This week. we’re delighted to introduce you to Lucy, a German Shepherd, Shar-Pei cross who lives in Australia with her owner, Sally.

1. Name: Lucy

2. Breed:German Shepherd x Shar-pei

3. Owner: Sally

4. Favorite activity: Playing soccer with her tennis ball and being a “reading dog” to children with reading disabilities

5. Favorite snack: Dried liver

6. Favorite place to nap: On her trampoline

7. A story about how they are important to your caregiving life: My elderly mother lives in the USA (I live in Australia). She recently had a stroke and can no longer verbally communicate, but I keep in touch by sending weekly updates and photos featuring Lucy’s latest antics! My sister reports that Mom enjoys the photos and I’m pleased that the joy that Lucy brings into my life can be shared with others.

Thank you Sally and Lucy for being a part of our extended family!

Editor’s Note: To have YOUR pet featured, please send a photo along with the above information to info@intentionalcaregiver.com.  We’d LOVE to hear from you.

I received a lovely note from one of our readers this morning in response to this week’s newsletter.  In the newsletter, I had mentioned that  some people (myself included this year) find Valentine’s Day difficult due to either not having a sweetheart, being overwhelmed by caregiving duties or in some cases, financial strains.

I wanted to share one line from her note and I hope she doesn’t mind.  It is this: “For many, Valentine’s Day is a day to remember Love . . . current loves, past loves, lost loves, future loves . . . however, most of all the most important Love which is Love of ourselves.”

You know that I am constantly stressing the importance of self-care and self-love so this really resonated with me becomes sometimes I forget to apply that principle to myself!

So, thank you M, for that lovely note and reminder for all of us.  I will hang it on my bulletin board!

Now on to our next topic  and that is our new feature “Our Beloved Pets”.   Pets have become enormously important to families everywhere.  Perhaps it is because we have become so spread out that we’ve lost touch with our nuclear families or perhaps it’s because we’re living longer and don’t have the connections we once had.  Either way, pets play an important role and are often a part of the caregiving experience.

Because this feature is brand new, we haven’t received any pet portraits from our readers.  So I’ll start by sharing about my two schnauzers, Phoebe and Isabella.

BREED: Miniature Schnauzer

OWNER: Me (Shelley)

FAVORITE SNACK:  raw chunks of carrot

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: chasing the ball or for Isabella (and I hate to admit this)-scarfing down chicken poop

FAVORITE NAPPING PLACE:  Phoebe – on the stairs where she can guard the front door; Isabella – right beside any person who will let her lie there

MY STORY:  Towards the very end of my father’s life, he was having trouble breathing.  While we were helping to add more pillows to his bed and making sure the oxygen was working, we happened to glance over and noticed that both dogs were sitting in his favorite recliner in the corner, at attention and looking very concerned.  They knew something was wrong and wanted to make sure “Papa” was alright.

Out pets are amazing creatures and that’s why we want to honor them as caregivers here too.

I’d love for you to send me your pets’ photos and stories to share.

I thought I would just leave this little “gift” up for the remainder of the holidays in case anyone finds it
useful.  But feel free to hop about the site and explore any articles of interest.

To receive your gift, right click on the words “holiday recipes”  BELOW and then click on “Save Target as” to save it in your files.  Be patient because it’s a large file and may take awhile to download.

Merry Christmas!  Happy Holidays!

Shelley

PS Remember that if you need any geriatric care management services, we are here for you!

 In honor of National Family Caregiver Month (which is November), they will be highlighting caregivers and their personal stories.
“ From October 25th to November 11th, we will be accepting story submissions from both professional and home caregivers who devote their time to taking care of an aging adult. We are also accepting story submissions from individuals who want to write on behalf of a professional or family caregiver they know. We want to hear about their experience as a caregiver and the impact it has had on their lives. The submissions will be available on the Seniorhomes.com website for visitors to read, share and vote on.”

*There will be awards!  Every person who submits a story and LIKES their Facebook page will be entered into a weekly gift card drawing.

*If you submit your story by the end of TODAY, October 31st, you will be eligible to win a Flip video camera.

* But there’s more!

• Impactful
• Inspirational
• Heartwarming
• Demonstrative of Flexibility and Forgiveness

If you’d like to share your personal  caregiving story or write about a professional or family caregiver that you feel deserves recognition, you may submit your story HERE.

You can also find out more about the Recogniton Awards HERE

Best of luck!

Your email:

 

National studies have also linked poor sleep to a variety of health issues.

One of the reasons that people do not sleep well at night is because of uncomfortable pillows.

The role of a pillow is two-fold.  It is designed for comfort and to keep your spine in natural alignment by supporting the head neck and back.

On those nights when you are not interrupted by duties of caregiving, a better pillow can mean a better night’s sleep. 

But many folks don’t know what to look for when purchasing a pillow.  Should you choose soft or firm, feather, down or foam?  One thing is for sure: if your pillow is so soft that you need to bend it in half in order to achieve some comfort, then it is too soft.

