The number of unpaid family caregivers in the United States now tops 65 million

The Secret Caregivers

The Secret Caregivers

By Gail Sheehy, May & June 2010

Men care for their loved ones more often than we know. Why do they hide it? Inside their silent burdens and bittersweet rewards

The number of unpaid family caregivers in the United States now tops 65 million, involving more than three in ten households, according to "Caregiving in the U.S. 2009," a report conducted by the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) in collaboration with AARP, and funded by the MetLife Foundation. Despite a common stereotype that caregiving is women's work, one third of American caregivers are men, the report reveals.

NFCA, National Family Caregivers Association

The National Family Caregivers Association educates, supports, empowers and speaks up for the more than 50 million Americans who care for loved ones with a chronic illness or disability or the frailties of old age. NFCA reaches across the boundaries of diagnoses, relationships, and life stages to help transform family caregivers' lives by removing barriers to health and well being.

Membership is free to family caregivers, and includes a quarterly, e-mailed newsletter. For those who would rather receive a print copy of the newsletter, NFCA offers an upgraded, Family Caregiver Plus membership at the special introductory rate of $10/year. Click here to join on-line.

NORCs | naturally occurring retirement communities

There are some federally funded programs to bring services to what are called NORCs, or naturally occurring retirement communities. For instance, in Philadelphia and New York City a van with a nurse will come to a building that has a large population of elderly people and provide health services on the spot. Similarly, intentional communities, driven by consumer involvement, bring the services of a retirement community to seniors in their homes. Beacon Hill Village in Boston is an example. Both are examples of trying to let seniors age in place.
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Robin Gerber is the author of Barbie and Ruth, the biography of Ruth Handler, the founder of Mattel Toys and creator of Barbie.

Caregivers-in-Waiting: Boomers Struggle to Map Out Plans for Aging Parent s By: Robin Gerber

Grief is a natural part of life–and change–any change can trigger grief.

Grief Starts Early With Alzheimer’s, Ways to Honor The Grief Process «

Ways to Honor Our Grief:

* Take some photographs. See the beauty in vein-riddled hands and silver-white hair. There’s a sense of beauty that comes with aging, I liken it to the beauty and intricacy of a spider’s web. Even when the photographs reveal the ravages of time and disease, there’s something important about acknowledging today–just as it is.

* Dig out some old photographs–baby pictures, grade school, high school, the dating years, wedding photos. Remember who your loved one is–and was. Create a bridge by taking note of each decade, each life event. Display these photos so when grief comes, you can ease its sting by acknowledging what an amazing life journey they’ve had–and you’ve had with them.

* Write letters and share what you’re experiencing. Even if no one ever reads them, you need to write them. Grief is like a suitcase we carry with us–and if we have a place to put it–our thoughts, our worries, our memories–when we write them, we ease our own emotional load.

* Talk to those who share your experience. Call your sister, a cousin, or a friend who has been through a similar situation. Knowing that someone will listen to you, someone you can reminisce with, confide in–makes our grief bearable

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Carol O'Dell's blog speaks to caregivers around the country. Carol offers suggestions, ideas and insights that will help others.

While Carol's blog is supported by Dakim Brain Fitness, Carol is not blogging to promote the Dakim company or products..

Center for Aging Families Blog | Beverly Parsons

Center for Aging Families - Beverly Parsons Bio

Beverly Parsons, LGSW
Licensed Graduate Social Worker

Beverly is a caregiver, who has spent the last decade finding solutions to the thorny and often very difficult and unclear issues that caregivers face. She is a licensed social worker who has 10 years of geriatric care management experience working with caregivers and aging families.

Beverly draws on 30 years of personal and professional training to provide a unique approach of psychotherapy for caregivers and elders, using self-awareness, working with emotions, conversation and presence. Beverly is an adjunct faculty member at the Community College of Baltimore County, Elder Care. She was a research assistant at the National Institute on Aging and was trained by the Alzheimer’s Association as a group facilitator. She is trained in Elder Mediation to assist families in the decision-making process concerning aging issues.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/AgingFamilies

Some times, dealing with AD, Caring-Partner, is worse than a room full of toddlers

Is Alzheimer’s Behavior Driving You Crazy? Keys to Deal with Difficult Alzheimer’s Issues « Mothering Mother and More

An excellent Read:
Carol D. O’Dell’s "Keys to Dealing with Difficult Alzheimer’s Behavior”

Carol is a Jacksonville University graduate, a family advisor at Caring.com She is alo syndicated on OpentoHopeCaregivers.com. visit her website is www.caroldodell.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/caroldodell.