The Caregiving Companion
Short reading for the days you have five minutes.
All 34 articles, on the parts of caregiving nobody explains — burnout, appointments, tough conversations, and looking after yourself while you look after someone else.
CommunityThe Language of Care: Must-Know Terms for Family Caregivers
When providing care for a friend, neighbor, or loved one, understanding the diverse and often unfamiliar terminology can be as essential as understanding the intricacies of the care journey itself. I’ll never forget the…
June 23, 2024 · 9 min read · Michelle Miller
Reading is optional
If you only have energy for one thing today, open a chapter and write down the medication list. The articles will still be here later.
Reading for Resilience: The Healing Power of Books
When I unexpectedly became a primary care partner to both of my parents as the pandemic was kicking into high gear (in an environment that seemed to willfully neglect older adults), reading for myself was all but…
June 18, 2024 · 6 min read
BodyThe Family Caregiver’s Guide to Somatic Self-Care
It is well documented how the constant demands of caregiving can take a toll on one's well-being, particularly the body — a foundation of our strength and resilience. Several years ago a friend introduced me to somatic…
June 4, 2024 · 6 min read
MindBuilding Resilience in Family Caregivers: The Power of Guided Imagery
Traditional support groups have been a mainstay for caregivers, offering a space to share experiences and gain information. However, these groups may not fully address the emotional complexities and mental health…
May 28, 2024 · 3 min read
CommunityTough Talks: 8 Tips for More Effective Conversations
As family caregivers, we often find ourselves in the delicate position of broaching challenging and embarrasing discussions with our loved ones. Whether it's tackling health concerns, navigating financial matters, or…
May 21, 2024 · 4 min read
SpiritBecoming a Family Caregiver is Not for Everyone: Considerations, Reflections, and Ideas
Becoming a family caregiver is a transformational journey marked by profound challenges and significant life adjustments. While it can be a role filled with love and compassion, it's essential to recognize that not…
May 14, 2024 · 5 min read
BodyFrom Caregiving to Self-Care: Healing Trauma One Step at a Time
Because of the lack of care I put into myself, along with the demands of the care I gave, my body became affected. As much as I allowed the wound to be where the light enters, I also had to acknowledge that my body has…
May 7, 2024 · 3 min read
MindProtecting Older Adults: A Guide to Recognizing and Handling Scams
In today's world, where scam calls and deceptive door-to-door visits are increasingly common, our aging population is particularly vulnerable. Scammers often target older adults, capitalizing on their sometimes limited…
April 30, 2024 · 2 min read
MindSeeds of Healing: Finding Peace and Resilience in Nature's Garden
Research shows that regardless of age, nature can boost physical and mental health and well-being. For family caregivers and those needing care, time in nature is a critical stress-taming ally. A simple walk together in…
April 23, 2024 · 6 min read
CommunityGrowing Together: Cultivating Community Through Gardening
Community involvement is part of being human. From a sense of contribution to the success and happiness of others to knowing you also have support if ever needed, there is a reason humans are social by nature. Family…
April 16, 2024 · 4 min read
SpiritRooted in Resilience: Finding Solace in Nature Amidst Grief
When faced with loss, our very human responses range from shock and anger to profound sadness and enduring despair. While mourning can plunge us into prolonged grief and hopelessness, the natural world offers a pathway…
April 9, 2024 · 4 min read
BodyNature's Prescription: Revitalize Your Health While Caring for Others
Embarking on my journey to becoming a permaculturist and transforming our yard into an urban forest garden has opened my eyes to the profound ways in which nature can enhance health and wellness. While exercise and…
April 2, 2024 · 5 min read
MindThe Power of Engagement and Positivity in Caregiving: A Guide to Cognitive Exercises
Caregiving, a journey filled with love, challenges, and profound responsibilities, offers unique opportunities to strengthen bonds while enhancing cognitive health. For caregivers and their loved ones, particularly…
March 26, 2024 · 5 min read
CommunityAnger to Action: Advocating for Caregiver Well-Being
Caregiving, whether for a family member, friend, or neighbor, is a journey fraught with emotional complexities. Alongside feelings of love and duty, family caregivers often grapple with frustration, resentment, and even…
March 19, 2024 · 3 min read
Spirit"He's Alive, So Let's Act Like It": Lessons in Living with a Terminal Illness
When doctors tell you that your loved one is going to die, and they go as far as to say they probably have 2-5 years left, your mind follows the words and calculates the numbers. I was in a constant state of panic and…
March 12, 2024 · 3 min read
BodyHarmony in Time: Navigating Chronotypes, Aging, and Caregiving
Our sleeping patterns significantly impact our mental and physical health. Understanding our chronotype and circadian rhythm – whether we're early risers (morning larks), late risers (night owls), or somewhere in…