Pillows can cost anywhere from five dollars up to one hundred dollars and can last anywhere from three years to twenty years depending upon the quality of the pillow.  I don’t imagine that I’d choose a pillow that would last for twenty years as there is a good chance that it will become soiled before then even with the use of pillow protectors.

When choosing a pillow, take into consideration the kind of sleeper the pillow user is.

According to Beth Mack, Chief Merchandizing Officer for Hollander Home Fashions in Boca Raton, Florida, those who sleep on their sides (which is appromimately 79% of the population) require the most support and should choose an extra firm pillow.  Those who sleep on their back (20%) should purchase a medium-firm to firm pillow while a medium density, flatter pillow is best for those who sleep on their stomach (10%). 

Because 70% of the population are side-sleepers, a supportive, extra firm pillow might be best for guest bedrooms.  Also keep in mind that the best pillow may not always be the largest.

When purchasing a pillow, also take into mind that there are hypoallergenic pillows.  Many folks believe that down and feather pillows are never hypoallergenic but according to Linda Howard, vice president of sales for Pacific Coast Feather states that if the down and feathers are washed correctly, then there is not a problem. 

Memory foam pillows have also become popular and work by molding themselves to the contours of your body.  “Open-cell” memory foam also allows air flow which keeps the pillow from becoming as warm (which may be of benefit to pre-menopausal and menopausal women).  Memory foam cannot be washed though so it’s of benefit to use a zippered pillow protector with this type of pillow.

Other pillows can be washed if they are of higher quality.  Check the labels before laundering. 

While suggesting that pillows may help to prevent Alzheiemr’s Disease might be a bit of a stretch, it’s till nice to be educated on how to get a better sleep with a little pillow talk. 

Sweet dreams!

References: Spine-health.com. MedicineNet.com, Costco Connections magazine – October 2011

Photo courtesy of MS Images

When caring for your aging parent or loved one becomes overwhelming and you need a break, or when extra help is needed with bathing, feeding, dressing, household duties or if caring for them yourself is just not possible anymore, selecting an in-home health care provider is a good alternative. 

If your home health care worker will be assisting with bathing or dressing, it is important to discuss this with your loved one to make sure that they are comfortable with the gender of the companion.  Women or men may become embarrassed when opposite gendered health care workers assist them with personal care and this may cause bath time to become stressful.

One way to stay involved is to use a caregiver’s organizer (which we just happen to offer on our website).  The Caregiver’s Companion is an organizational tool that has sections for personal information, family history, medications and side effects, medical appointments, and home health care workers notes.  I hate selling, but this IS a verry good tool in my opinion.

The most important thing to keep in mind when shopping at these discount stores is that they are not held to the high standards that the grocery stores are.  So you must be careful what you purchase.

The Do Buys:

Cleaning products are said to be a good value at the dollar stores.  And if you come across a name brand that you trust, go ahead and buy it.  It’s safe.

Generally speaking, bleach is bleach is bleach and most of other cleaning products have the same ingredients as the name brands.  (Veronica Bright of Hub Pages states that she found a wonderful cleaner called Mean Green at the Dollar Store which she says is amazing!)  Sponges are generally a good buy, as well.

Greeting cards are a great dollar store find.  Brand name cards can cost as much as $5.00 a piece and at the dollar store, you can find nicely made cards for as little as fifty cents a piece.   I stock up on the “homemade scrapbook-like” cards so that I’m never without the perfect card.  I’ve also found some very pretty and well made Gift bags as well as paper shred.  The ribbon didn’t seem to be much of a bargain.

Food storage containers, are less expensive and from my experience, hold up as well as the grocery store brands.  I buy the aluminum foil type casserole pans to use for pot lucks and delivered church meals.  I’ve also seen tortilla warmers for a dollar.

School Supplies can be found cheaper at stores like Target and Wallmart during back-to-school sales but when you find that you need poster board in January, it’s much better to pay a dollar than the $3.79 it would cost at other stores.  Two sets of tabbed dividers are $1.00 as compared to $2.50 – $3.00 at office supply stores.

Movie Night Candies can be expensive especially when purchased at the theatre.  The dollar stores carry name brand candies in “movie-sized” containers.  Although most sugars don’t deteriorate quickly, it’s still a good idea to check the experation date. 

Children’s shoes are actually a good buy because their feet grow so quickly.  Summer sandals and flip flops are an especially good bargain and can be a fun gift for the grandchildren. 

Picture frames can be rather costly in department stores.  If you’re lucky, you can find some decent ones now and then at the dollar store. 

Wine goblets are a great find.  For just a dollar, you can purchase big (we detest those tiny 4 oz glasses that don’t allow the wine to breath or be swirled) sturdy glasses for both red and white wines.  Now I’m not advocating that you serve your care recipient giant glasses of wine but long into his 80s, my father loved wine and still had an excellent palate.  There shouldn’t be lead in these, but I might do a bit of research about that.

