Good Morning! Thursdays are always…”Have You Hugged A Caregiver’ Day! #eldercarechat #hugacaregiver #carechat #caregiving
Category Archives: Caregiving
Caregivers: Use Your Right Brain, Too!
On Tuesday, we welcomed Benjamin Azevedo, M.D. from New Orléans Bow Ties to our ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ show on Blog Talk Radio. To listen to our entire show, simply click here!
Our conversation was more than just about the making of beautiful Bow Ties, our conversation centered on the importance of having an equal balance in life. Ben recently graduated from Tulane Medical School in New Orleans and will be starting his internship in San Diego later this summer. Medical school, like any academic disciplines, can be trying, even for the most dedicated students.
Ben has always resonated with the idea that there are two sides to the brain; the left being in charge of linear analytical thinking and focuses, ordered, logical execution while the right is more expansive, creative, and boundless. During his
first year in medical school, Ben realized that he was letting his left-brain take control of his life and strip it of the art, music, and imagination that his family had fostered throughout his life. Ben put a conscious effort into letting go of his stress and thrust himself into the exploration of what his right brain had to offer. Ben first began to cook, to draw, to exercise more and get out into nature. Then the idea came of creating beautiful Bow Ties, which has become a conversational piece in his work, while allowing his right brain to explore. Along with his masterful work of creating beautiful bow ties, Ben also recognized the need for Doctors to learn how to communicate good patient care, especially when dealing with difficult end of life issues with patients and their families. With his attraction to palliative care and hospice, Ben created an elective course at Tulane University teaching the art of communication to medical students. The course has been well-received by both students and faculty. “This is cutting edge material”, I thought. We all know there is more to Doctor/Patient, Doctor/Family communication than just reading a chart! With his communication class, Ben is providing a great tool for medical students, who in most cases, would never have been exposed to such an important learning tool.
As our conversation continued, I was struck by how much I have let my right brain linger. As a Caregiver, I realized that I am constantly in the left – brain mode; always analyzing, worrying, thinking about the need of my caree, completely focused on his needs rather than my own. As my weight continues to rise, while my hobbies are put on hold, my right brain strives to be released from its shackles, to explore, to create to be free again. I wonder how many caregivers might just feel the same way? I know I am going to make a conscious effort to be more creative while elimination self imposed stress!
Ben’s terrific example of letting his left brain explore, not only afforded him the opportunity to make beautiful bow ties, it allowed him to go on step further by combining the best of his right and left brain by creating such a meaningful communication class for medical students!
This next time I run into a young physician who provides empathic communication, I will want to ask them if they took Ben’s communication class at Tulane University. If they are wearing a bow tie, I’ll know it without even asking!
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Good Morning! Thursdays are always…”H
Good Morning! Thursdays are always…”Have You Hugged A Caregiver’ Day! #eldercarechat #hugacaregiver #carechat #caregiving
Filed under Caregiving
A Caregiver's Heart
Reblogged from creativityorcrazy:
Here's a poem using some of the words from Wordle 105 over at The Sunday Whirl blog. Poetry is where my melancholy heart has been drawn to as of late.
Losing my resilience
Like a spring
Wound a bit much
Harder to bounce back
Feeling out of touch
Hanging onto promises
With thread bare hope
Searching for shelter
Needing a way to cope…
Filed under Caregiving
Caregivers: What’s Your Hobby?
‘There is nothing deep down inside us except what we have put there ourselves.” Richard Rorty
Tuesday on ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ on Blog Talk Radio, I had the pleasure of visiting with John Schwaig from Fabrication Arts Studio in St. Louis. When I posted that John was going to be on the show, I had a couple of people ask me, “how are you going to relate Stained Glass Art to Caregiving?” My response was simple, the show is about the importance of Caregivers having a hobby! To listen to this episode of ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver with John Schwaig, simply click here!
During the show, John talked about how his workshops and classes in stained glass have attracted cancer patients and their Caregivers, and how time spent in working on a stained art project have allowed them to take their mind from daily grind of dealing with health issues. As a former counselor and teacher, John is keenly aware of the importance of self-care.
With over 66 million working Caregivers in the United States today, finding time for a hobby, or better yet, self-care is often difficult for Caregivers. Dedicated to the care and well-being of our Caree, Caregivers often put their needs second, which can lead to lack of quality rest, poor eating habits, which of course then leads to poor health.
Here are some tips for Family Caregivers:
- Schedule Time For Yourself
- Take Up A Hobby
- Join A Support Group (I recommend Caregiving.com)
- Take Care Of Your Own Health
- Learn To Put Yourself First
- Meditate
- Read a Book Not Related to Caregiving
- Be Open to Outside Help
Self-Care is an important part of the entire Caregiving process that is often left unattended. I know, I’ve been there myself! But with some simple adjustments to our daily routine, we can find the time to take better care of ourself. The ‘funny’ thing about this…your Caree will be the one who will be most appreciative of you taking better care of yourself!
