corn maze! We have a lot of birthdays here in the next few weeks. The 25th was mine; my daughter's was the 29th and my son's is in 2 weeks. This month is also my mother's birthday. She'll be 88, which is a little difficult to conceive of because my father passed away at 88 and I always expect her to be younger. I'm sure you know all too well how hard it is to buy a gift for your mother, especially when they get up there in age and even more especially, when they are picky. (MY mother once returned flowers to the florists because she hated the big pink bow they put on the arrangement - how tacky, she said!) So my current thought is to get her a computer. She likes that she could store her photos on them and I'd like it for her so that we can chat by Skype. With that in mind, I've been doing a lot of research on the best types of computers for use by seniors and I thought I'd share. I was impressed by a couple of them and with the holidays approaching, a computer might be a good gift. Yours intentionally, PS A HUGE welcome to all those who have joined us this week. We're glad you're here! RESOURCES Have you visited our Facebook Fan page which you can find here ~~~> http://facebook.com/TheIntentionalCaregiver. Please stop by and leave us a note! We've been getting a lot of interaction lately. Or if you have any question what-so-ever, you can reach me at info@intentionalcaregiver.com . FEATURED ARTICLE Gramma Goes Techie: the Best Computers for Use by Seniors As our population ages, so does the age of computer users. Baby boomers and caregivers are one of the fastest growing segments of Facebook and many elders are learning how to use e-mail, games, picture storage and even video conferencing. Seniors want to be connected. But not all computers are easy for seniors to use; in fact there are very few that are. I'll begin by sharing about the computer that I found to be the most senior-friendly, probably because it was specifically designed for seniors. It's called the Telikin and can be found at www.Telikin.com. This computer is a touch-screen stand alone computer. It is basically like a stand up lap top and can be set up in less than 5 minutes. It does come with a mouse and keyboard but because it is a touchscreen (like the iPad), the mouse isn't necessary. The operating system is Linux so it is very resistant to viruses. Any software that is needed is preloaded and the company provides free lifetime software updates. Because of this, software such as MS Office cannot be added but the company is getting ready to add an MS compatible word processor. It does have Adobe Flash support (which is one thing that my iPad does not have and that causes me disdain.) Software includes web access, e-mail, games, video chat (using Skype), a built in webcam, photo sharing using Facebook, news updates, weather updates, a 6 in 1 SD card reader (for adding photos), and a CD/DVD player. The Telikin has 2 different size screen options: an 18.6 LCD monitor with a 320 gigabyte hard-drive ( approximately $699.00) and a 20 LCD monitor with a 500 gigabyte hard-drive(approximately $999.00). Both are also Wi-Fi ready. One cool feature is that with just a touch, the screen can zoom up to 200% so it is excellent for those with vision problems. Antoher feature is that there is a help tab on every screen and there are video tutorials. But my favorite feature of all is their Tech Buddy system. This system allows the senior to give a trusted family member or members their user name and password. If there were to be a problem, a family member can access their computer remotely to check it out. The family member can also add appointments to the calendar, add photos, etc. Of note is that you might also find this same computer listed on the website www.FirstStreeOnline.com as their WOW! computer. They are a subcontractor for the Telekin. At this time, the WOW! computer does not include the Tech Buddy system although the company anticipates adding that feature soon. Another computer that has been recommended as a senior-friendly computer is the Chromebook. The Chromebook is a product of Google's partnership with Samsung and Acer. There are different models starting at $430.00 with the Wi-Fi equipped versions starting at $500.00. The 3G Chromebooks come with 100 MB of free internet data per month (meaning they don't require an internet provider service) which is not a huge amount but is probably enough for checking e-mail and gathering photos. This type of computer system is also protected from viruses because nothing but Google's built in processes can write to the hard drive. In that regard, it is a great choice. If your elder does have an issue with the computer, there is the ability for you to sign-in to their computer from afar and configure the settings remotely. To me, it isn't as user-friendly as the Telekin, doesn't have touch-screen technology and sometimes laptop screens are difficult for elders to see. But the Chromebook does come with a font re-sizing feature and also something called ChromeVox which reads the tabs as you open them