Hope for the Caregiver

The road for us as caregivers can get a bit dicey. On the show today, I discussed a particularly treacherous road we traveled, and the lesson learned. From our radio broadcast MAY 15 2021 www.hopeforthecaregiver.com  

Rayna Neises  lost both of her parents to Alzheimer's Disease twenty years apart.  After her season of caring for her dad through his journey, she founded A Season of Caring Coaching where she offers encouragement, support, and resources so other caregivers do not find themselves aimlessly wandering through this important season of life.    

We hammer this issue regularly, because caregivers repeatedly find themselves struggling with guilt.  This usually occurs due to the "Caregiver FOG" (Fear, Obligation, and Guilt). In the disorienting caregiver FOG, caregivers mistakenly feel guilty for even thinking of their own needs.  In addition, they easily lose themselves and their identity in the drama and chaos of their loved ones. When tha...

A caller to the show struggled with a problem many are facing:  how to handle someone with dementia. In her case, it involved the family finances. "My husband has Parkinson's and dementia but yesterday he spent $1,400 in the stock market. Should I just give him grace?"  Our topic for this show was "grace." But sometimes, we misapply grace when boundaries would serve us (and our loved ones) better....

Compassion Radio's Bram Floria interviewed me for a two part series on the family caregiver.  compassionradio.com

Detaching from the poor conduct of an impaired loved one remains one of the toughest challenges for family caregivers. Sometimes the behavioral issues stem from chronic pain, dementia, pharmaceuticals or fear—maybe they're just having a bad day. Regardless of why, we don't have to take it personally—even if it sounds personal.

We all volunteer to serve as caregivers. Sadly, some people abandon a spouse, parent, or even a child ...they have that choice. Although feeling obligated may drive so much of it, you're still serving. Isn't that worth celebrating something extraordinary about you? www.hopeforthecaregiver.com  

During our first full winter in Montana, a friend gave me some of the best advice for the snowy road conditions here in the Treasure State. "Drive at the speed you're comfortable slamming into the ditch at." While laughing at the pointed guidance, I also considered the implications for other areas. As caregivers, we often race around at breakneck speeds—while in treacherous conditions. Relationshi...

Veteran Journalist, Richard Lui (MSNBC, NBC) shares how his journey as a caregiver for his father with Alzheimer's opened a door to understand more of the human condition.  The award-winning news anchor decided to set aside his growing career to care for family. Selflessness, however, did not come easily. So, Richard set out to explore why he struggled. From a journalist's point of view, he digs i...

Caregivers often berate and judge themselves without mercy over their job performance. In this episode, I invite caregivers to use a different criteria. www.hopeforthecaregiver.com  

From our live radio show on April 17, 2021. Our opening monologue tackles the obligation issue faced by caregivers, and then we step over to the "Caregiver Keyboard" to play the hymn of the day. Our phones lit up with callers who knew the hymn ...and all had moving stories, as well. 

One of the driving missions of our show is to equip caregivers to better navigate the journey of a caregiver. Part of that is attitude. While so much of what we face as caregivers lies beyond our control, our attitude remains firmly in our own hands and heart.  We are as happy or miserable as we choose to be.  There's more at www.hopeforthecaregiver.com  

As caregivers, we often treat ourselves mercilessly when we make mistakes. One of the goals of our show, HOPE FOR THE CAREGIVER, is to equip caregivers to "get back up on the horse."  We're going to fall. We're going to fail. We're going to get it wrong. And, we'll get criticism from family, friends, the loved one we care for, and ourselves.  Listen to the show each week on American Family Radio (...

From our radio broadcast, a special message (and bonus song) for family caregivers. 

Gracie recorded this beloved hymn that reminds us all of our hope of salvation.  https://hopeforthecaregiver.com/music/ In Romans 6:23, Paul states that "...the wages of sin is death." In Hebrews 9:22, we learn  "...And according to the law almost everything must be cleansed with blood; without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." G od provided a way ...and that's what we commemorate on...

John and I were joined by Denny Brownlee (Humor Actor / Voice Actor / Writer) Denny Brownlee. www.dennyvoices.com   Denny discussed finding his role in caring for his mother, and value humor continues to bring.  We also featured more "John Butler" and a special guest joined us at the end of the show.  Our "After show" dialogue was so much fun we added that following the show closing.  <

One of the vivid lessons we've experienced in the COVID-19 pandemic is the heartbreak of not being able to hug, shake hands, or physically connect with loved ones.  Imagine that as a permanent condition.  This was our plight ...until Christ. That's the message we discuss in this episode from our radio broadcast. 

Struggling with fear remains one of the most difficult things for family caregivers. We discussed this on our broadcast recently and asked callers to share their stories. 

How we deal with fear remains one of the bigger challenges for family caregivers. All too often, our loneliness and isolation foster so many dark thoughts and fears that we can become paralyzed ...or worse.  In this special episode, John and  I delve into this topic with our usual goofy selves .,..and in a way that helps shed some light into dark places for caregivers.  www.hopeforthecaregiver.com...

Attorney Jason Neufeld joined the show to discuss Elder Law ( ElderNeedsLaw.com ), Medicaid, and Special Needs Trusts.  From protecting your assets to providing for a special needs family member, Jason breaks down the steps, goals, and pathways towards healthier finances for caregivers and their families.   https://www.elderneedslaw.com/medicaid-planning-attorney

"...A time to weep and a time to laugh," Eccl. 3:4 As caregivers, we certainly weep enough ...but do we laugh? You will while listening to this episode!

Even if an alcoholic or addict is in recovery, addiction is chronic impairment - requiring a lifetime of pushing against it and working some sort of recovery program. Wherever one finds a chronic impairment, there's always a caregiver. For those in a relationship with an alcoholic or addict (prescription or illicit drug use),, boundaries remain critical part of that caregiver's life. Caregivers ha...

Al Kushner, author of The Savvy Guide to Buying Burial Insurance : What You Need to Know Before You Meet With Your Agent  calls the show and provides great tips and insights that help make this important decision a lot easier.  www.hopeforthecaregiver.com    

As caregivers, we often find ourselves in NUMEROUS doctor's offices. Sometimes, those meetings are unproductive, or worse ...go sideways. When I recorded this some years ago, more than 60 doctors had treated my wife. The numbers grown to more than 100 ...but these three principles remain critical for ensuring successful physician appointments. For more help on your journey as a caregiver, get my b...

I picked the topic, but callers took it in a much different direction. From vaccines to mourning, this show hit a pile of topics.  www.hopeforthecaregiver.com