Minding Our Elders®

In-home agencies need cell phone regulations for staff

Cell phones have become as much a part of our culture as cars. While cell phones are a wonderful convenience and occasionally a life saver, they can also be a toy and a distraction. Excessive cell phone usage has become a frequent complaint by families who hire in-home agencies to care for their elders. Every in-home agency should have a strictly enforced policy for cell phone use by their employees.

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Male caregiver’s ranks boosted by well spouses

Books have been written, articles published and columns run in newspapers putting forth the statistics that it’s women who step up to the plate as caregivers. While the numbers of female caregivers still outrank male caregivers, I would guess that the caregiver gender divide is much less marked when it comes to well spouses.

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Well Spouse Association has unique caregiver focus

Throughout my years of writing about caregiving, I’ve often recommended the Well Spouse Association as a resource for spousal caregivers. As a family caregiver who spent two decades in varying caregiving roles for a total of seven elders, I’ve endured a lot of emotional upset. While none of my own caregiving was spousal in focus, I did observe my mother, and my mother-in-law, in their spousal caregiver roles. I was the helper, but the wives started out as primary caregivers until their own health failed. It was obvious to me at the time, and even more so in hindsight, that while there is much crossover in caregiving relationships, there are also differences.

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Support a caregiver or jump start discussion in support groups with real stories - for bulk orders e-mail Carol:

 

Spousal caregivers find support but need more attention

As a newspaper columnist and forum moderator dedicated to caregiver support and aging issues, I often hear complaints from well spouses caring for their mate. These folks want to know why most of the online support, and many of the in-person support groups, are dominated by the adult children caregivers. These complaints are well-founded.

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Support a caregiver or jump start discussion in support groups with real stories - for bulk orders e-mail Carol: