"Being half anywhere is the true beginning of loneliness." Mark Nepo
I have been 'half there' numerous times lately. I left my favorite hat lying on a table of a house I was leaving, I could not find a book I read daily because I had packed it and did not remember doing so, I misplaced some important papers because I was not 'conscious of what I was doing' when I put them in a location. I am a very bright woman, so I take these as signs of stress. Too much responsibility. Recently, I agreed to pet sit a dog. I thought I could handle it no problem; afterall, as long as I am here caregiving, what is one more thing? But, that is exactly what is the problem: it is one more thing for which I am responsible. The result is that I feel even more overwhelmed. Now I have to remember everything for Dwane and me, and I have to remember to tend to the dog's needs. Solution? I will take time this week to regather myself, eliminate sources of stress that I can eliminate and renew my practice of being present. I think as caregivers we must be very careful about taking on even one more thing, and I hope you can benefit from my mistake in having done so.
Jan 31, 2012
Jan 30, 2012
French
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” Winston Churchill
I am teaching myself French. Someone I know lent me some cd's with an accompanying book. Learning French has been something I have wanted to do for a long time (I already have several years invested in learning Spanish), so, I thought; why not now? I am home anyway. There are many things I could do with this time that I am caregiving. The time will pass anyway;; I want to have something specific to show for that time. So, I am learning French. I may not become fluent, but I will certainly be able to order off a French menu and greet people appropriately. What a beautiful language, so lyrical. What could you be doing that you could do while also caregiving?
au revoir - until tomorrow.
I am teaching myself French. Someone I know lent me some cd's with an accompanying book. Learning French has been something I have wanted to do for a long time (I already have several years invested in learning Spanish), so, I thought; why not now? I am home anyway. There are many things I could do with this time that I am caregiving. The time will pass anyway;; I want to have something specific to show for that time. So, I am learning French. I may not become fluent, but I will certainly be able to order off a French menu and greet people appropriately. What a beautiful language, so lyrical. What could you be doing that you could do while also caregiving?
au revoir - until tomorrow.
Jan 29, 2012
Stress is a killer
"Make no mistake about it; stress is a killer." Jack LaLanne
And, make no mistake about it; caregiving is a source of great stress. I have a friend who has now developed chronic low back pain and high blood pressure from the stress of caregiving her husband with Lewy Bodies Dementia. Even the seemingly simple things are stressful when one is dealing with someone with Lewy Bodies Dementia. So, how do we handle this stress? Exercise daily, meditate daily, eat nutritious foods, avoid overuse of alcohol or caffeine, have a support system, manage your thinking so that it is positive and optimistic.
"Let no one, and I mean no one, ruin your day." Jack LaLanne
And, make no mistake about it; caregiving is a source of great stress. I have a friend who has now developed chronic low back pain and high blood pressure from the stress of caregiving her husband with Lewy Bodies Dementia. Even the seemingly simple things are stressful when one is dealing with someone with Lewy Bodies Dementia. So, how do we handle this stress? Exercise daily, meditate daily, eat nutritious foods, avoid overuse of alcohol or caffeine, have a support system, manage your thinking so that it is positive and optimistic.
"Let no one, and I mean no one, ruin your day." Jack LaLanne
Jan 28, 2012
Cost of caregiving
"A new study (of the cost of caregiving) pegs the total cost in lost wages, Social Security and private pensions due to reduced hours or an early exit from the workforce (Women lose more). " Anne C. Lee, Money magazine September 2011.
I am in the process of figuring how much we made last year and how much we paid in income taxes. It is sobering for me, as I am able to work less and less; therefore earning less each year. Not a choice I would make, as I am good at what I do and I very much enjoy working part time. The estimate cited in the Money magazine from Metlife Mature Market Institute shows the median lost for women who leave the labor force because of caregiving is a staggering $274,000. For men: $234,000. So, we have more cost in living expense: his prescriptions, etc, and a reduced income. Even more than the reduced income now, for me, is the long-term loss of income. There have to be some better answers.
I am in the process of figuring how much we made last year and how much we paid in income taxes. It is sobering for me, as I am able to work less and less; therefore earning less each year. Not a choice I would make, as I am good at what I do and I very much enjoy working part time. The estimate cited in the Money magazine from Metlife Mature Market Institute shows the median lost for women who leave the labor force because of caregiving is a staggering $274,000. For men: $234,000. So, we have more cost in living expense: his prescriptions, etc, and a reduced income. Even more than the reduced income now, for me, is the long-term loss of income. There have to be some better answers.
