It is not easy for me to admit that caregiving correlates with trauma in my brain. I loved caring for my husband, and it was an honor to do it. Our journey taught me I had a much bigger purpose than I understood up until that point. After a life of stress and trauma, it felt second nature for me to walk directly into the fire that is caring for a terminally ill patient.

Because of the lack of care I put into myself, along with the demands of the care I gave, my body became affected. As much as I allowed the wound to be where the light enters, I also had to acknowledge that my body has stored some of the trauma and stress, and I needed to learn how to clear it to regain my full vitality.

In today's world, where scam calls and deceptive door-to-door visits are increasingly common, our aging population is particularly vulnerable. Scammers often target older adults, capitalizing on their sometimes limited understanding of modern deceptive practices. As caregivers, it’s crucial that we empower our loved ones with the knowledge and tools to recognize and handle these potential threats. This guide aims to highlight common types of scams aimed at older adults and provide practical advice for verifying the legitimacy of suspicious contacts.

Research shows that regardless of age, nature can boost physical and mental health and well-being. For family caregivers and those needing care, time in nature is a critical stress-taming ally. A simple walk together in a park, a pause to look through a window, or a moment outside to look at the tree right in front of your home can be an act of caregiving and self-care all at once.

Community involvement is part of being human. From a sense of contribution to the success and happiness of others to knowing you also have support if ever needed, there is a reason humans are social by nature. Family caregivers live this. We can accomplish a lot when we work together so it's critical especially to remember that you can cultivate that sense of community in many areas of your life.

When faced with loss, our very human responses range from shock and anger to profound sadness and enduring despair. While mourning can plunge us into prolonged grief and hopelessness, the natural world offers a pathway towards finding peace and inner tranquility. Studies continue to reveal how time in nature can lower blood pressure, stress hormones levels and anxiety, while boosting self-esteem and mood.

Embarking on my journey to becoming a permaculturist and transforming our yard into an urban forest garden has opened my eyes to the profound ways in which nature can enhance health and wellness. While exercise and nutrition are two important aspects of a healthy lifestyle, my experience has shown me that spending time outdoors and engaging in gardening activities can greatly amplify their effects. Along the way, I've picked up many fun and easy ways to infuse the outdoors into daily life. As April marks National Garden Month, there's no better time to step outside to start reaping Nature’s rewards.

Caregiving, a journey filled with love, challenges, and profound responsibilities, offers unique opportunities to strengthen bonds while enhancing cognitive health. For caregivers and their loved ones, particularly those navigating the complexities of cognitive impairments or age-related changes, incorporating cognitive exercises into daily routines can be incredibly beneficial.

Caregiving, whether for a family member, friend, or neighbor, is a journey fraught with emotional complexities. Alongside feelings of love and duty, family caregivers often grapple with frustration, resentment, and even anger – directed at the situation, the system, and sometimes themselves. It’s the perfect storm to generate overwhelm. However, within these challenges lies an opportunity for personal growth, learning, and resilience. Let's explore how caregivers can navigate this journey while prioritizing their own wellness and discovering inner strength they never knew they had.

When doctors tell you that your loved one is going to die, and they go as far as to say they probably have 2-5 years left, your mind follows the words and calculates the numbers. I was in a constant state of panic and anticipatory grief in the early days of my husband's ALS diagnosis and my brain conjured a countdown timer. The doctor had inadvertently planted future thinking into my brain. Thankfully, something happened a few years into our journey that snapped me back into reality, and that reality was that he was still alive.

Our sleeping patterns significantly impact our mental and physical health. Understanding our chronotype and circadian rhythm – whether we're early risers (morning larks), late risers (night owls), or somewhere in between – is essential for making the most of our time and energy. As we age, the challenges of obtaining healthy sleep become more pronounced, especially when caregiving while experiencing shifting circadian rhythms.

Summer travel season is just around the corner and there’s nothing like taking a trip with loved ones. Traveling can be an enriching experience, offering new sights, cultures, and memories. However, when embarking on an overseas journey with someone you are caring for, it requires extra planning and consideration to ensure their comfort, safety, and enjoyment as well as yours. As a caregiver, transforming travel into a seamless experience is both an art and a science.

When you're caregiving at home, receiving effective support from others can make the difference between a bad day and an okay day. Whether you are already part of a support group, or looking to create one, social support comes in various forms with varying benefits. Let's explore four key types of social support and uncover how they can boost your resilience.

Sometimes, I need to laugh at dementia. To be clear: dementia and all forms of its relations are heartbreaking, silently snatching fragments of personality, identity, and lifelong anchors. Dementia robs an individual of so much, including their independence and agency; still, this does not mean that someone living with dementia is doomed to exist in a joyless, meaningless fog.

Moderate physical exercise stimulates physiological changes in the body and the brain. If you want to give yourself the best chance of aging well, the guideline is 150 minutes per week - or 20 minutes per day - of moderate aerobic activity. If even that seems daunting, it turns out that even 6-9 minutes per day can be better than nothing. Below are 3 ideas to bring fun physical fitness back into focus.

Emotional first aid is the immediate, compassionate response to emotional distress or trauma. For caregivers, it means recognizing and addressing their emotional needs alongside their caring responsibilities.

I'm lucky - I have a younger sister and we have spent the past 44 years as best friends. We can talk about anything and rarely argue, except when it comes to what constitutes a good movie. We are caring for our aging parent together and this is what I have learned.

The death of anyone for whom we have cared will leave a mark – the nature of the relationship will determine the extent of the scar.

As a former family caregiver, I often get asked for advice on how people can be most helpful to the caregiver in their lives. I spent nearly a decade caring for my husband, Steve, and have a lot of experience in this arena.

When managing the complex needs of older adults living with physical limitations or memory loss, family caregivers and professional care providers are finding that technology offers considerable assistance. In this blog post, we explore several technological innovations revolutionizing caregiving in the home.

Boxing Day is a time for family and friends to gather, often for a meal, using up leftovers from Christmas Day feasts. It's a public holiday in many countries, including the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, giving people a chance to relax and enjoy the festive season. This special day brings extra importance to my family, as this was the day my parents met, over 53 years ago and this is also the first Boxing Day without my Dad.