As a caregiver, it's important to be organized and keep track of important documents related to your role. These documents can help you provide better care for your loved one, ensure that their wishes are followed, and provide peace of mind for both you and your aging parent. Here are some important documents that caregivers should have:

1. Medical records: Medical records provide essential information about an aging parent's health history, current conditions, medications, and allergies. It's important to keep these records up-to-date and easily accessible in case of an emergency or a visit to the doctor.
   
2. Legal documents: Legal documents such as a power of attorney, living will, or healthcare proxy can help ensure that your loved one's wishes are followed in case they become unable to make decisions for themselves. These documents can also provide guidance for caregivers regarding decisions related to medical care and end-of-life issues.
   
3. Financial documents: Financial documents such as bank statements, bills, and insurance policies can help a caregiver manage their loved one's finances and ensure bills are paid on time. It's important to have a clear understanding of your loved one's financial situation to avoid any surprises and plan accordingly.
   
4. Caregiver agreements: A caregiver agreement is a written contract between the caregiver and the person receiving care. This agreement can outline the scope of services to be provided, the payment terms, and any other expectations or responsibilities.
   

Having these documents organized and easily accessible can help caregivers provide better care for their aging parent, ensure that their wishes are followed, and prevent any surprises. It's important to make sure these documents are regularly reviewed and updated as needed.

Now, check out these additional resources.

As our loved ones age, it can become necessary to find a caregiver to help them with daily tasks or medical needs. The process of choosing the right caregiver for an aging parent can be challenging, and it's important to carefully consider all the options before making a decision.

One option is to hire a professional caregiver or home health aide. These individuals are trained and experienced in providing care for seniors, and they can provide valuable assistance with tasks such as bathing, dressing, and medication management. Professional caregivers can work full-time or part-time, depending on your needs and budget.

Another option is to enlist the help of family members or friends. This can be a more cost-effective solution than hiring a professional caregiver, and it can provide your aging parent with the emotional support and companionship they need. However, it's important to ensure that family caregivers are compensated and have the necessary skills and abilities to provide safe and effective care.

You may also want to consider an adult daycare program. These programs provide a safe and social environment for seniors during the day, while allowing their family members to work or attend to other responsibilities. Adult daycare programs offer a range of activities and services, including meals, medication management, and counseling services.

Finally, you may want to consider assisted living facilities or nursing homes. These facilities provide 24-hour care and support for seniors who can no longer live independently. They offer a wide range of services and amenities, and can provide a safe and supportive environment for aging parents.

Choosing a caregiver for an aging parent can be a difficult decision, but there are many options to consider. These include hiring a professional caregiver, enlisting the help of family members or friends, considering an adult daycare program, or looking into assisted living facilities or nursing homes. It's important to carefully evaluate each option and choose the one that best meets the needs of your aging parent and your family.

Click the buttons below for resources and more information.

With summer here and temperatures rising, it is important to understand the health risks of excessive heat and recognize the signs of heat-related illness. Being hot for too long can be a problem. It can cause several illnesses, all grouped under the name hyperthermia.

These factors can increase your risk of hyperthermia:

• Not drinking enough fluids.
• Reduced sweating caused by medications such as diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers, and certain heart and blood pressure drugs.
• High blood pressure or other health conditions that require changes in diet. People on salt-restricted diets may be at increased risk; however, salt pills should not be used without first consulting a doctor.
• Use of multiple medications. It is important, however, to continue to take prescribed medication and discuss possible problems with a physician.
• Age-related changes to the skin, such as poor blood circulation and inefficient sweat production.
• Heart, lung, and kidney diseases, as well as any illness that causes general weakness or fever.
• Being substantially overweight or underweight.
• Lack of mobility and access to transportation.
• Living in housing without air conditioning.
• Overdressing, especially in synthetic materials.

Understanding how to respond to hot weather conditions can help lower your risk of hyperthermia. Learn more about hot weather safety for older adults on NIA’s webpage and watch this video about exercising safely in hot weather.

Grief is bound to affect each one of us at some point in our live. It's normal.  It's ok.  Can be very different from person to person.  And is so complex, in fact, that Elizabeth Kübler-Ross' original five stages of grief has evolved into seven.

Check out this article, written by Kimberly Holland, that walks through the five and seven stages, with examples.

Life blindsided our family in the fall of 2018 when my wife, Pat, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that quickly progressed to stage IV. After a torturous 17-month journey of tests, chemotherapy, ER visits, surgeries, extended hospital stays, and clinical trials, Pat went to her heavenly home. But the chaos pancreatic cancer tried to create could not steal our joy of life, kill our faith or destroy our hope for the future.
My bride of over 35 years blessed us with three terrific children. They, in turn, have blessed us with seven grandchildren, ranging in age from 9 to 1 year old. Close geographic proximity and strong relationships allowed us to help care for our six oldest grandchildren together before cancer took Pat’s life in 2020. It is one of the greatest blessings we have ever had. Our grandchildren truly stole our hearts.
I learned a few key lessons from caring for our grandkids that helped me care for my beautiful spouse. Now, I am absolutely not implying to ever treat an adult like a child. Adults who need assistance in daily life deserve respect, dignity and the ability to maintain some type of independence. They have feelings, thoughts and opinions that must always be considered. However, beginning-of-life and end-of-life care share some characteristics.