March 5, 2024 · 3 min read
MindTraveling Overseas with an Older Loved One: A Caregiver's Guide
Summer travel season is just around the corner and there’s nothing like taking a trip with loved ones. Traveling can be an enriching experience, offering new sights, cultures, and memories. However, when embarking on an…
February 27, 2024 · 5 min read
CommunityNavigating Caregiving: The Power of Four Types of Social Support for Family Caregivers
When you're caregiving at home, receiving effective support from others can make the difference between a bad day and an okay day. Whether you are already part of a support group, or looking to create one, social…
February 20, 2024 · 4 min read
SpiritFinding Light and Laughter in the Shadows: 8 Ideas for Cultivating Humor as a Family Caregiver
Sometimes, I need to laugh at dementia. To be clear: dementia and all forms of its relations are heartbreaking, silently snatching fragments of personality, identity, and lifelong anchors. Dementia robs an individual of…
February 13, 2024 · 3 min read
Body(Mostly) Fast Fitness Fun: Exercise as Self-Care for Busy Family Caregivers
Moderate physical exercise stimulates physiological changes in the body and the brain. If you want to give yourself the best chance of aging well, the guideline is 150 minutes per week - or 20 minutes per day - of…
February 6, 2024 · 3 min read
MindCaregiver Loneliness and Emotional First Aid: Nurturing the Nurturers
Emotional first aid is the immediate, compassionate response to emotional distress or trauma. For caregivers, it means recognizing and addressing their emotional needs alongside their caring
January 30, 2024 · 2 min read
CommunityBalancing Roles While Caring for an Aging Parent: 7 Tips to Avoid Sibling Resentment
I'm lucky - I have a younger sister and we have spent the past 44 years as best friends. We can talk about anything and rarely argue, except when it comes to what constitutes a good movie. We are caring for our aging…
January 23, 2024 · 7 min read
SpiritThe Unexpected Side of Grief
The death of anyone for whom we have cared will leave a mark – the nature of the relationship will determine the extent of the
January 16, 2024 · 3 min read
Body10 Ideas for Supporting the Family Caregiver in Your Life from a Caregiving Veteran
As a former family caregiver, I often get asked for advice on how people can be most helpful to the caregiver in their lives. I spent nearly a decade caring for my husband, Steve, and have a lot of experience in this…
January 9, 2024 · 4 min read
MindEmbracing Technology: A Family Caregiver’s Guide to Innovations
When managing the complex needs of older adults living with physical limitations or memory loss, family caregivers and professional care providers are finding that technology offers considerable assistance. In this blog…
January 2, 2024 · 7 min read
CommunityIt’s Boxing Day! + 22 Social Media Accounts that Support Caregivers
Boxing Day is a time for family and friends to gather, often for a meal, using up leftovers from Christmas Day feasts. It's a public holiday in many countries, including the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand,…
December 26, 2023 · 3 min read
Spirit4 Ways I’m Tapping into the Healing Power of Awe This Holiday Season
Integrating awe into your daily life is a positive, transformative practice that can help you to recalibrate how you approach
December 19, 2023 · 5 min read
Body7 Easy and Nutritious Holiday Recipes Plus 3 of My Favorite Mealtime Tools
When caring for someone who has difficulty eating, it's important to focus on nutrient-rich foods that are easy to chew and
December 12, 2023 · 4 min read
MindOur First Holiday Season Without Dad: A Journey of Grief and Remembrance
As the holiday lights twinkle and festive songs fill the air, there's an unspoken emptiness in our home this year. It's our first holiday season without my dad, who passed away last year, just before the new
December 5, 2023 · 3 min read
CommunityBetter With Boundaries
Had I understood this sooner, I would have realized the better way to care would be to say, “these are my needs and for me to continue to show up for you, I need you to take these needs seriously.” But that is the…
November 28, 2023 · 4 min read
SpiritHow You Can IMPROVE Your Approach to Caregiving
In this week’s post, we offer a helpful summary of 7 skills that family caregivers can practice to tolerate the distress that frequently parallels caregiving. The goal is not only to prevent burnout, but to enrich the…
November 21, 2023 · 3 min read
BodyThe Silent Struggle: Unveiling 6 Stages of Caregiver Burnout
The family caregiver chooses a path of profound commitment. It can be entwined with love, sacrifice, and relentless dedication or shaped by duty and obligation. Whatever the reason, caregiving often brings an abundance…
November 14, 2023 · 4 min read
MindHow Was I Going to Put Care into Myself? My Journey Out of Caregiver Fatigue.
I remember the first time someone mentioned the term “Caregiving Fatigue” to me. It was after a social media post I made where I was sharing a vulnerable
November 7, 2023 · 5 min read
CommunityCaregiving Almost Broke Me — Becoming a Caregiver Transformed Me.
This is our origin
November 1, 2023 · 2 min read