I would like to hear from you on what you do for a hobby!
Listen to
Every Tuesday at 1:00pm (est)
Cannot listen live; NO Worries! All our shows are archived for your listening convenience.
Access all our episodes by simply clicking here!
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Filed under Be A Healthy Caregiver, Blog Talk Radio, Caregiving, The Bow Tie Guy
WIG OR NO WIG –THAT WAS THE QUESTION (subtitle: Wiggin’ out over losing my hair)
Reblogged from courage grace and humor:
WIG OR NO WIG –THAT WAS THE QUESTION (subtitle: Wiggin’ out over losing my hair)
At my first chemo in June 2011, my chemo nurse, Cathy, told me I should expect to start losing my hair approximately 14-17 days after that first treatment. Sure enough, around that time, I started noticing bunches of my hair coming out when I showered. I had already made the decision that, when the time came, I would shave my head.
Filed under Caregiving
Be A Healthy Caregiver on Blog Talk Radio
On Tuesday April 16th at 1:00 pm (est) we welcome John Schwaig from Fabrication Arts Center in St. Louis to our show. You can access Tuesday’s show by clicking here!
Fabrication Arts creates and designs custom and unique art for home and office decor. Their beautiful custom beveled and stained glass, is truly a sight to behold.
After a mid-life change from teaching and counseling, John has turned what he thought was a hobby, into a second career! Through his classes and workshops on Stained Glass, John offers cancer patients and survivors a chance to find a new hobby and a chance to take their mind off an insidious disease.
Through our conversation today, John will demonstrate to us how the importance of having a hobby will allow us all to “Be A Healthy Caregiver!”
To visit Fabrication Arts Center website simply click here!
You can access Tuesday’s show by clicking here!
Can’t listen to the show live, NO WORRIES, all of our shows are archived for your listening convenience. You can access all of our archived shows by clicking here!
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A Sage of Spheres
"The Sage falls asleep not because he ought to, nor even because he wants to, but because he is sleepy." ~Raymond M. Smullyan
We live in a busy world, with busy people using busy things. Sometimes in all of this "business of busyness" we forget to stop and remember where our feet are even planted, and where life has taken our feet.
Filed under Caregiving
“He’s My Miracle Patient!”
“He’s MY Miracle Patient” Dr. Milica Starcevic April 1, 2013
Today as we visited Richard’s primary care physician for his quarterly check-up. This is no April Fools joke, reality before our eyes, a miracle in the works! 
After reviewing all the blood work, checking in on recent history with his health, then receiving updates from both of us she just uttered these words:
“He Is My Miracle Patient!”
Given 3 to 4 months to live in October of 2011; In August of this year we will ‘celebrate’ 2 years since the original diagnosis of esophagus cancer. Like many families who go through a cancer diagnoses, we were filled with so many diverse emotions. Now two years past, we are thankful for each and every day we spend together. Sure some days are better than others, and the esophagus does ‘act-up’ from time to time; the tumor does have a mind of its own!
Being a family caregiver comes with quite a bit of sacrifice and courage, and just like ‘The Little One”, I have my good days and I have my bad days. Sleepless nights, worrying about things that I cannot control and wondering what’s going to happen next. It’s all part of the role of being a family caregiver.
Yet on a day like today, being a family caregiver is put into perspective when Dr. Starcevic turned to me and said “thank you for being a Caregiver.” Those long nights, followed by those uncertain days were a thing of the past by those simple words uttered by Dr. Starcevic! Of course, a big smile from ‘The Little One Helped, too!
You see…We Might Have Cancer,
But Cancer Does Not Have Us!
Listen to:
Access all our shows by clicking here!
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Filed under Advocate, Be A Healthy Caregiver, caregiver, Caregiving, Esophagus Cancer
Be A Healthy Caregiver on Blog Talk Radio
Caregivers: Join Us on a Caregiving Cruise!
On Tuesday April 2nd I welcome “Your Vacation Specialist” Jerry Dismarais from Cruises Inc to our show. You can listen to the show by clicking here.
Jerry is a Certified Travel Accessible Advocate and has been instrumental in helping Denise Brown from Caregiving.com and me, ‘The Bow Tie Guy’ plan our Caregiving Cruise for this coming November. Concerned about bringing your Caree on a cruise, Jerry will bring his
knowledge and expertise on the Cruise and Travel Industry and how they provide for those of us with a special needs in order to make traveling easy, safe, enjoyable and comforting!
Through our conversation with Jerry his information and knowledge of the cruise and travel industry will help us all ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’
To Listen to our show live on Tuesday at 1:00pm (est), simply click here.
Cannot listen live, NO Worries! All my shows are archived so that you listen at a time that is convenient for you by clicking here.
For more information on our Cruise and how to book the Cruise, click here.
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Filed under Be A Healthy Caregiver, Blog Talk Radio, Caregiving, Caregiving Cruise






















