caregiver online support

Caregiver School: Session 5

Today’s animated video is about Frustration, which is the 3rd F in the “3 F’s of Flipping Out”. It’s a little less than seven minutes in length. We discuss some of the issues that cause caregivers to experience frustration, but most importantly we talk about strategies that could help reduce your feelings of exasperation, annoyance and aggravation.

Spoiler Alert: I encourage you to set boundaries, be selective about the people with whom you share your feelings and do some things that bring you a little pleasure.

Click here to watch: “3F’s of Flipping Out” – FRUSTRATION

Caregiver School: Session #4

Today we continue the topic of Caregiver Anger. I’m including links to two animated videos about Fatigue, which is the first “F” in the “3-F’s of Flipping Out”. The first video is a very funny short cartoon based on a whacky plan a dear elderly woman shared with me two years ago when I spoke at caregiving conference in Wisconsin.

The second one is almost 9 minutes in length, so you might want to grab a cup of coffee and find a comfy place to rest while you watch it.

Afterward, think about the practical steps you could take to restore your energy. If you don’t have friends or family who can give you a […]

Caregiver School: Session #3

Today’s animated video, “Why Am I Angry?” is about 7 minutes in length. I think you’ll love the little characters, and I’m pretty sure you will identify with the reasons professional and family caregivers get angry.

It helps to understand that anger is a normal and predictable response to situations over which we have little or no control. So as a caregiver, it’s not a question about whether you will get mad (because you will).

The question is how you’ll choose to handle it. This video will walk you through the first two steps of developing an attitude of Creative Indifference toward anger. Tomorrow’s video will help you develop an action plan. I hope you’ll take the […]

Welcome to Day 2 of Caregiver School

Today’s video is about 5 minutes in length. Alex and I discuss the three steps to developing an “Attitude of Creative Indifference” toward the emotional stress of caregiving. The steps are:

1. Become AWARE of the specific issues that cause you
the greatest amount of emotional stress

2. ACCEPT: You are human and you are coping with situations that are complicated and extremely difficult to manage

3. ACT! Take charge of the things you can change. Release the things over which you have no power, influence, or control

Click here to watch: Intro to Creative Indifference

Welcome to Day One of Caregiver School. Every morning you will receive a link to a video that will help you understand and cope with the emotional stress of caregiving. Some of the videos are animated and instructional. Some are excerpts from live presentations and they are more like a scene from a one-woman play.

Today’s video is “Meet Madelyn”. It’s almost eight minutes in length. I hope you’ll find the time to fix a cup of coffee and join me as I “become” my mother and talk about how maintaining a “detached” attitude is the key to surviving the stress of caregiving.

If you can’t find the time to watch, the take-away message is that an “Attitude of Creative Indifference” can help you avoid becoming emotionally ravaged by the […]

I woke up this morning thinking about all of our grandkids who will be starting back to school this month. As I reflected on how the things they learn will impact their lives, I decided this week would be a great time to start Caregiver School.

The first assignment is a self-assessment test. Go through it quickly and keep track of how many statements resonate with you.

___It’s hard for me to find time to do things I like to do. I have given up a lot of activities I used to enjoy.

___I have trouble sleeping, and I frequently wake up feeling tired and dreading the day ahead.

___I feel like I’ve lost touch with a lot of my friends.

___ I have […]