Jan 27, 2012
Nutrition
"Always remember this: What you eat today will be walking and talking tomorrow." Jack LaLanne
I am currently reading Jack LaLanne's book, Live Young Forever. Although he is now deceased, according to his wife he was not ill in the 60+ years she knew him. That seems to me to be an optimal way to go. Healthy, active and loving life - right up to the end of it. The book says he never ate anything out of a box or can. Of course, he lived in California where fresh produce was available year-round. He worked out with weight lifting and swimming 2 hours every day, and for a celebration dinner he had vegetable soup, broiled fish, a salad of 10 different raw vegetables and fresh fruit for dessert. While this may seem extreme to some, LaLanne certainly models some behavior that obviously worked for him. He died at 96 years of age, and his family said he exercised even on the day he died of pneumonia. In what ways could you be eating better to protect you physically and cognitively?
I am currently reading Jack LaLanne's book, Live Young Forever. Although he is now deceased, according to his wife he was not ill in the 60+ years she knew him. That seems to me to be an optimal way to go. Healthy, active and loving life - right up to the end of it. The book says he never ate anything out of a box or can. Of course, he lived in California where fresh produce was available year-round. He worked out with weight lifting and swimming 2 hours every day, and for a celebration dinner he had vegetable soup, broiled fish, a salad of 10 different raw vegetables and fresh fruit for dessert. While this may seem extreme to some, LaLanne certainly models some behavior that obviously worked for him. He died at 96 years of age, and his family said he exercised even on the day he died of pneumonia. In what ways could you be eating better to protect you physically and cognitively?
Jan 26, 2012
Responsibility to the world
"We are called to leave the world a better place than we found it." Rev. Chris Michaels
Rev. Michaels goes on to say that we have three responsibilities: first to ourselves - to be authentic; second to our fellow humans -- and not just the small circle of family and friends; and third to the world. We who are caregivers might think we don't have time to give to a worthwhile organization or issue, but there are some things we can do. For instance, the pastor in church recommended we contact our legislators about a pending issue. Certainly we have time to write a brief letter asking them to support something we believe in. Today, that is made so easy with electronics. And, let us not forget our very small world. I notice sometimes that people are kind and gracious to strangers or acquaintances, but treat their family members shabbily. Charity begins, I believe, at home: with oneself, with our close circle of family and friends, and then outward from that.
Rev. Michaels goes on to say that we have three responsibilities: first to ourselves - to be authentic; second to our fellow humans -- and not just the small circle of family and friends; and third to the world. We who are caregivers might think we don't have time to give to a worthwhile organization or issue, but there are some things we can do. For instance, the pastor in church recommended we contact our legislators about a pending issue. Certainly we have time to write a brief letter asking them to support something we believe in. Today, that is made so easy with electronics. And, let us not forget our very small world. I notice sometimes that people are kind and gracious to strangers or acquaintances, but treat their family members shabbily. Charity begins, I believe, at home: with oneself, with our close circle of family and friends, and then outward from that.
Jan 25, 2012
Sedentary?
"Americans now sit more than they sleep, spending an average of 10 hours a day in a car, at work and in front of a television. Taking 5,000 steps or fewer daily is considered sedentary." federal government statistics
5,000 steps is sedentary?! That is approximately 2 1/2 miles, and it is considered sedentary? Yes, according to The Walking insert in the AARP Bulletin, January-February 2010. To be considered active, one needs to walk 10,000 steps a day, which is approximately 5 miles. I find that I cannot get in that many steps in a day without a deliberate 2-3 mile walk. If I get 4,000 to 6,000 steps in a walk, then I can get the remaining 4,000 to 6,000 steps needed in my daily activites. It is important to wear a pedometer, because it is very difficult to know how many steps one gets in a day without this device to keep track. Walking is getting a lot of coverage in the news now, and with good reason -- it may be the single best and easiest exercise we can do to maintain and improve our health.
5,000 steps is sedentary?! That is approximately 2 1/2 miles, and it is considered sedentary? Yes, according to The Walking insert in the AARP Bulletin, January-February 2010. To be considered active, one needs to walk 10,000 steps a day, which is approximately 5 miles. I find that I cannot get in that many steps in a day without a deliberate 2-3 mile walk. If I get 4,000 to 6,000 steps in a walk, then I can get the remaining 4,000 to 6,000 steps needed in my daily activites. It is important to wear a pedometer, because it is very difficult to know how many steps one gets in a day without this device to keep track. Walking is getting a lot of coverage in the news now, and with good reason -- it may be the single best and easiest exercise we can do to maintain and improve our health.
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