Family Caregiving Archives

Our Benedictine Values

A Reflection by Fr. Adrian Burke, OSB “Care of the sick must rank above and before all else, so that they may truly be served as Christ … the abbot must take the greatest care that those who serve the sick do not neglect them.” —Rule of Saint Benedict 36:1, 10 Two months before my dad passed away, I spent several

05Nov

Grief, Memories and Annual Reminders

Excerpt from “Getting Through the Annual Reminders of Your Loss” from CareNotes. Memory writes on every page of the calendar – her a birthday, there a holiday, further on a wedding date. In the wake of death, those precious days bear a bittersweet tinge, a pang that celebrations they mark will never be

13Jul

Five things to Consider as You Prepare to Retire

Retirement offers a unique opportunity for us to nurture our spirits by giving us chances for creativity, contribution, fulfillment, serenity, self-discovery, and self-renewal. It is an invitation to define oneself by who you are versus what you do. Key to continuing personal development and joie de vivre is

16Jun

Relying on Others as We Age

We instinctively want to maintain independence and control over our lives. It takes a special source of strength—whether we call it grace, guts, or abundant common sense—to let go of them, even partially. If you have arrived at a point where circumstances and/or family members are suggesting that you do so, these

12Nov

Caring for Yourself When You’re Caring for Someone Ill

Taking care of yourself when a loved one needs you may seem like a selfish idea. “How could I possibly rest and enjoy myself at a time like this?” you may ask. It may be hard for you to see how taking care of yourself benefits the person you are caring for as well. But if you have ever experienced the cursory

24Jul

When a Loved One’s Care Decisions Are in Your Hands

Few of us are prepared for the enormous challenge of making choices for another adult. Unlike children, adults have their preferences, habits, and goals fairly well established, and they are notoriously resistant to giving up control. No matter how well we think we know someone, there are all sorts of finishing

03Apr

Things To Consider in Completing an Advance Directive for Healthcare

Many people think that Advance Healthcare Planning is only for elderly and ill people. While the actions of completing and discussing these documents are very important for those who are diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses, it is important for all adults to consider our wishes should we one day be unable to

13Nov

Ten Helps for an Alzheimer’s Family

Like millions of other people, my neighbor Bob cared for a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease. For three years, I watched Bob’s wife, a once bright and vivacious woman, turn into a shell of her former self. When I met them in the condo hallway, she gave me a blank look. Then Bob gently told her, “Say hello.” With

17Oct

Finding the Strength to Go On After the Death of a Child

When my daughter, Judy, died after being in a coma for five months, I thought I could not survive the grief. Those five months were a roller coaster of hope and despair that began in August and ended with Judy’s death the following January. The tender love of a parent for a child may be the purest and most

24Apr

Talking About End-of-Life Decisions With Your Parent

When we were children and adolescents, our parents had the challenging responsibility of talking with us about difficult topics. Teaching us the facts of life, guiding us to choose good friends, and cautioning us about smoking and drug use were never easy discussions to have. Raising these topics was doubly hard

Family Caregiving

Our Benedictine Values

Grief, Memories and Annual Reminders

Five things to Consider as You Prepare to Retire

Relying on Others as We Age

Caring for Yourself When You’re Caring for Someone Ill

When a Loved One’s Care Decisions Are in Your Hands

Things To Consider in Completing an Advance Directive for Healthcare

Ten Helps for an Alzheimer’s Family

Finding the Strength to Go On After the Death of a Child

Talking About End-of-Life Decisions With Your Parent

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