Hope for the Caregiver

After a recent program, a friend asked me to delve into the subject of caregivers, anger, and lashing out.  Given the recent incident at the Academy Awards with Will Smith striking out at Chris Rock, the timing for this topic seemed appropriate.  

Jodi Kay Benusco calls the program and shares insights gleaned from years as a Social Worker and seasoned Inpatient Discharge Planner at a Level II inpatient hospital.  

In the FOG of caregivers, (fear, obligation, and guilt), many find themselves frozen in fear - and let's face it, there remain plenty of fear-worthy things in the caregiving journey. How do we face those things?  For me, I look to those who faced fear and borrow their courage.  Who's courage do you borrow? 

Caregivers need legal protection and counsel, but the cost can be astronomical – for even small legal matters.  Or is it?    You are two clicks away from expert legal protection that's reliable – and affordable. CLICK HERE to Start!   Then just select the plan that works for your needs!  With  LegalShield,  finding solutions to your legal issues doesn't have to be stressful, complicated, or expens...

On my recent broadcast, I discussed the term, "public servants" and the specific caregivers who really define that term. 

Award-winning songwriter and two-time Grammy Nominee Archie Jordan called the show to discuss caregiving, music, his long friendship with BJ Thomas, and many more things in this special interview.  Some of the many hits from Archie include, What a Difference You Made In My Life, It Was Almost Like A Song , He's The Hand on My Shoulder , You Gave Me Love When Nobody Gave Me a Prayer ...and many mor...

Chronic Pain.  The struggle to care for someone with chronic pain causes extensive challenges for family caregivers.  Dr. Roland Flores called the show today to discuss this topic, as well as acute pain, opioids, benzodiazepines - and what he'd like for family caregivers to know.  Roland Flores, MD, Anesthesiology, Associate Professor, University of Colorado, School of Medicine    IF you find this...

I must. I'm supposed to. I have to. I should.  When repeatedly hearing these words come out of your mouth, you might be caught in the obligation trap.  www.hopeforthecaregiver.com  

Noise bombards us every day. Traffic, 24-hour news, our mobile devices, and a host of other things forms a wall of sound that keeps many of us in a state of agitation. For caregivers, taking a moment to sit quietly and settle our hearts down seems nearly impossible. But if we don't take time for stillness, we're going to have to make time for illness. The constant state of anxiety, stress, and sen...

Hope for the Caregiver airs each week on 220+ signals. This show first aired on 2/26/2022. Today's show features an opening monologue about Caregiving versus Caregiver. Also, a surgeon caught me by surprise with this question. Later on in the program, a special interview with one of the founders of crowd funders GIVE SEND GO, and a special song from Gracie.

From YOUR CAREGIVER MINUTE The morning of the most extensive surgery my wife's ever faced, we both felt (understandably) a bit nervous. Sitting in the pre-op area, I observed a flurry of medical staff work efficiently to prepare Gracie for what would be a 9-hour surgery – and her 82nd operation (that I can count). When the neurosurgeon arrived, I noticed a tangible enthusiasm about him. Clapping h...

The stress and heartache has GOT to go someplace - how do you process it out as a caregiver?  From our broadcast 2/19/2022.  Plus a song from Gracie.  www.hopeforthecaregiver.com  

From our national broadcast 2/19/2022. Updates, News, and an easy chorus for caregivers to remember. 

The morning of Gracie's recent surgery in Denver, I called a Lyft ride (like I've done for years!). We'd had a lot of snow and ice, and I opened the door to the car - only to have part of the trim that was frozen to the car come off. I picked it up and put it in the car- and then he took me to the hospital where Gracie was already being prepped for surgery.  Later that afternoon, I got a message o...

Much of the heartache I've endured as a caregiver results from my unwillingness to accept things as they are. Fighting to change things I remain powerless to change has only made it harder for me – and sadly, others. A friend once told me that acceptance doesn't mean agreement. I may not like what I carry or witness, but I can accept that it is what it is – and be calmer while enduring it. That's...

Dark thoughts often grip us as caregivers when struggling with loneliness and isolation. We fearfully plead for someone to tell us what to do, where to go, how to cope, or why this is happening. Our oldest son fell and lacerated his chin when just a toddler, and I held him still while he received stitches. I'll never forget the look of terror in his eyes and his screams as he endured what, for him...

Yes, I actually named this one ...and there's a good reason. 

When someone we love is hurting, suffering, or impaired, we often heroically leap to action and fight the danger. Although a good trait in an emergency, it's unsustainable in the marathon of caregiving. Unlike trauma, caregiving requires a different approach. In trauma, the clock is the adversary, but it's the calendar in caregiving. Emergency circumstances require immediate action, but hasty move...

A friend shared this simple task to do when it feels like everything is flying apart.  I'm trying it today - and invite you to do the same.  www.hopeforthecaregiver.com  

A Bowl of Soup and a Kind Word During a challenging hospital stay for my wife, friends called and asked me to stop by their home. After doing laundry, I swung by their house while returning to the hospital. Smiling at the puzzled look on my face, they directed me to the kitchen table, where a single place setting awaited. "Your in-laws are caring for your boys, and the hospital staff is caring for...

From our national broadcast (1/15/2022)

Healthiness In Your Hands The neediness of an infirmed loved one frequently obscures a caregiver's fatigue, stress, and dangerous health patterns. Moreover, even if noticing the caregiver's exhaustion and strain, the warning signs can often go unheeded. Usually armed only with love and a sense of responsibility, caregivers recklessly deplete themselves physically and emotionally while caring for a...

When storms loom, media outlets often show footage of people placing plywood on homes and businesses and hunkering down. Caregiving is its own storm. Although sometimes receiving advance notice, caregiving can often descend like a tornado – and last a lifetime. If cameras followed caregivers, many' daily activities might resemble the frantic bustle of those boarding up homes and businesses. Imagin...

Many caregivers struggle with decades-old promises to make sure to "…never put Mom in a nursing home." When making that promise, most recall healthier times where the thought of going into a facility seemed far in the horizon. Reality sneaks up on the best of us, and we find ourselves faced with uncomfortable circumstances. The tether of the promise can quickly transform to a noose around the neck...

Watching a documentary on PBS, I was surprised to hear this hymn through the video. It's one of my favorites, and it has a great message in it for family caregivers.