and also the entire content of the screen. Apple iPads have also been suggested as good computers for seniors to use. iPads are stand alone tablets, don't take up much space, have touchscreen technology and are quite intuitive. Objects can be made larger with just the pinch of a finger. And there are plenty of apps for seniors to download from the app store - some are free; some are not. I have an iPad and when I went to visit my mother, she was very interested in it. She espcially liked scrolling through the photos. My problem with the iPad being used for seniors is that there is not a way to add photos from a camera card. The photos would need to be loaded to a computer and then transferred to the iPad once the iPad was connected to it OR they could be e-mailed or placed on facebook and obtained that way. Sometimes the quality of the photos on Facebook aren't great because of the way they were originally uploaded (it takes much longer to upload high quality photos to Facebook). I also think that it would be difficult for seniors to be aware of what apps were available to them (and then, of course, they would need to remember the iTunes password each time they purchased an app.) (My father could never remember the password to even log on to his computer.) I don't find that the e-mail system is super-easy to use and don't imagine that seniors would either. Another problem with the iPad is that it does not work with Adobe so many video features are unavailable and again, software such as MS Office is not compatible with this computer. That being said, I love the iPad for my own use. It would be a good toy to keep certain seniors entertained, as long as you were there with them - there are piano apps, games, on-line newspapers, the Oprah magazine, music, etc. I just don't feel that it's the best option for a senior-friendly computer. There are 2 computer options produced by HP that deserve mention. One model is the Autopilot. It can be purchased as a desktop ( for approximately $1,125.00) or a laptop (for approx. $1,165.00) and is said to have goof-proof operation. The features of this computer that impressed me were the OnTimeRx medication and appointment reminder software that is included, the high-contrast keyboard and mouse and the Hoyle Crossward and Sudoku puzzles. The desktop version comes with a 17 inch monitor, mouse and color printer. There other model is the Vision Plus Model which comes preconfigured with screen magnification sofware, a high visibility keyboard, an all-in-one printer and a scanner so that other things can be scanned and magnified (assuming the senior is able to operate the scanner). It also has the OnTimeRx software and retails for $1,255 for the desktop. Of course, desktops take longer to set up and can be a little more confusing in that regard. You can find more about the HP computers at www.EnableMart.com. The last computer I wanted to mention is the least expensive at approximately $549.99. It is the Kiwi PC from www.kiwipc.com It's a desk-top and is Linux-powered like the Telikin so viruses are unlikely. It comes with a 19 monitor, pre-installed and simplied e-mmail system, a color-coded keyboard (different colors for consonents, vowel and punctuation marks - not sure I like that) with 1 over-sized keys. There are 2 USB ports in the keyboard. It comes with 2 GB of memory, a 250 GB hard drive and a DVDRW drive. There is a 1 year warranty on this product. The one feature that I really don't like about this computer is that although they offer free system work for Kiwi upgrades, they require that the owner PAY for the upgrade, SHIP the computer to company and the company will perform the upgrade and send it back. That's not something that would be easy for most seniors to do and almost over-powers the low cost of this computer. So there ya have it. I'd love to hear from any of you who have had good (or bad) experiences with any of these computers or have perhaps discovered an even better computer option for senior use. A Little Inspiration A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. -- Herm Albright SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS From now until November 30th, if you purchase our 12 week e-course Just One Step Ahead, you will get our Caregiver Mobile Organizer F.RE.E. mailed directly to your home. Visit JustOneStepAhead.com for more info. ABOUT US Taking Care of The Folks is a publication of The Intentional Caregiver, an online support group established to provide education, encouragement and empowerment for those involved in the care of an aging parent or loved one. Founder, Shelley Webb, has been a registered nurse for over thirty years and was blessed to have cared for her father in her home. We offer geriatric care management, caregiving strategy consultations and health coaching. For more information, please visit us at http://www.IntentionalCaregiver.com or http://Facebook.com/theIntentionalCaregiver Follow me on Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/ShelleyWebbRN MANAGING YOUR SUBSCRIPTION Do you know anyone who is