Grief and death generally go hand in hand. Yet grief can also come early, when death has yet to occur. When a debilitating ailment strikes, loved ones may grieve not only after death, but before, while their loved one is still alive. In fact, for many caregivers, “anticipatory grief” can be more painful than after-death…
Most of us have likely heard the truism: If you need something done, ask a busy person. But a corollary of that may be, the busiest of us, the ones who seem the most competent and together, may also be silently suffering from depression, anxiety or are overwhelmed. And caregivers can easily fall into this…
A new year can be a time for both gratitude and remembrance, but also anticipation for what the coming months may bring and how we can make a difference. At the Kathi Koll Foundation, the past year was a banner one in which we were able to provide more assistance to more caregivers than any year since…
If you’ve ever seen the movie Fiddler on the Roof, then you’ve heard the word “tradition” sung with a verve that you’ll likely never forget. The film is about change and the unraveling of traditions, but strangely enough, it is also about celebrating many of the traditions that make up the characters’ lives. This odd duality—a love…
What scares you most as a caregiver? The ailing health of your loved one? Not having time for yourself or your goals? Losing your connection with your children or other important people in your life because of the impact caregiving has on you? Not having the financial wherewithal to address the needs of your loved…
One of the most challenging aspects of both life and caregiving is change. Change is a constant for all of us, and yet, many of us resist it. We wish things could stay the same, and yet nothing can. Watching a child grow up is a testament to that. No matter how you wish that…
One of the easiest things we do in life is sleep. Once embraced in its warm folds, we recuperate, replenish, and de-stress from the days events. We aren’t conscious of doing anything. Our bodies take over and begin an hours long process of healing. Yet, sleep may also be a mysterious challenge. We can lie…
The demands of caregiving can make exercise seem like an unachievable challenge. Perhaps you can’t leave your loved one alone, or when you do have time to yourself, the last thing you want to do is take a jog around the block. Yet, finding time to exercise is essential. According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise…
The past year has been a challenging one, particularly for caregivers. In addition to the normal isolation and stress of looking after a loved one, caregivers faced the added fear and anxiety of the coronavirus. Many struggled with the worry that they might inadvertently bring the potentially deadly illness home from work or into a…
Internet crime skyrocketed by 69 percent last year, and the elderly and disabled were one of the prime targets for these reported scams, which, according to the FBI, raked in more than $4.1 billion. As a caregiver, protecting your loved one from online financial attacks can be a challenge, because the predators prey on their…