I was pleased to guest on this podcast and chat caregiving:
http://www.awkwardstory.com/blog/dementia-and-caregiving-stories
Media
Professional or Private Care?
The Summer, 2019 issue of Caregiver Solutions Magazine includes my article weighing the options of hiring professional or private care for seniors and their family caregivers:
http://publications.caregiversolutions.ca/publication/?i=588869&article_id=3391039&view=articleBrowser#{%22issue_id%22:588869,%22view%22:%22articleBrowser%22,%22article_id%22:%223391039%22}.
A Plea to Caregivers; Don’t Go it Alone
As a caregiver helping or supporting someone you love, do you go it alone, request assistance from others, or wait (hopefully) for outside offers of help? Caregivers, typically, choose the independent path for various reasons: a sense of obligation or responsibility for their loved one; a resistance to hand over their parent to another person to provide necessary care; an embarrassment to ask for help; or a preference to keep this type of personal matter quiet. Furthermore, family caregivers can also believe that working independently is the only answer as there are limited resources available to help them.
Please read more in my Caregiver’s Coach column in The Edmonton Prime Times newspaper:
https://www.edmontonprimetimes.com/article/a-plea-to-caregivers-dont-go-it-alone-20190130 .
Keep Calm and Caregive On
We all know that providing care for a loved one can be difficult. Even if we might be happy to help a friend or family member in need, caregiving can still take its toll. It can be physically demanding causing body tension and pain. It can also be emotionally draining led by the stress of seeing the person you care for deteriorate. With an overflowing plate of newfound responsibilities, caregivers are kept running with – seemingly – little time to rest. Despite this, caregivers continue providing care.
Keep calm and caregive on … sounds counterintuitive, right? Caregivers can often overlook two important points – both of which can make the job of helping and supporting an ill or aging senior much easier and more enjoyable.
Join author, Rick Lauber, for his Huddol webinar, as he discusses the crucial concepts of taking respite (or including some type of personal escape from caregiving) and finding joy in caregiving. Respite provides people with a short period of relief of their daily struggles or stressors. Taking time for yourself will allow you to improve your mental and physical wellness to make you ready to get back in the caregiving game. Finding the joys in caregiving may take some time; however, these are not completely invisible.
Interview with Mandy Eve-Barnett
I enjoyed chatting with fellow author, Mandy Eve-Barnett recently for her blog … here is our interview: https://mandyevebarnett.com/tag/rick-lauber/,
Love With the Proper Senior
Holiday Caregiving – Saying “Yes” to Saying “No” – On the Front Lines of Caregiving
A Caregiver’s Worry Guide – Caregiver Solutions Magazine
“We all have personal concerns, including family baggage and difficult situations to sort out, when we take on the responsibility of caring for someone else. Inevitably, there are short- and long-term decisions to be made, preferences to be considered and issues that arise on all fronts—and time is sometimes of the essence. Learning to pick our battles and choosing how to respond in the pressure of the moment is both an art and a science for busy caregivers. However, there are some matters that should take priority. Here are some of our top-down thoughts on when to sound the alarms, when to take decisive action and when to simply walk away to keep the peace.”
Please read more in my article in the Caregiver Solutions Magazine: http://www.caregiversolutions.ca/caregiving/a-caregivers-worry-guide/.
Introducing the Caregiver Coach
I am delighted to join The Edmonton and Calgary Prime Times newspapers as a regular columnist! Each month, I will discuss caregiving issues, share current news. provide helpful resources for caregivers, and more. This is my first column: http://www.edmontonprimetimes.com/.
Letter to the Editor: Demographic shifts affect us all
Read Demographic shifts affect us all at the Globe and Mail.
Reviews
Caregiver's Guide for Canadians
A superbly written and well documented book that guides the reader through typical eldercare issues provided by professional and private caregivers. Rick Lauber is a Canadian author who offers a comprehensive guide to care of our loved ones in their "greying" years, including resources, checklists, and worksheets. The author packs this little gem with practical advice such as wills, trusteeships, guardianships, driving and home safety, mobility aids, hospital visits, accommodation, travel, demographic charts, ideas for gifts, special occasions, the best times to visit one's loved one, activities and support groups, finances, and much more. There is also a section on avoiding burnout. This invaluable book is a must for the one in five Canadians who are providing or will provide care to an elderly parent.
— Kenna McKinnon