Hope for the Caregiver

Compassion and the Family Caregiver

Compassion Radio's Bram Floria interviewed me for a two part series on the family caregiver. 

compassionradio.com

Do You Celebrate Yourself?

We all volunteer to serve as caregivers. Sadly, some people abandon a spouse, parent, or even a child  ...they have that choice. 
Although feeling obligated may drive so much of it, you're still serving. Isn't that worth celebrating something extraordinary about you?

www.hopeforthecaregiver.com 

How's Your Pace?

During our first full winter in Montana, a friend gave me some of the best advice for the snowy road conditions here in the Treasure State. 
“Drive at the speed you’re comfortable slamming into the ditch at.”
While laughing at the pointed guidance, I also considered the implications for other areas. As caregivers, we often race around at breakneck speeds—while in treacherous conditions. Relationships, money, and our health can all be severe hazards. The faster we move, the greater the risks. 

Try Judging Yourself By This Criteria

Caregivers often berate and judge themselves without mercy over their job performance. In this episode, I invite caregivers to use a different criteria. www.hopeforthecaregiver.com 

"Though the wrong seems oft so strong..."

From our live radio show on April 17, 2021. Our opening monologue tackles the obligation issue faced by caregivers, and then we step over to the "Caregiver Keyboard" to play the hymn of the day. Our phones lit up with callers who knew the hymn ...and all had moving stories, as well. 

As Miserable Or As Happy As We Choose To Be

One of the driving missions of our show is to equip caregivers to better navigate the journey of a caregiver. Part of that is attitude. While so much of what we face as caregivers lies beyond our control, our attitude remains firmly in our own hands and heart.  We are as happy or miserable as we choose to be. 

There's more at www.hopeforthecaregiver.com 

Navigating the Caregiver FOG (Bonus Material)

What is the Caregiver FOG?  EVERY ONE of us as caregivers will experience this, and it can lead to significant challenges.  

When driving, what is the first thing you do when you approach FOG?

You SLOW DOWN!!

Caregivers have a FOG that envelopes us.   

• Fear
• Obligation
• Guilt

Just like a conventional fog, the Caregiver FOG can cause us, if we’re not careful, to drive right off the road into a ditch, into a tree, or off a cliff …while taking everyone we love with us!

It’s that serious.  

We caregiver make horrible decisions when lost in the FOG.  www.hopeforthecaregiver.com/books