caring for an aging parent or relative? I'd be delighted if you would share this newsletter with anyone you think may enjoy it. When doing so, please forward it in its entirety, including our contact and copyright information. Thanks and enjoy! Tue, 01 Nov 2011 21:00:57 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/eldernewsletter/G96lM/h/How_To_Survive_a_Caregiving.htm Master your role as a caregiver without losing your life in the process. Feature Article: How to Survive a Caregiving Melt-down A Note From Shelley: A Little Inspiration: from William James Resources: Please add info@intentionalcaregiver.com to your address book in your e-mail program so that you have no trouble receiving future issues! October 12th , 2011 Volume 3, Issue 23 Published weekly (almost) on Wednesday. To change your subscription, see link at end of e-mail. Sign me up for this e-zine! A NOTE FROM SHELLEY Hi, and welcome to all those who have joined us this week. Autumn has definitely arrived here in the northwest and I was so happy to be able to go to some of our local farms last week-end and pick some fall fruits and vegetables! I'm hoping to make some spiced apples and some pickles this week. Yesterday I was asked to participate in a survey from one of those sites that I mentioned earlier this year. In exchange for completing surveys, they give credits to use in exchange for air mileage points, hotel points, magazine subscriptions, discounts from various stores or even Blockbuster movie rentals. (This is how I justify my magazine subscriptions.) Normally their surveys are about advertising, automobile choices (i.e. will you be purchasing a car in the next 2 years and if so, what features would you look for, etc.) But yesterday's survey surprised me because it was about caregiving. Considering that this site has very little information on their demographic, I thought this was a very important research survey. To me, it demonstrates just how much the role of caregiving is affecting all parts of society (family, healthcare, business owners, insurance companies) and how we are ill-prepared for what is being coined the silver tsunami. The majority of this survey had to do with the ability of the senior to safety function both physically and mentally (could they navigate stairways, could they handle their finances, could they shop for groceries and prepare meals) and how well-equipped the caregiver, in either close proximity or by long-distance, felt they were to handle their loved-ones' situations. Rosalyn Carter was ahead of her time when she said There are only four kinds of people in the world - those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers. That's a lot to think about. Yours intentionally, RESOURCES Are you needing extra money for the holidays? I know I am! Why not pick up a copy of Pocket Change: 25 Ways Caregivers Can Earn Extra Money From Home yet? It's jam-packed with ideas about earning money while at home and also has links to oodles of web sites that I found most helpful. For less than the cost of a medium veggie-lovers pizza, your mind will be buzzing with new possibilities. If you get just ONE idea to bring in a bit of extra income while working from home, you'll be able to recoup our low purchase price of $15.00. It is immediately downloadable and can be found at http://IntentionalCaregiver.com. Have you visited our Facebook Fan page which you can find here ~~~> http://facebook.com/TheIntentionalCaregiver. Please stop by and leave us a note! We've been getting a lot of interraction lately. Or if you have any question what-so-ever, you can reach us at info@intentionalcaregiver.com . FEATURED ARTICLE How To Survive a Caregiving Melt-Down Have you ever had one of those Fridays? * You're perusing one of the clothing magazines and discover the PERFECT sweater. You check your bank account - no, there's not enough money for a frivolous purchase. * Your father, whom you care for and who seldom eats well, wakes up with a craving for bacon and you remember that you used the last 2 pieces in the spinach salad you made yesterday. * Your sister calls and says that her child is ill so she won't be able to stay with Dad for the week-end after all, but really, I'm sure he'll be fine by himself. That puts an end to your week-end get-away with your husband. *Your neighbor calls and says something has just dug up her prize roses...and your dog seems to be eerily absent. * You hear a gurgling sound coming from the bathroom and discover that Dad has flushed down a Depends (once again) thus clogging up the plumbing. (Obviously he WON'T be fine by himself)! * You call the plumber, who doesn't answer! HE must have taken Friday off to go fishing because HE doesn't have a family member to care for! What do you do when everything around you seems to be conspiring against you? 1. Stop and count to 10...slowly. Concentrating on counting will help you to regain your composure long enough so that you don't do or say something you'll later regret. 