According to Jeff Yeager, author of “The Cheapskate Next Door”, Spices are a good purchase.  I would agree with that if you’re not super picky.  It’s difficult to mess up pepper or parsley but there are other spices that require better quality.  Remember to check expiration dates.

Books and specialty CDs are two of my favorite finds.  I’ve found some great current reads and some lovely inspirational books for just a dollar each – excellent gift items.  CDs with relaxing music for mediatation or bubble baths can often be found along with holiday CDs – just don’t expect well-known artists.

Seasonal items are good purchases if you have not shopped the previous years’ end-of-season sale.  Be wary that anything painted (especially ceramics) might contain lead.

The Don’ts

Over-the-counter medications and vitamins – As tempting as these are to purchase, I wouldn’t do it.  As I entioned before, the dollar stores are not as well regulated and Consumer Reports has stated that some vitamins didn’t have the amount of nutrients that they claimed to have on the label.

Children’s Toys (except for coloring books).  I just wouldn’t trust the quality.

Batteries – Many of the battery products found at the dollar stores are made with carbon zinc, as opposed to lithium, so they do not last as long.  Carbon zinc can also leak, thus doing damage to your electronics. 

Plastic and Aluminum Wraps – One dollar for 25 feet of aluminum foil is just not a good deal.

Pet Food and Pet Toys – Again, this is due to lack of regulation and in my opinion, shodiness of product. 

Gum – Costco is cheaper, Amazon even more so.

Oven mits and kitchen towels – They’re just too thin and may not protect you from being burnt or be very absorbent.

Socks – I’ve found them to be poor quality and NOT soft.  I will say that iVillage disagrees with me and recommends them as a good buy.  (Shoe Shining blocks are a good value at $1.00 for a pack of 2.  I’ve seen these at Nordstrom for $5.95 each.) I keep one in the car in order to quickly wipe off smudges before doctors’ appointments or church service.)

Power cords – Again, in my opinion, they are poor quality and might damage your electronics.  Duct tape, sand paper, painter’s tape and bungee cords are good though.

Sodas – Sodas can be found less expensive elsewhere.

Baby items – Avoid them due to lack of regulation.  (I’ve never seen diapers available though.)

Perishables – YES and NO  A bunch of green onions for a dollar is not a steal when they can be purchased for 79 cents elsewhere.  But I once found a giant package of ginger root for .99 cents – now that’s a steal! I also found some great gourmet caramel popcorn with almonds and some chocolate covered pretzels (that I normally bought wholesale for my giftbaskets at $3.00 a package).  If you’re aware of your normal supermarket prices, and there is a brand available that you trust, go ahead and purchase.  Again, just be sure to check expiration dates.

Grooming items are iffy but worth checking out.  Shampoo is a decent find as are scrubbies/loofahs.  Items like Chapstick and Vaseline can often be found there and my very favorite soap (Yardley oatmeal and almond) is almost always available at the dollar store.  Nail files, packages of combs, tooth flossing sticks are of value. Skip the cotton swabs (too flimsy and could be dangerous), make-up (due to lack of regulation), and make-up remover pads (can I just say UGH!?).

Also remember that many dollar type stores accept coupons so don’t forget to bring those along.

What are YOUR favorite finds?

photo by slevin

opportunity to to challenge ourselves to write a blog post on a certain schedule.  Most of the participants have chosen to attempt to write a blog post every day but I chose to write one on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays because it is a schedule that I wish to continue after the challenge ends.

This past week, Jenny Littlejohn of Striding-Ahead.co.uk posted a poem on her site that I wanted to share with you and she has graciously allowed me to do so.  It is a poem about giving yourself and others permission to cry.  As caregivers, we NEED to cry but we often postpone it saying to ourselves “I don’t have time for that now”.  Crying is healing.  It releases stress.  So the next time you feel like crying……

PLEASE DO CRY

How often, when someone cries
Do you hear them, so meekly, apologise?
As if somehow they’ve done something wrong
Instead, they’re just singing their healing song

How often when public tears do threat
your burning, shaming cheeks to wet
Do you try to blink away the pain
Treat it like some embarrassing stain

It seems to me, as we grow to adulthood
We are taught, crying in public is just not good
And when tears approach we shove them aside
Like a part of us, we just can’t abide

When you graze your skin and blood appears
You know it’s just your body shedding healing tears
It’s only natural that blood may flow
Allowing healing new skin to grow

Just why is it, that when our heart is bleeding,
when it’s just love that’s most needing
Do those that want to comfort us, sigh
There, there now, please don’t cry?

So, when next you have a wound to heal
Allow yourself to feel exactly what you feel
Embrace those tears like a precious prize
They are truly a blessing, totally undisguised

And when you see the tears of another,
turned inwards, their hurt they are trying to smother
Don’t turn away and walk on by
Ask them instead, please do cry

~ Jenny Littlejohn

You may find more of Jenny’s works at www.Striding-Ahead.co.uk/blog