EMBRACE is a a new quarterly magazine that targets professional long term healthcare providers.If you or someone you know works in this field, it may be worth checking out. As a patient, you may want to print out a copy of the web page to show your long-term care provider. TIP: It's always nice to pass along resources to your medical team like this that you think may be helpful & it looks like you are really on top of things! - Which is nice for them to recognize, because there may be days when you can't even remember your own phone number. The magazine offers a combination of information to help save time & reduce costs in long-term care facilities, as well as tips & encouragement for caregivers to also care for their own … [Read more...]
Illness & Marriage – Please Don’t Kiss Me!
"I'm not going to kiss you..." Who would ever think that hearing these words from your spouse would be considered a sign of his deep love? As my husband and I celebrated our 14th anniversary recently at a nice hotel on the Oregon Coast, we walked on the beach hand in hand, and finally, after 3 days I said, "Just kiss me!" so he did. He'd been in the state of "getting sick" for the last week on and off. The 1000-mile drive (and all the caffeine I kept handing him on the way to stay awake) had not exactly helped him fight it off. Yep, that kiss was really stepping out of a safety zone. I'm glad to say I didn't get sick. Some of you may laugh. If you don't have a chronic illness, you may think this all sounds a bit odd. I mean, who … [Read more...]
When You Need Help at Home Resources
Here is a listing of some of the at-home-care resources we have found to be helpful & professional. If you have other suggestions to add to this list, please add them to the comments section below. Visiting Nurse Associations of America The Visiting Nurse Associations of America (VNAA) was established in 1983 as the official, national association of freest&ing, not-for-profit, community based visiting nurse agencies (VNAs). VNAA leads a profession that is more than a century old - a profession that VNAs actually helped create. Today, by linking leading not-for-profit home health care agencies from coast to coast & creating a comprehensive br& identity program, VNAA has created a powerful network for growth & development. One that … [Read more...]
Christian & Interfaith Caregiver Resources
Stephen Ministries They offer courses & ministry systems to fit the needs of every congregation & adult education ministry. Lay caregivers (called Stephen Ministers) provide one-to-one Christian care to the bereaved, hospitalized, terminally ill, separated, divorced, unemployed, relocated, & others facing a crisis or life challenge. Stephen Ministry helps pastors enhance caring ministry by ensuring that quality follow-up care is available for as long as it is needed. Illness-Disability-Healthcare-Caregiver Ministry Network Join this social networking group developed by Rest Ministries to get to know others who have the same passions for caregiver ministry. Equipping to Encourage Dedicated to helping people provide … [Read more...]
My Aging Dad Needs Me as His Caregiver
I am feeling overwhelmed. I have multiple sclerosis & thankfully am still mobile, but I never know when a bad flare may occur & I suffer from fatigue all of the time. My Dad lives about 30 minutes away & is needing more full-time caregiving. (Mom died when I was young.) I am not sure what to do. Just the drive alone is getting to be too much, & am I selfish to not want to give up all my weekends? He has no money except the house he is living in & he wants to live on his own as long as possible. The Bible says to honor my father & I want to. I just don't know what is best for my own health too. What are my options? -Jill Dearest Jill, Overwhelmed is a feeling you’re more than justified in experiencing. My guess, from your … [Read more...]