2. Breathe. Go to a quiet place. Take a deep breath in through your nose; hold it for the count of 3 and then breathe out slowly through pursed lips to the count of 10. Repeat this at least 5 times or until your heart stops racing and a feeling of calm returns. 3. Re-evaluate. Is there another plumber that you could call (preferably one that doesn't charge week-end rates on a Friday)? Is there a family friend that does plumbing on the side? If you can't get away for the week end, is there someone you could call who could stay with your loved-one for just the evening so that you and hubby could catch a movie? Is there some part of the day that you can save? (I don't know what to tell you about the roses.) 4. Dance. Turn on the stereo or iPod and dance around the kitchen. Dance with Dad. Dance with the dog (who has now returned). Remember that song Maniac from the movie Flashdance? Turn on that song and move your feet as fast as they'll go. It's an instant mood changer. For a demonstration, you can find it on You Tube here ~~ http://youtu.be/5x1K5UH2nek (Wow, I forgot how high those leotards used to be in the 80s!) 5. Get out of the house. Depending upon your circumstances, you could load up your loved one and go for a drive in a pretty area, get some frozen yogurt or a latte', or even just go out into the garden and pull weeds. The fresh air will be good for both of you and you'll return in a much better frame of mind. 6. Be grateful. Yes, I know...I'm working on this myself. Grab a piece of paper and write down all the things for which you are grateful. Sometimes, it might only be that you managed to get out of bed this morning. But that's a start. That reminds me - I'm a contributing author to a book called The Gratitude Project that will be released in early December. You would be surprised to know who I wrote about. I can't promise you that tomorrow will be better; I can't advise you to make lemonade out of lemons, because sometimes, the lemons are just too sour. The only thing that I can tell you is that one day your caregiving role will end, so you must do the best you can do in order to ensure that the memories of caregiving will be good ones. A Little Inspiration The greatest discovery of the 20th Century is that our attitude of mind determines our quality of life, not circumstances. ~ William James Father of modern day psychology SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS From now until November 30th, if you purchase our 12 week e-course Just One Step Ahead, you will get our Caregiver Mobile Organizer F.RE.E. mailed directly to your home. Visit JustOneStepAhead.com for more info. ABOUT US Taking Care of The Folks is a publication of The Intentional Caregiver, an online support group established to provide education, encouragement and empowerment for those involved in the care of an aging parent or loved one. Founder, Shelley Webb, has been a registered nurse for over thirty years and was blessed to have cared for her father in her home. We offer geriatric care management, caregiving strategy consultations and health coaching. For more information, please visit us at http://www.IntentionalCaregiver.com or http://Facebook.com/theIntentionalCaregiver Follow me on Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/ShelleyWebbRN MANAGING YOUR SUBSCRIPTION Do you know anyone who is caring for an aging parent or relative? I'd be delighted if you would share this newsletter with anyone you think may enjoy it. When doing so, please forward it in its entirety, including our contact and copyright information. Thanks and enjoy! Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:35:57 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/eldernewsletter/4uo_2/h/Finding_Your_Why_.htm Master your role as a caregiver without losing your life in the process. Feature Article: Finding Your Why A Note From Shelley: Long time no see! A Little Inspiration: from James Baldwin Resources: Please add info@theeldercaresupportgroup.com to your address book in your e-mail program so that you have no trouble receiving future issues! October 5th , 2011 Volume 3, Issue 22 Published weekly (almost) on Wednesday. To change your subscription, see link at end of e-mail. Sign me up for this e-zine! A NOTE FROM SHELLEY Hi, Wow! It's been a long time since our last newsletter and I'm so embarassed about it. Sometimes life just gets overwhelming. Since I've last written, my son has married his beautiful bride, my sister has married her handsome husband, we celebrated the remembrance of both my father's birthday and his passing by planting a new Canadian chokecherry tree, I've met with the governor to chat about health care for the aged and I'm currently trying to get the garden ready for winter. I wanted to mention just a bit about speaking with the governor because his comments were very telling. I had given him the statistics on how many people would be over the age of 65, how many caregivers there are currently, how many there would be by the year 2020 and how much extra it will cost both businesses (from lost time) and additional health care costs (because many caregivers suffer from