From the desk of Rosemary Laird, MD
Founder of Navigating Aging Needs (NAN), LLC
Giving Thanks, and Getting Help
Thanksgiving as a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the blessings of our lives with family and friends. As a caregiver of someone suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, there are many challenges to consider in the upcoming holiday season. But with a little preparation and awareness, you can make it a holiday that everyone, including your loved one, will enjoy.
Coping With Global Crisis
Here are some strategies to help you reduce stress and maintain emotional well-being while experiencing a world of trouble.
Getting Over Bumps In The Road
Getting over a road bump requires a new approach to your current situation.
Embrace the Changes!
In a world where the only thing that keeps constant is change itself, coping with change requires cultivating a set of behaviors that help you stay strong as you navigate that change.
Embracing Change
As we head into the Autumn season, we are immersed in a world that is changing all around us. The days are shorter, the air cooler, and farther north the levels of chlorophyll shut down in the leaves of trees, exposing brilliant hues of yellow, red and gold. Though these signs signal that winter is on its way, there is no escaping the beauty it inspires in us. It is a reminder that there is beauty, too, in the stages of the caregiving journey you are on with your loved one, and that we all can find strength, and beauty, in a world of constant change. Here are some tips for making the most of it.
Thanks, Partner!
This coming Thursday marks the Autumnal Equinox, the point where the tilt of the earth’s axis is parallel to its orbit around the sun. It seems like such a short while ago that I was writing in this newsletter about the Spring Equinox! Time feels like it has moved so quickly since we started our partnership with many of you. Over the past six months we have learned a lot from you about how to improve our NAN offerings and services to meet your needs. Here’s a sampling of the most sought-after content on the website over the past half year
Finding the Joy
In my many years of working with caregivers, I have seen first-hand how agonizing your day-to-day struggles can sometimes be. You may at times feel overwhelmed, overcome with stress, or experience a profound sense of grief for all that is lost to this disease. So my words of advice today may seem counter-intuitive: Find time to seek out joy. As challenging as our lives may be at times, being a caregiver for your loved one can give a life purpose, meaning — and even joy.
Back to School Days
The Labor Day Holiday always reminds me of new beginnings. After all, it’s the unofficial end of summer, and schools all over the country are beginning classes again. Though most of us are no longer going back to school, it’s still the case that the key to caregiving success is love, patience — and lifelong learning! That’s because you have a big job to do, and the more you learn about your loved one’s disease and how to handle it, the more prepared you will be — and less stressed!