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…
Just over a year ago, change swept through the world. Active people were suddenly spending their days at home. Confusion reigned in terms of what was and wasn’t safe to do, and a new normal was created. Now change is sweeping through again. However, this time, it’s traveling in the opposite direction. Vaccination has now…
Sometimes the challenges of caregiving leave little time for caring for yourself. When your loved one’s needs are overwhelming, your needs may feel impossible to address. The time and energy needed to exercise or hang out with a friend or do a favored hobby may seem unavailable and impossible to find. So what can…
The past year has been a challenge, but it has also brought to the fore many helpers, from hospital workers to grocery clerks, who have fought to keep people healthy and fed. For The Kathi Koll Foundation, it has also brought out the givers. Last year, donations increased by more than 65 percent, and…