Caregiving

Our ability to successfully navigate the rough waters posed by life depends on our attitude. Viktor Frankl taught an entire generation that we cannot control everything that happens in life. However, we always have the freedom to choose an attitude in response to life. And that choice ultimately determines our experience of life. Do you choose to be a victim of life and succumb to the perceived inequities? Or, will you courageously accept the reality of your situation and seek life-giving possibilities? Consider your answer carefully. Your life depends on it!

At some point, we will all need someone to help us. This might be provided by family members, friends, neighbors, professional caregivers or all of the above. Some of us have many people to turn to, others, not as many. This program will help you think through future caregiving needs in an effective way. Many wonderful online resources and other strategies will be explored including CareMaps, Lotsa Helping Hands, and Caring Bridge to identify and help you create future care options. This will be a fascinating way to assess your current “circle of care” and learn how to enhance it – before you need it. This will be led by Jane W. Barton, Author of Caregiving for the GENIUS, and an AARP Caregiving Ambassador. There are two times to choose from:

Greetings one and all…

Boundaries are necessary behavioral constructs if we are to have healthy relationships with other people. We need to be aware of where we end and the other person begins. Boundaries serve to protect both persons, honoring and respecting each individual. Well-conceived and well-managed boundaries are ultimately a blessing to all involved in the journey of caregiving.

AARP Colorado has two lift tickets to Arapahoe Basin for your best health care, caregiver, or Medicare story. Just write an essay, 250-500 words about your experiences gaining or maintaining your health, or helping a friend and/or relative, and enter a chance to win two free lift tickets from AARP.

My godmother, Aunt Jane, was one of my greatest mentors. She was full of life! I always thought of her as my personal Auntie Mame. She lived life large to say the very least. She married a man, my Uncle Doc, who was 12 years her senior. She always knew that she would probably outlive him. However, she never imagined she would outlive all of her friends as well. By witnessing the journey of my beloved Aunt Jane, I learned how hard it is to be the last one standing.

Greetings one and all…

For most people rooted in Western culture, it is difficult to ask for and receive help from other people. However, the reality is that we will all need help due to the challenges posed by aging and/or illness. So, how are we to overcome our resistance to assistance? Well, our friend the goose has much to teach us about giving and receiving care. Look to the skies. As geese fly in formation, they embody the essential ingredients of collaborative care: shared leadership, interdependence, self care, encouragement, and trusted relationships. This is not a “fly by night” approach to care! If we choose to emulate the collaborative flight of geese, all involved in the caregiving journey will be well served.

As professional or personal caregivers, we witness the suffering of others – physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering. To witness the pain and suffering of others is to be forever changed. Compassionate people bear the suffering of others and often times compromise their own health and well being when they assume too much of the burden. We must always be aware of where we end and the other person begins – the importance of boundaries. We can companion others in life, but we cannot assume the responsibility for another’s life. To do so puts us at risk of experiencing compassion fatigue, a risk for all who care.

Advance Directives—a topic that confuses or frightens most people. This is NOT something you want to consider. Medical care options and end-of-life decisions are emotionally charged and daunting, to say the least. However, if we reframe the conversation, maybe you will be more inclined to embrace the planning process. Instead of thinking about various death scenarios, consider the infinite options for LIFE! Planning for LIFE is a much more appealing and productive approach. How do you wish to LIVE until the end of the road? To ensure that your wishes become your reality, you must plan well.