Today we had our first Caregiver workshop!  It was a success!  Our participants were women with varying degrees of involvement with caregiving.  There was one participant who hasn’t even begun her caregiving odyssey, but she just wants to be prepared for when the time comes.  Then there was another participant who has been a caregiver to her Mother for many years who is now in hospice.  We also had women who were in between those two ends of the spectrum.

The workshop was enlightening and thought provoking to say the least! The questions that were asked, and the experiences and information shared left everyone having a better idea of what to expect as a caregiver to an aging or ill parent or relative.

Our participants left the workshop knowing that caregiving,  although challenging, can also be very rewarding.  By recognizing that it’s not about us, rather it’s about our loved ones and their journey, we are able to better focus on what’s truly important…assisting our loved ones through what can be a difficult and most uncertain time in their lives.   It was absolutely my pleasure and an honor to share my personal caregiving story.  You don’t have to become consumed by the process.  It is my hope that I was able to show that with communication and advance preparation, caring for an aging/ill loved one can be both manageable and meaningful .

I welcome your comments…

D-

Caregiving is an industry that has grown tremendously over the last few decades.  Given advances in medical technology and the fact that people are living longer, it is quite possible that you or someone you know are taking care of, have taken care of, or will soon be taking care of an aging parent.

But who is taking care of the caregiver?

Caregivers must be mindful of their needs.  There is no amount of preparation that can ready a person to care for their parents.  It is safe to say that no one really plans to take care of a parent.  Below are some practical tips I’d like to share to help make your caregiving odyssey more manageable:

1. Talk with your parents about their future care.   You should know whether they want to age in place (at home) or be moved to an assisted living or nursing facility. Determine how they would like their finances to be handled when the time comes.   As awkward as these conversations may be, they are necessary and best had long before there is a need for care.

2. Gather important documents.  This is a crucial step and should be done when your parents are well and able to locate these documents.  These are documents that you will need access to if and when your parents become unable to handle their own affairs.  Examples of these documents are: wills & trusts, advance directives, power of attorney, life insurance policies, bank account information, medical records, birth certificates, marriage licenses, etc.

3. Research services in your parents community.  Take the time to find out what services are available to your parents in their community.  Whether it’s a senior center that offers daily programs and activities or a meals on wheels program.  Check with the local Department of the Aging to see if there are any special services offered for seniors, i.e. home health aide, companion services, etc.

4. Organize, Organize, Organize.  I can’t say this enough.  Keep a master calendar that lists all of your parent’s appointments, doctors and otherwise.   Also, keep a small notebook handy with you to make notes of conversations with doctors or billing agencies or to make reminders for yourself.  Create a filing system for medical, insurance and  other types of bills and statements.  This way they’ll be easier to locate when you need to refer to them.

5. Have a contingency plan.  If you and your parents live in different states, you should ensure that there is local support network to assist them when needed.  If you and your parents live in the same state and they depend on you for care, what happens if you have to stay late at work, or you get a flat tire?  You will need someone who can step in to assist when you’re not able to be there.  Have a Plan B.

6. Care for the caregiver.  Take time for yourself.  Make sure you’re getting the proper amount of rest.  Try to maintain a balanced and nutritious diet.  Don’t forget to incorporate some physical exercise into your daily routine.   Give yourself credit for all that you have accomplished.  Realize that you’re only human and that it’s o.k. to ask for help.  Having the assistance of others greatly reduces the stresses of caregiving on you.

Implementing these steps are sure to make the caregiving process more manageable.  Remember, it is a process.  Examine your role of caregiver.  It’s your unique odyssey.  Won’t you make the most of it?

Perhaps today…  I’ve been saying that to myself daily for the last couple of months.  It has become my mantra. 

 Mantra is defined as an expression or idea that is repeated often without thinking about it, and to facilitate a transformation of consciousness.

