DEAR CARALLEL: I’m sixty-five and my partner is seventy-one. We got together later in life and our first 6 years together were like a dream. We bought our perfect little condo, traveled often, and were active as could be. A bicycle accident a couple of years ago changed things. It sparked a chain of events … I think I might scream the next time someone tells me to take care of myself.
DEAR CARALLEL: My parents moved to Scottsdale, AZ sixteen years ago after Dad retired. They were done with the cold winters and wanted to be closer to my sister and her kids. Dad died suddenly two years ago and since then my sister has been taking care of our mother. Mom has kidney disease and hasn’t … I want to help my sister but don’t know how I can from here.
Matt Perrin, Carallel’s Director of Caregiver Engagement is joined by Sheila Schultz to discuss seven practical self-care ideas for the busy caregiver.
DEAR CARALLEL: My dad is 81 years old. He’s a happy guy. Still works out a few times a week and goes to coffee just about every morning. My sister and her family live 20 minutes down the road and I’m a couple hours north. I was recently in town for a visit. Dad seemed like … I couldn’t help but notice that it looked like his car had been in a Nascar race.
DEAR CARALLEL: My husband and I are retirees in our mid to late 70’s and all things considered, we’re in pretty good health. We have no way of knowing how long that will last but make it a point to do what we can to keep it that way by taking our daily walk and making … Medication is so expensive! What can I do to lower my costs?
But palliative care, a frequently misunderstood (and underutilized) form of medical care can help.
DEAR CARALLEL: My partner has some dementia. I began noticing changes in his behavior a few years ago and we eventually got the diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia about 18 months ago. While I am afraid of what is to come, I’m angry now because he refuses my help. And he needs help with everything! Getting ready … He refuses help that he clearly needs. What do I do?!?
DEAR CARALLEL: My father has been living with my family since 2019. I don’t have any siblings and it seemed like a no-brainer after my mother passed away. He adjusted, we adjusted, and things were fine for a while. But his health has declined and things have gotten challenging in the last couple of years. He’s diabetic … I promised my father he’d never go into a nursing home. I need to break that promise and I’m heartbroken.
DEAR CARALLEL: I moved into my mother’s home four and a half years ago when it was too much for her to be living on her own. I was not quite sure what was going on with her at the time, I just thought she was getting older. Long story short, it turned out to be the … She’s accusing me of stealing her pocketbook, her money, and her lipstick.
Why is it important for family caregivers to have an emergency plan? And how can they create one? We give caregivers what they need to know here