This is glorious, Jodi. Wonderful article that my caregiver can relate to. (I’m my caregiver’s caregiver, even though she “doesn’t need help, too busy,”) so I’m collecting ideas for me. This has been extremely valuable. Thank you.
As another writer who writes to help family caregivers, I can't applaud your cry to "find support" enough. But then, you delivered a nearly exhaustive list of resources covering all sorts of caregiving needs, safety tools, and helpful means of creating and maintaining records. <whew!> As a reader, I'm impressed. As a writer for an overlapping audience, I say, "You rocked it!" You delivered incredible value. I hope our readers are taking notes and — oh, I don't know — finding support!
Thanks Cindy. It grew out of being tired of repeating myself. I’d become a resource for a growing number of folks just starting the caregiving process, I wanted to codify it to simplify MY life, then kept adding. We are each others village, yes?
Oh Phebe/Karen (which do I call you?), I need the humor. Without it, it's all too hard. Not just caregiving, but life today. Are you a caregiver as well? (The Buddha and the Bitch, a captivating title, I have to check that out!)
Phebe is my preferred name. Yes I am caretaker to my partner Cathy who is 77 & was diagnosed w Alz a year ago. Lone caregiver - not working - searching for home health care pt. I gave a memory care place chosen when it gets this far. Re t bk Available on Amazon - online friendship chatting about creative writing led to conversations about being women in different cultures, spirituality, sexuality. Went to India, stayed w her family then we traveled southeast section & began our first draft. Rashma deserves t credit of convincing Hay House in New Delhi to publish us. Of course, I returned for another visit. What a wild couple of years’ process!
Well, then, Phebe it is. I can’t even imagine how painful it is too care for a life partner. The whole power dynamic changing and I don’t even know. Have you taken a look at @Sammie Marsalli ‘s stack — Alzheimer's Home Caregiver? He's been caring for his wife and writing about it. When you get a moment, give it a look.
For home health care, an aide, I found mine through care.com - they’re all over the US (I made the annoying assumption you’re American, just realized that, ugh!) You can skim through without having a paid account to see if it’s for you. I have some other resources that might be helpful here: https://jodishdoff.substack.com/t/the-village-resources-media-and-podcasts
Also, and especially if you UK based, check out @Victoria at Carer Mentor for an incredible library of resources.
Hi @Phebe (Karen) Beiser I just read your bio over on Amazon and seen your book online. Bravo!
As Jodi says, You’re not alone. To reinforce this - take a look at the Anthology I curated. You’ll find many others to connect to and articles to read. Caregiving is isolating, but you don’t have to feel alone. xo
Fantastic collection! I read all the books as I dove into caregiving for my mom and hiring a Geriatric Care Manager was the best thing we did that whole decade. She was well-informed about the local facilities and had some pull at them. She became my lifeline, my confidante, the person who had almost all the answers & after mom died she even personally took equipment to the donation places that needed it most. Make sure they’re certified & if it’s not a match the first time, try again.
Also, somewhere early on I read that, at any moment in America, there is a grown woman caretaker crying in her car in a parking lot. We carry so much so bravely until we break & that is why we need…SUPPORT! 👍🏻❤️
The systems are obviously different in Brazil, and your Mom sounds like she’s still pretty early on. You have your brother. Support, that’s the most important part for a caregiver, I think. Emotional as well as physical. ❤️
As a single-no family and diagnosed senior I found this information to be helpful. Wish me well🤦♀️
This is glorious, Jodi. Wonderful article that my caregiver can relate to. (I’m my caregiver’s caregiver, even though she “doesn’t need help, too busy,”) so I’m collecting ideas for me. This has been extremely valuable. Thank you.
I welcome input from you and your POV and am happy to make myself available in any way I can support you or your own caregiver. ❤️
I appreciate your comment and your offer. I always like what you write.
As another writer who writes to help family caregivers, I can't applaud your cry to "find support" enough. But then, you delivered a nearly exhaustive list of resources covering all sorts of caregiving needs, safety tools, and helpful means of creating and maintaining records. <whew!> As a reader, I'm impressed. As a writer for an overlapping audience, I say, "You rocked it!" You delivered incredible value. I hope our readers are taking notes and — oh, I don't know — finding support!
Thanks Cindy. It grew out of being tired of repeating myself. I’d become a resource for a growing number of folks just starting the caregiving process, I wanted to codify it to simplify MY life, then kept adding. We are each others village, yes?
Absolutely. Looking forward to reading more of your articles.
Invaluable detailed information. Your humor helps a lot, too! 😎
Oh Phebe/Karen (which do I call you?), I need the humor. Without it, it's all too hard. Not just caregiving, but life today. Are you a caregiver as well? (The Buddha and the Bitch, a captivating title, I have to check that out!)
Phebe is my preferred name. Yes I am caretaker to my partner Cathy who is 77 & was diagnosed w Alz a year ago. Lone caregiver - not working - searching for home health care pt. I gave a memory care place chosen when it gets this far. Re t bk Available on Amazon - online friendship chatting about creative writing led to conversations about being women in different cultures, spirituality, sexuality. Went to India, stayed w her family then we traveled southeast section & began our first draft. Rashma deserves t credit of convincing Hay House in New Delhi to publish us. Of course, I returned for another visit. What a wild couple of years’ process!
Well, then, Phebe it is. I can’t even imagine how painful it is too care for a life partner. The whole power dynamic changing and I don’t even know. Have you taken a look at @Sammie Marsalli ‘s stack — Alzheimer's Home Caregiver? He's been caring for his wife and writing about it. When you get a moment, give it a look.
For home health care, an aide, I found mine through care.com - they’re all over the US (I made the annoying assumption you’re American, just realized that, ugh!) You can skim through without having a paid account to see if it’s for you. I have some other resources that might be helpful here: https://jodishdoff.substack.com/t/the-village-resources-media-and-podcasts
Also, and especially if you UK based, check out @Victoria at Carer Mentor for an incredible library of resources.
We’re all in this together!
Thanks for tagging me in @Jodi Sh. Doff.
Hi @Phebe (Karen) Beiser I just read your bio over on Amazon and seen your book online. Bravo!
As Jodi says, You’re not alone. To reinforce this - take a look at the Anthology I curated. You’ll find many others to connect to and articles to read. Caregiving is isolating, but you don’t have to feel alone. xo
https://www.carermentor.com/p/the-dementia-anthology?r=a9y7d&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Fantastic collection! I read all the books as I dove into caregiving for my mom and hiring a Geriatric Care Manager was the best thing we did that whole decade. She was well-informed about the local facilities and had some pull at them. She became my lifeline, my confidante, the person who had almost all the answers & after mom died she even personally took equipment to the donation places that needed it most. Make sure they’re certified & if it’s not a match the first time, try again.
Also, somewhere early on I read that, at any moment in America, there is a grown woman caretaker crying in her car in a parking lot. We carry so much so bravely until we break & that is why we need…SUPPORT! 👍🏻❤️
Thank you to Nan I found you here.
Thank you for this resource, Jodi. This is great. I'm saving this page.
The systems are obviously different in Brazil, and your Mom sounds like she’s still pretty early on. You have your brother. Support, that’s the most important part for a caregiver, I think. Emotional as well as physical. ❤️