depression, type II diabetes, high blood pressures, migraine, etc. I asked if there were discussions as to how to help caregivers and if there were monies being allocated for research, etc. Basically, his answer to me was: Don't count on the government for help. Both my grandmothers died in our living room surrounded by family and this is going to be the future of caregiving. Families will need to step up. OUCH. This is a reminder to all of us whether we are current caregivers (or have the possibility of being a caregiver in the future) to begin preparing by gathering information early, having family discussions and to remember to include caring for ourselves EVERY SINGLE day. Yours intentionally, RESOURCES Are you needing extra money for the holidays? I know I am! Why not pick up a copy of Pocket Change: 25 Ways Caregivers Can Earn Extra Money From Home yet? It's jam-packed with ideas about earning money while at home and also has links to oodles of web sites that I found most helpful. For less than the cost of a medium veggie-lovers pizza, your mind will be buzzing with new possibilities. If you get just ONE idea to bring in a bit of extra income while working from home, you'll be able to recoup our low purchase price of $15.00. It is immediately downloadable and can be found at http://IntentionalCaregiver.com. Have you visited our Facebook Fan page which you can find here ~~~> http://facebook.com/theeldercaresupportgroup. Please stop by and leave us a note! We've been getting a lot of interraction lately. Or if you have any question what-so-ever, you can reach us at info@intentionalcaregiver.com . FEATURED ARTICLE Finding Your Why It's autumn and most kids have returned to school. And while I haven't returned to any formal institutional education, I am in the midst of an intensive business course. One of the questions our instructor asked us today was What is the reason that you are in business? What is your why....and believe me, it's not about the money. Well, I do know my reasons for being in this business but that got me to thinking about other whys. When I was caring for my father, there were times of great frustration, lonliness, disappointment and even anger. There were also times of great joy and love. But during the rough times, I would sometimes complain to my cousin or to my sister or to my Mom. My mom's answer was always send him here and I'll look after him. (Believe me, that wasn't an option.) Assisted living facilities or memory facilities were an option but I would not consider them. I knew my father didn't want to go there and because of my experiences when I was a nursing student, I HATED nursing homes (I'm sure they're much better now, but still not my choice for my father.) Most caregivers arrive at their destination by accident. It is infrequent that I hear that a caregiver has planned to become a caregiver. But once they become a caregiver, they realize that there are some options. So what is your why....your reason for doing what you do......your purpose? And please don't cross your arms and say I had no choice because you did. The alternative may not have been GOOD but there was an alternative. So my request to you is that sit quietly and contemplate your reason(s) for being a caregiver. I think that once you feel that it was a choice, you will feel more power and find purpose in what you do. I'd love to hear some of your reasons. Write to me at Shelley@intentionalcaregiver.com A Little Inspiration Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced. ~ James Baldwin SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT US Taking Care of The Folks is a publication of The Intentional Caregiver, an online support group established to provide education, encouragement and empowerment for those involved in the care of an aging parent or loved one. Founder, Shelley Webb, has been a registered nurse for over thirty years and was blessed to have cared for her father in her home. For more information, please visit us at http://www.IntentionalCaregiver.com or http://Facebook.com/theEldercareSupportGroup Follow me on Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/EldercareRN MANAGING YOUR SUBSCRIPTION Do you know anyone who is caring for an aging parent or relative? I'd be delighted if you would share this newsletter with anyone you think may enjoy it. When doing so, please forward it in its entirety, including our contact and copyright information. Thanks and enjoy! Wed, 05 Oct 2011 19:49:12 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/eldernewsletter/8.n_2/h/Special_Announcement.htm Hi everyone, I don't usually send out messages on Monday, especially when it's a holiday in the United States and Canada, but I felt this was important information to share. Tomorrow night, PDHCA and Caring.com will come together to provide families with knowledge about in-home care options. The webinar will cover topics such as: What is home care? Why would you want to use home care? Types of in-home care Importance of respite for families Who pays? Frequently asked questions Where to