Hope for the Caregiver

Aaron Tornquist (43) lives with Down Syndrome and is an Elvis Tribute Artist. For Elvis's 87 birthday (January 8) - I invited Aaron to return to the program and share his story.

Rabbi Eric Walker joined me again to talk about the questions we ask when faced with challenging circumstances.  Check out his website at www.ignitinganation.com    

"Happy New Year" can often feel perfunctory and even meaningless in the caregiving world. Most of us know that January 1, 2, 3, etc., usually brings the same challenges of the previous week – and even year (s). Yet, although our responsibilities may not change, we can. While many fall into the trap of ambitious but unrealistic New Year's Resolutions (I usually give mine up for Lent), caregivers ca...

Chris and Shelley Snitko struggled to understand what was going on with their 8-year boy who came down with Strep that served as a catalyst for something far worse. While his twin brother also came down with Strep, he went to recover and live a normal life. But AJ didn't.  When they finally learned, it sent them on a painful journey and eventually a path of redemption and restoration that neither...

Thoughts for family caregivers as we start the new year.

Author and Anchor of FoxNews @Night, Shannon Bream, called the show. Shannon discussed the journey she and her husband endured - that helped forge the faith that enabled her to write her NY Times Bestseller, "The Women of the Bible Speak." 

Christmas can be a challenging time for family caregivers. In this bonus episode from our radio program, we offer this to fellow caregivers. 

My long-time friend, Hank Martin, sent me a new Christmas song he recorded - and I shared it on the radio program. Many have heard Hank's voice without knowing it - he sang commercial jingles for many years in New York. One of my best friends in the world, it was a special treat for me to play this beautiful song and have Hank on the program. He told me he'd be up late the night before performing...

A stabbing pain beside my left little toe once prompted a visit to a podiatrist. "You have bunion by your left big toe." He stated flatly. "I know about my bunion; I named it 'Paul,'" I replied with a laugh. "But it doesn't hurt. The pain is on the other side of my foot. "You don't understand," he responded. "The defect of the bunion causes the pain you feel." Patiently explaining, he added, "The...

I want to introduce our newest sponsor: HEAT TRAK.  These are heated mats that can be left out all winter long - that help keep you and your loved one SAFE while getting in and out of the car, walking on the deck, or going to the mailbox. Coupon code:    Caregiver  What about your business or church - are the entryways safe, dry, and stable?  With Heat Trak, they can be!  www.heattrak.com   and us...

Rabbi Eric Walker called the program to discuss Hanukkah - and what caregivers can learn from the "festival of lights." Learn more about Eric Walker at www.ignitinganation.com  

Do you ever listen to talk radio or cable news when the panel starts to argue? The voices become an unsettling "wall of noise," and most change the channel in seconds. If we're annoyed by talking heads shouting over politics, imagine the unsettledness of those with cognitive issues engaging in or listening to arguments. When dealing with someone with an impairment, all kinds of subjects fly into t...

As a caregiver, do you like shopping?  Do you enjoy traffic, crowds, lines, etc?  Here's a suggestion that I worked out for fellow caregivers.  Get all your shopping done at MyPillow.com and use the promo code: caregiver  You'll get a special discount on EVERYTHING on the site! 

One of my all-time favorite calls to the program! Henry and I discussed Sweet Tea - and his journey as a caregiver. 

Author and parent of a special needs son, Stephanie Hubach called the program. Stephanie is also a research fellow in disability ministries at Covenant Theological Seminary. Her new book is titled: Parenting & Disabilities - Abiding in God's Presence.  www.stephaniehubach.com  Hope for the Caregiver is the family caregiver outreach of Standing With Hope., and is heard weekly on more than 220 stati...

For as long as I can remember, when my father arrived home from reserve duty in the military, he brought each of my brothers and my sister a pack of M & M's. Extending past his service as a naval officer, he and my mother continued the tradition when we returned from college. Each time we showed up with our luggage (sometimes filled with dirty laundry), we'd walk into our rooms to find a bag of M&...

In 1906, a young woman named Adelaide A. Pollard felt called to the mission field in Africa - but struggled to raise funds. At a service one evening, she heard someone reference Jeremiah 18 and state, "Have Thy Own Way."  While disappointment over not going abroad as a missionary, weighed heavily on her heart, the hymn HAVE THY OWN WAY that Adelaide penned during that time continues to touch the l...

It's often repeated, "We demand justice for others but mercy for ourselves." Despite all our technological advances, the human condition remains fraught with one-sided grievances. In my journey, I notice that the shortcomings of others appear in 20/20 focus, while I ashamedly apply a much softer filter to my own. Blaming others for disappointments is easy – and even justifiable. Yet, I learned bit...

"Now a man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. Jesus, upon seeing this man lying  there  and knowing that he had already been  in that condition  for a long time …" John 5: 5-6   While one of the most familiar passages in the Bible, the story of Jesus meeting this man now carries a more profound significance to Gracie and me. Scripture records the man's plight as lasting 38 years.  ...

A listener to my program recently wrote me about drama with her family.  "My family lives out of state but complains I am not taking care of my 96-year-old mom, who lives alone by choice. While I help her, she will not authorize a power of attorney for health care. She has no significant medical problems, yet my family is ridiculously harsh towards me and accuses me of things, not my responsibilit...

From our nationally syndicated broadcast 11-13-2021 www.hopeforthecaregiver.com  

"My 93-year-old mother doesn't suffer from dementia but is so mean to me. How do I make her happy while caring for her? I've been sober for 6 years, and she makes me want to start drinking again." Terri in Texas called the radio program with an all too common problem: "How do I make her happy?" Answering Terri on the air, I shared that, "Your responsibility is not to make your mother happy, but to...

A recent caller to my radios program shared her journey as a caregiver. Combat-related PTSD led her military son down some dark paths—including drugs and alcohol, and his family disintegrated. This grandmother found herself with an impaired son and vulnerable grandchildren. When considering the word "caregiver," most think of caring for the elderly. Yet many kinds of caregivers exist—and each of t...

Legend has it that Augustus Toplady took shelter during a storm in a fissure he discovered in a large rock wall. The visual stuck with him and led him to write the first line of one of the most familiar hymns in Church history. "Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me." We discussed this and more in our broadcast that aired on 11/6/2021.  If you find this podcast meaningful, please consider sharing it with oth...

Every caregiver recalls moments when harsh words leapt from our mouths—words we desperately wish we could reclaim. Emotions often churn in our hearts like a blender on puree, and, for caregivers, the top seems to easily fly off and create a mess. Whether expressing frustration or just reaching a boiling point, we can quickly find ourselves spewing our words like a firehose—often destructively. Arg...