FINDING PURPOSE IN YOUR LIFE AFTER CAREGIVING IS OVER
FINDING PURPOSE IN YOUR LIFE AFTER CAREGIVING IS OVER
Being a family caregiver can be both a full-time job and life’s sole purpose during its duration. One thing is certain, though: The cycle of life continues, and loved ones die.
What then? How do you cope with the void? How do you define a new purpose or reinvigorate an old one? Chris MacLellan, the Bow-Tie Guy, helped me sort it out.
The story of Chris and his partner, Richard, was chronicled as a 2015 Pulitzer Prize winning story in the Sun Sentinel, Florida. It is a story of healing and hope and has been read by almost half a million people. We spoke during an interview for my Caregiver Summit about the issue of what happens after caregiving.
Caregiver Stress May Lead to Those Living with Dementia Dying Sooner – Smilecast 108
Caregiver Stress – Dementia patients may die sooner if family caregivers are mentally stressed
From 2007 until 2016, UC Berkeley researchers tracked the mortality of 176 patients and measured the mental health of the family members who took care of them.
Their findings published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, indicate that patients tended by those with depression, anxiety and other symptoms of mental illness typically died sooner than those being looked after by caregivers in good mental health. Caregiver Stress!
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Our Friday Song of the Week – Start Me Up
Our Friday Song of the Week – Start Me Up
RETHINKING THE AGING PROCESS: 5 STEPS TO CONSCIOUS AGING – Smilecast 107
RETHINKING THE AGING PROCESS: 5 STEPS TO CONSCIOUS AGING
As part of my Caregiver Smile Summit, I have had the pleasure of interviewing more than 50 experts in the health, aging and caregiving fields. Dr. Maria Zayas, a practicing psychologist and a faculty member of the Psychology Department at Brenau University, is one of those experts. Together we explored the topic of conscious aging.
Caregivers Are People Too – Respect Them
It’s Deeper Than Having Purpose – We’re the Stewards of Our Society
Rethinking the Aging Process Starts with Awareness, Slowing Down, Taking Inventory
Pass It Down and Pay It Forward Consciously
Manage Your Stress So You Have Energy for the Journey
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Three Keys to Having a Healthy Body and Mind
Investing in Your Health as You Grow Older
As we age, we expect to feel less well, have less energy and experience more aches and pains. It seems inevitable; after all your body has constantly been working for sixty or seventy years, and like anything, it is bound to suffer a degree of wear and tear. Add to that any effects from a misspent youth, and the stresses and strains you have experienced in your life, and you shouldn’t be too surprised that you don’t feel like running a marathon. Here are some keys in keeping a healthy body and mind.
Make Sure You’re Not Unwell
If you’ve been putting the way you feel down to being older, don’t assume there isn’t anything else going on. Getting a medical check-up is a very wise investment – your doctor may well agree that you’re just slowing down due to your age, but if anything is underlying the way you feel, it’s essential to find out as soon as possible. The sooner an illness can be diagnosed, the better your prognosis. A blood test can show up any deficiencies in your diet that need addressing, and if you get a clean bill of health, you can look at other ways to boost your energy levels.
The Basics of Good Health
If your routine check-up identified any deficiencies in your diet, you need to increase your consumption of foods containing the nutrients you are lacking. For example, if you are short of Vitamin K, start eating more leafy green vegetables. You can also add supplements to your diet, and there’s no shortage of possible choices. Use a reputable supplier and start with a simple broad-spectrum multivitamin and mineral supplement designed for older people. You can monitor how you feel and see if you notice any improvement before trying something else. You could also consider alternative therapies, perhaps a visit to a famous Ayurvedic doctor who specializes in using your inner energies to promote good health. There are numerous practitioners offering therapies that could help you feel better, but be sure to check their credentials and find out about what they are offering before handing over your cash.
Aging may be inevitable, but submitting to the effects is not. You have the power to help yourself live as healthy a life as possible, and if you take some simple steps to look after your wellbeing, you will feel better and thus be able to enjoy your time far more.