find help Webinar details: When: September 6, 2011 at 7pm Eastern How: Click here to register now >> https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/205754234 There is no charge for the webinar and it looks to be very informative. Thanks everyone and have a wonderful day. Shelley Click here to register now Mon, 05 Sep 2011 14:25:12 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/eldernewsletter/IG5Wo/h/Gardening_With_a_Loved_One_.htm Feature Article: Garden Crops That Make the Most Cents A Note From Shelley: A Little Inspiration: Resources: In The News! Please add info@intentionalcaregiver.com to your address book in your e-mail program so that you have no trouble receiving future issues! August 3rd, 2011 Volume 3, Issue 20 Published (almost) weekly on Wednesday. To change your subscription, see link at end of e-mail. Sign me up for this e-zine! A NOTE FROM SHELLEY Hi , I can't believe it's already August! Only 3 weeks until my son's wedding! (That's him with me on the right.) His lovely bride-to-be sent out the itinary yesterday so that we'll all be on board as to when hair and nails will be done, when and where the rehearsal dinner is, etc. I have been assigned the task of finding an appropriate song for the mother/son dance. He nixed You Are My Sunshine which I used to sing to him when he was little. (Well, I was never a good singer....:) so perhaps he's sick of that song). If you have an idea for a song, I'd love to hear from you. Again, I'd like to welcome all new readers and those who have signed up for our Low Glycemic 101 Class and to remind you NOT to cancel your subscription to the newsletter (if you don't wish to receive it) UNTIL you receive your class hand-outs which will be sent to you by e-mail on the day before the class which will be on Thursday. As a reminder the webcast takes place on August 4th at 10 a.m. pacific time, but there will be a recording for those who can't make it at that time. If you have not signed up yet and would like to, Go here to sign up ~~> http://takingcareofthefolks.com/events/healthier-living-an-introduction-to-low-glycemic-eating/ Thank you to all those who have filled out the short survey. I'm going to give the link one more time for those who may still have time to fill it out. One of the suggestions we received was a request to be able to archive the articles so that a particular subject can be searched for at a later time. I asked aWeber (our newsletter service) if that was possible and unfortunately, it isn't. So what we WILL be doing is putting all newsletter articles (from 2009 until present) on the website under the tab Newsletter archive. We have also added a search button on the bottom right side of the web site - if you type in a subject, for example, bathing, and hit ENTER, any article about bathing will be displayed. I'll also add the newsletter publish date so that if you have saved your newsletters in a file, you can then find that particular one. The link to the website is www.IntentionalCaregiver.com Give me about 2 weeks to get this set up and then please let me know how it works out for you. Have an excellent week. Yours with intention, PS Here is the link to this year's survey. Don't be afraid to be brutally honest. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RSVF3G2 Thanks! In The News LAST Reminder: The University of Massachusettes Medical School is asking for volunteer caregivers to participate in a caregiving survey. Their goal is to help individual caregivers who provide care for persons over the age of 60 identify their own levels of caregiver stress/burden and identify the community needs for these caregivers. They ( 12 University of Mass Medical School students) will contact caregivers by phone between Monday October 17th and Friday October 28th, 2011. If you would be willing to particpate, please send an e-mail to me with your first name and a phone number where you can be reached. Thanks so much to all those who have already volunteered. FEATURED ARTICLE Garden Crops That Make the Most Cents I have written several times about how gardening is a wonderful activity to share with an aging loved one. It's an easy way for them to participate and feel that they are making a contribution. It's also a calming experience for the caregiver. Gardening is making a come-back as more folks are interested in sustainability and finding an easy way to relax. Gardens can come in all sizes, from large areas in the backyard to container gardens on the patio. I AM fortunate enough to have room for a decent sized garden. I love to grow potatoes and as a citizen now dwelling in the state of Idaho, I feel that it's my obligation to do so, even if only to give a positive response to those California friends and relatives who invariably ask me how the potatoes are doing. But growing potatoes is not cost effective, so I'm told by my friend who owns a bed and breakfast nearby. Potatoes are fairly inexpensive in the market and they are usually prettier than mine. Mine are fairly lumpy and they take up a lot of garden space...but they