Repeating Perhaps today… allows me to keep my mind open and available.  It helps me to live in the moment.  So often, we are either stuck living in the past or distracted trying to figure out our future.  With so much going on in our lives, i.e. family, work, business, finances, etc. it’s become increasingly difficult for us to live in the moment. 

 I’d like to share my mantra with you to perhaps help you begin to live in the moment.   So, if you don’t already have a mantra, I invite you to use this one.   Perhaps today…

…you’ll realize that the possibilities are truly endless.

…you’ll decide to live “On Purpose”.

D-

I’ve just returned home from attending a Founder’s Day celebration of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Yes, I am a Dynamic Delta! Love to my Sorors!

You’re probably wondering, “What does a Founder’s Day celebration have to do with Sisterhood?”. In this particular instance, it has everything to do with Sisterhood. Although Sisterhood is a huge part of being a Delta, the organization focuses on that and much, much more.

In my next book project, to be released on February 28th, I wrote about Building Sisterhood, and the need for women to support each other. My personal experiences show that for the most part, in my time of need my Sisters have been there for me. I have a strong network of Sisters who have my best interest at heart.

I have however, encountered women who don’t have a strong network of Sisters. And, for whatever reason, they have difficulty building and maintaining healthy relationships with other women. I attribute that behavior in most cases to their personal experiences, and sometimes to how they were raised. I’m sure there are a myriad of reasons for this type of behavior.

Back to the Founder’s Day celebration… I was so excited to see Sorors that I hadn’t seen in years…some as many as 10-12 years! It was wonderful to reconnect and catch up on how/what everyone is doing. However, the best part for me was reconnecting with something that means much more than sorority colors or letters. It was a re-focusing of my mind, and a re-dedication of my heart to the ideals of my illustrious sorority. It confirmed to me that this is what I’m supposed to be doing… Building Sisterhood!

Let’s talk about Sisterhood… What does Sisterhood mean to you?

I joined the Facebook revolution a few days ago! Yeah, me… I was skeptical at first, but so many people that I know have Facebook accounts. I’ve reconnected with many friends and associates of years past. I really like that. I also like the fact that I can use it as a resource to tell everyone what D. Boone & Associates is doing. It’s a great networking resource as well. This post isn’t providing any earth shattering information, well maybe it is for someone. Whether you want to reconnect with old friends or promote your business, I recommend this site. Be careful though, it can be addictive. See ya on FB!

Share your thoughts on social networking…

D-

Purpose…  That’s a word we’re hearing alot of lately.  As we transition from one year to the next, some of us will be blessed enough to have additional time to try to figure out what our true purpose is.  We all have a pupose in this life, whether you want to believe it or not.  Large or small, significant or not, we all have a purpose.  Many often wonder, “What is my purpose?” I believe that in order to determine your purpose, you must begin to live ON PURPOSE!  What does this mean exactly?  When you make the decision to live ON PURPOSE, what you’re actually doing is empowering yourself to do something different and most times meaningful. You give yourself permission to do something that you’ve always wanted to do. The problem is that many of us don’t sit still long enough, aren’t quiet long enough, can’t focus long enough to help ourselves determine our purpose.

As we enter into the New Year, take these next few days to determine what it is you can do to live ON PURPOSE! I’d like to hear from you. Thanks for sharing!

D-

I’ve just completed my most recent book project… I wrote about caregiving and my role as a caregiver. Eldercare is an industry that has grown tremendously over the last few decades. Given the medical and technological advancements and our elderly living longer, it is quite possible that you or someone you know are caring for, have cared for, or will soon care for an aging parent or relative.

Women play an essential role in caregiving. As the major providers of long-term care we should be mindful of our own long-term needs. The goal of this text is to create a dialogue on caregiving and how it affects women’s wellness. Let’s face it, caregiving can be challenging and overwhelming. It can also be very rewarding.

Are you currently caring for an aging parent or relative who’d like to share your story? Perhaps you’ve been through the caregiving process and have some tips to share with our readers. I have plenty of tips and will be sharing them along the way. Let me know your thoughts. Let’s get this dialoge started.

D-