It’s not easy being a caregiver for a sick or elderly parent or relative. Nor is it cheap.
Family caregivers provide an estimated $470 billion worth of free care to loved ones, according to the Wall Street Journal, and spend an average 26% of their personal income on caregiving expenses.
A third of caregivers use their own personal savings to pay the bills. Twelve percent take out loans or borrow from others.
It’s such a financially perilous situation that AARP’s own caregiving expert, Amy Goyer, filed for bankruptcy protection in 2019 as a result of attending to the needs of her ailing parents.
She simply ran out of cash after more than a decade looking after her mother, who had a stroke, and her father, who had Alzheimer’s.

Are you ready to get active and want some fresh air while you do it? To stay safe while exercising outdoors, it is important to be prepared. NIA has put together videos and tip sheets to help older adults stay safe while exercising outdoors.  This video provides guidance on things to remember when preparing to exercise outdoors. 

Deciding to become physically active is one of the best things you can do for your health. Exercise and physical activity are not only great for your mental and physical health, but they can also help you stay independent as you age. If you want to get started with exercise, start slow and consider talking to a doctor about the exercises and activities that are best for you. A few questions you might ask are:

• Do I have any health conditions that might affect my ability to exercise?
• Are there any exercises or activities I should avoid?
• Is my preventive care up to date?

Caregivers are often advised to seek help to lessen the caregiving workload. For many individuals, the natural place to turn for such help is family. Family Caregiver Alliance’s Holding a Family Meeting fact sheet provides information on how to approach the subject, advice on creating an agenda, lists key points to consider discussing, and explains potential conflicts that may arise.

Here's a great article to read that gives eight tips on how to provide assistance — and help yourself, if you are experiencing caring for a loved one while retired or are anticipating this scenario in the near future.
This quick read, written by Richard Eisenberg, hits on some of those high points and gives a bit of healthy advice in the process.

When the level of care needed by an ailing or elder person exceeds what can be provided at home, residential housing is often a next step. But how do you sort through the variety of options available and choose the correct level of care?

Family Caregiver Alliance's infographic “5 Types of Residential Care” reveals the five types of outside-the-home care found in most urban and suburban communities, and what to expect from each. Learn which options are best suited for an individual’s wants or needs, including:

• Smaller, more homey environments
• Apartment-like residential communities
• Facilities offering memory and dementia care
• Facilities offering 24-hour nursing supervision

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis, free help is immediately available.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, via phone, text and online chat, offering people compassionate care and support from trained crisis counselors for individuals, families or their loved ones. One does not have to be suicidal to call 988 but can reach out when experiencing any behavioral health crisis. 988 call services are available in English and Spanish, along with interpretation services in more than 150 languages. Texting 988 and online chat are currently available only in English. Veterans and military service members can call 988 and press “1” to connect with the Veterans Crisis Line.

November 9, 2022 | 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM PST | Online
 
November is National Family Caregivers Month.
 
Caregiving can feel at times like a thankless job. This November, we celebrate those who lovingly take on extra everyday tasks for those who may not be able to do so for themselves. Whether it's bathing; cleaning; cooking; shopping; or comforting family or the friends we consider family, caregivers need our support too. These individuals often dedicate much of their free time caring for others. This workshop will take a closer look at resources available to those who give that extra care, as well as offer tips for self-care, advocacy, and ways to de-stress.
 
Virtual Presentation via Zoom
Audience: Caregivers and Friends & Family of Caregivers
Duration: 45 Minutes
Hosted by: Glenn Ellis, MPH, CHCE
 
To register for this event, click the button below.

November 8, 2022 | 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM PST | Online
 
For centuries, we've known that the health of the brain and the body are connected. But now, science is able to provide insights into how to make lifestyle choices that may help you keep your brain and body healthy as you age. Join us to learn about research in the areas of diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement, and use hands-on tools to help you incorporate these recommendations into a plan for healthy aging.
 
To register, click the button below.

October 26, 2022 | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST | Online
 
Maintaining a balance between taking care of loved ones and setting healthy boundaries for yourself can be challenging. Learn how to express your own needs without guilt, strike a healthy balance between caregiving and self-care, and tips for negotiating compromises with a licensed therapist.
 
Fine print: Certificates of attendance are provided at no cost. CEUs are not provided. Everyone who registers will receive the webinar recording & resource info 24 hours after the live event.
 
About the instructor: Jaymi Dormaier is a Licensed Master Social Worker with ten years of experience in the mental health field. In Jaymi's career as a social worker and therapist she has worked with diverse populations focusing on anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, foster care, adoption, homelessness, and addiction. She is passionate about helping others live a life they love.
 
To register for this webinar, click the button below.