are organic, and I grew them, so I've got that going for me. According to Steve Solomon, author of Gardening When it Counts: Growing Food in Hard Times, the same is true with corn. Corn is one of those items that can be purchased in season very cheaply from local farmers, sometimes for 10 cents an ear! It also takes up a lot of space, water and compost in a garden, so if being cost effective is a consideration, it's not a wise choice. So then, what are some good crops to grow in order to reduce the food budget? According to Sarah Gilbert of DailyFinance.com, Tomatoes are the best crop by far. The new fad tomato, tomatoes-on-the-vine can cost upwards of $4.95 a pound and the little cherry and grape tomatoes are sold for an average of $3.99 for a package of about 20. Tomatoes can be grown in containers on the patio or they can be planted in a larger garden. They are not hard on the soil (meaning they don't strip the soil of nutrients) and when they are done, garlic can be planted in their place and left until next spring when the tomatoes are replanted. In an area with a short growing season, tomatoes can be picked while still green and allowed to ripen on the window sill inside the house. Herbs are another very cost effective item to grow and can grow in small spaces. Fresh basil, oregano, chives (chives will MULTIPLY quickly if left to their own devices), cilantro, thyme, rosemary, dill and sage are all very easy to grow and will produce several times that of the retail cost. I have also found Japanese pea pods to be a winning crop. If planted early enough, there is time to harvest 2-3 separate plantings from one small package of seeds. Currently, we are harvesting a bowl of pea pods each evening. They can also be eaten right off the vine! Sweet peppers are another excellent choice and again, these can grow in container gardens. They generally have a high grocery store price, especially if they are the red, orange or yellow varity because they require a larger time left on the vine. Sweet peppers are easy to grow and can be used in salads, roasted or used to make chutneys and relishes. Lettuces and spinach are crops that grown quickly and inexpensively. With the addition of the availability of seed packets that contain a variety of lettuces, it is easy to save quite a bit of money by growing your own rather than buying the $3.99 bags of spring greens or baby spinach. You could even grow a bowl of lettuce on your own patio table. If you have a little more space and plan to be your home for a longer period of time, fruit trees (and avocado trees if you live in southern California) make good sense (and cents). Avocados run approximately $1.79 in the supermarket where I live. At my home in California, they were plentiful and almost FREE. The tree was actually grown from the avocado pit of one purchased in the store. Strawberries, raspberries and other berry bushes are easy to grow and can generally be squeezed into a small area. CAUTION: Blackberries want to take over the world so plant them only if there is plenty of time to contain them by pruning and eliminating the trailers. There is still time to plant several of these garden crops - the lettuce, spinach, sweet pea pods, most of the herbs and depending upon climate, even the tomatoes still have a good chance of reaching maturity before the growing season ends. The best way to determine which plantings make the most sense for you is to check your grocery receipt. What do you buy most often and what is the cost of purchase? (And what do you have room to grow?) Those will be the crops that you may want to grow at home. PS Tomorrow is the low glycemic webcast and I just want to add that neither corn nor potatoes are good choices for low glycemic eating. :) A Little Inspiration You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt. ~ unknown SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Caregiving Questions? Get them answered on our new podcast debuting soon! Pose your questions here => http://tinyurl.com/ICpodcast Tonia Boterf, a licensed clinical social worker with much caregiving experience will now be joining me for these no cost podcasts. Believe me when I tell you that she is a wealth of information. ABOUT US Taking Care of The Folks is a publication of The Intentional Caregiver, an online support group established to provide education, encouragement and empowerment for those involved in the care of an aging parent or loved one. Founder, Shelley Webb, has been a registered nurse for over thirty years and was blessed to have cared for her father in her home. For more information, please visit us at http://www.IntentionalCaregiver.com Follow me on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/ShelleyWebbRN Follow us on Facebook!http://Facebook.com/TheIntentionalCaregiver E-Mail: info@IntentionalCaregiver.com MANAGING YOUR SUBSCRIPTION Do you know anyone who is caring for an aging parent or relative? I'd be delighted if you would share this newsletter with anyone you think may enjoy it. When doing so, please forward it in its entirety, including our contact and copyright information. Thanks and enjoy! Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:05:19 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/eldernewsletter/8WqX./h/I_Need_Your_Help.htm Feature Article: I Need Your Help: A VERY Short Survey A Note From Shelley: A Little Inspiration: from Philo Resources: In The News! Please add info@intentionalcaregiver.com to your address book in your e-mail program so that you have no trouble receiving future issues! July 27th, 2011 Volume 3, Issue 19 Published (almost) weekly on Wednesday. To change your subscription, see link at end of e-mail. Sign me up for this e-zine! A NOTE FROM SHELLEY Hi , First of all I'd like to welcome all new readers and those who have signed up for our Low Glycemic 101 Class. I'd just like to remind you to NOT cancel your subscription to the newsletter (if you don't wish to receive it) UNTIL you receive your class hand-outs which will be sent to you by e-mail on the day before the class. As a reminder, the webcast the webcast takes place on August 4th at 10 a.m. pacific time, but there will be a recording for those who can't make it at that time. If you have not signed up yet and would like to, Go here to sign up ~~> http://takingcareofthefolks.com/events/healthier-living-an-introduction-to-low-glycemic-eating/ The low-glycemic way of eating helps to prevent the development of and to control diabetes type II . It also is a healthy way to lose weight, especially that weight around the middle that we develop in mid-life. Joyce Harrell, RN who is an expert in diabetes and low glycemic eating, will be our expert guest. Today's article is simply a link to a survey that will ask you about the kinds of subjects that you'd like to see us cover and how we can make the newsletter better for you. I don't want this newsletter to be all fluff and no function. The fluffly part seems to have become the story of our 2 new kittens who were given to us as mousers. If you follow me on Facebook, you may already be following the saga of one of them - Spirit. Spirit is a mischief maker who has NO fear. Below is a photo of her drinking the water that is meant for the chickens. They don't seem to notice that she is not one of THEM. Have an excellent week. Yours with intention, In The News Reminder: The University of Massachusettes Medical School is asking for volunteer caregivers to participate in a caregiving survey. Their goal is to help individual caregivers who provide care for persons over the age of 60 identify their own levels of caregiver stress/burden and identify the community needs for these caregivers. They ( 12 University of Mass Medical School students) will contact caregivers by phone between Monday October 17th and Friday October 28th, 2011. If you would be willing to particpate, please send an e-mail to me with your first name and a phone number where you can be reached. Thanks so much. FEATURED ARTICLE Here is the link to this year's survey. Don't be afraid to be brutally honest. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RSVF3G2 Thanks so much! Speaking of surveys. If you have a little time on your hands and enjoy taking surveys, why not sign up for e-rewards.com. By completing surveys that take an average of 2 - 15 minutes, you can earn e-rewards credit which can translate into free magazine subscriptions (that's how I get my Wall Street Journal), coupons for certain stores, air miles and hotel points. I can tell you that I've been participating on that site for over 10 years and have never had any trouble with it. A Little Inspiration The body is the soul's house. Shouldn't we therefore take care of our house so that it doesn't fall into ruin? ~ Philo SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Caregiving Questions? Get them answered on our new podcast debuting soon! Pose your questions here => http://tinyurl.com/ICpodcast Tonia Boterf, a licensed clinical social worker with much caregiving experience will now be joining me for these no cost podcasts. Believe me when I tell you that she is a wealth of information. ABOUT US Taking Care of The Folks is a publication of The Intentional Caregiver, an online support group established to provide education, encouragement and empowerment for those involved in the care of an aging parent or loved one. Founder, Shelley Webb, has been a registered nurse for over thirty years and was blessed to have cared for her father in her home. For more information, please visit us at http://www.IntentionalCaregiver.com Follow me on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/ShelleyWebbRN Follow us on Facebook!http://Facebook.com/TheIntentionalCaregiver E-Mail: info@IntentionalCaregiver.com MANAGING YOUR SUBSCRIPTION Do you know anyone who is caring for an aging parent or relative? I'd be delighted if you would share this newsletter with anyone you think may enjoy it. When doing so, please forward it in its entirety, including our contact and copyright information. Thanks and enjoy! Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:41:15 -0400