Think Ahead on Long Term Care - Or Lose Out Bigtime..
July 13, 2006
Hey - It’s pretty darned easy to age gracefully when you’re healthy. [Read more]
Long Term Care: That Long and Winding Road..
July 10, 2006
I used to think that “long-term care” was for really, really old people, and it would never be for me. Ha! Nice try, friend…
Yep, I’ve gotten older, and that’s changed my perspective slightly. But what’s shifted even more is the fact that many people better understand that our long-term health needs depend on a complicated set of factors that kick in long before the chronological “old age” of years past.
[Read more]
Thanks, Mom..!
June 26, 2006
(Some reasons why you might want to get long term care insurance.)
How many of us say that we will take care of our parents if they became disabled and could not live alone? Raise your hands! If you’re like me, you have told your mom or dad, “I’ll take care of you, don’t worry. I’ll always be there for you!”
Oops - I Almost Forgot..
June 26, 2006
Last night I watched “The Boy Who’s Skin Fell Off” on PBS. It was about a fellow’s last four months on Earth, before succumbing to skin cancer - a by-product of 36 years of suffering with a condition known as EB.
The Caregiver’s Handbook..
June 26, 2006
On the Road Again..
June 26, 2006
Chronic Multiple Sclerosis is a long term, paralyzing disability. Dealing with incontinence is a huge part of our lives.
My husband can barely walk 20 ft. with a walker. I need to hold onto his gait belt so he doesn’t fall. Since he also needs help with toileting, we find ourselves in daily (sometimes hourly) discussions about incontinence. These discussions can range from jokes to total frustration - even arguments depending upon how frazzled we feel.
After a bout of very loose bowel incontinence, we had to seriously consider what we might do about traveling on an airplane. It was hard enough a few years back, but now that there are such stringent and bothersome security measures it has become much harder.
A Caregiver Needs Some “Me” Time..
June 26, 2006
Have you ever felt like you just needed a break - from everything?
Long Term Care - Essential Equipment..
June 26, 2006
When long term care is needed, there are always issues with durable medical equipment, whether your insurance is through Medicare or it is private. That is, of course, unless you are in a long term care facility. Then all the equipment and care is provided for you!
Long Term Care - Counting Our Blessings..
June 26, 2006
It’s easy to get tired of long term care-giving. I’m sure I’m not alone in daydreaming about easier days - days when Clay could get out of bed by himself or even stand up from a chair. Long term care becomes drudgery for the care-giver, not to mention dreary and frustrating for the person receiving care. However, for the last few days we have both been very, very grateful. More so than usual.
My Care Giving Angel..
June 25, 2006
It’s been a few weeks since Cindy started coming over to spend time with Clay - to relieve me of my caregiving duties. She comes at least once a week. What a blessing! The long term care of any individual can be exhausting, at times, so I now call Cindy “my angel”…
