Caregiver Fatigue Archives - Aging, caregiving and the journey through the second half of life

David Solie’s Complimentary Booklets for Caregivers

September 25, 2018

So far, I have created five (5) booklets for caregivers and their families. I have two more in the works. All five are complimentary, available in a PDF format and can be ordered using the form below. Here is a…

New PDF Booklet: Caregiver Decision Fatigue

July 27, 2018

This “must read” article for caregivers outlines the synergistic complexity and uncertainty that dilemmas and family systems interject into all aspects of a caring for aging parents. As important, the article offers practical strategies caregivers can readily adopt to better…

When “Little Changes” Cause Everything To Fall Apart

July 26, 2018

There are no “little” changes in the world of aging parents. Any action, throwing out old magazines, scheduling an appointment without telling them, or not including a sibling in what seems a minor decision can trigger a temporary system shut…

All Caregivers Need A “Nutritious Friend”

June 10, 2018

Definition: Nutritious Friend 1. They are always happy to see you. 2. They always want to know what’s happening in your life. 3. They have no plans to “change” of “fix” you, ever. If you have a nutritious friend in…

The Shifting Sands of Solo Caregiving…

December 12, 2017

Solo caregiving takes a toll on both parties. What starts out as an act of compassion and loyalty can deteriorate into a role that exceeds the best efforts of one person. Reframing the situation from a new vantage point helps…

When all else fails, take them to the ER…

August 29, 2017

This article, entitled “Stressed Out Caregivers Are Using ER Visits for Respite Study Finds,” confirms that caregivers do what they have to do to survive the stress of caring for aging parents. It is also a sad reminder of the…

The Most Important Question Adult Children Should Ask Themselves About Caregiving

August 14, 2017

The drama of our aging parents takes place in an emotional landscape, an environment that can overwhelm us without warning or apparent logic. We seem to be bobbing corks on an angry ocean of feelings that ambush us time and…

Caregiver’s Context: The Big Picture

May 25, 2017

Sometimes the big picture helps makes sense of what we are experiencing. This is certainly true for caregivers of aging parents who feel overwhelmed and exhausted from the complexity and uncertainty of their work. The Caregiver’s Context Mind Map offers…

How To Talk To Aging Parents About Where To Live

May 2, 2017

I was recently interviewed for an article entitled “Conversation vs. Confrontation: Guidelines for Effective Communication with Your Aging Parents.” In it I discuss how often the insistence by older adults to “stay put” in their home despite deteriorating circumstances prevents…

What do you do when aging in place isn’t working out for aging parents?

April 12, 2017

I was recently asked this question by a professional in the senior living industry. Here is what I said: While the need for control is a consumptive task for aging parents in the final phase of life, it doesn’t necessarily…