Katie has been caregiver for her husband for almost a decade, he had a stroke about 8 years ago.  He was in his mid 50s, and while he was not able to return to work, he was able to somewhat care for himself at home while his wife remained employed full-time.Husband is now with other illnesses and increased physical limitations  and now requires assist with all mobility and personal care.  Wife is struggling with the fact that her ability to care for him in their home may be coming to an end.Katie feels so conflicted, she admits with being flood with thoughts of “What are others going to say if I decide that I can’t continue like this?”  Only Katie and her family can make that decision, but in the mean time, I am working to see that things improve for now, while/if/until that transition occurs.  Hear Katie's story. If you are a caregiver and need help devising a plan that will help make your caregiving role easier, Finding A Foothold can help. Finding A Foothold can help.  Reach out for help and support.  Visit FindingAFoothold.com to see how.    Like us on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/FindingAFoothold/Follow us on Instagram.  https://www.instagram.com/findingafoothold/ 

Meet Roz Jones.  Owner and CEO of Jacksonville's Best Caregivers. https://www.rozjonesent.comIt has been an honor to meet and talk with Roslyn Jones, a CEO and author who has a compassionate heart for the elderly community and she also has a passion for caregivers who endeavor to provide the best care possible for their loved one.In this episode, we discuss some of the factors which must be considered when entering the role of a caregiver and the challenges that many caregivers are faced with when the proper planning and tough conversations are not made prior to entering the caregiver journey.Also learn about her new book, "Lifted".  Be inspired by this book as Roz shares her wisdom as she provides insight to caregivers, helping them learn how to shoulder the burden of caring for loved ones and their estate.   https://www.rozjonesent.com/liftedAnd caregivers, if you need help devising a plan that will help make your caregiving role easier, Finding A Foothold can help. Finding A Foothold can help.  Reach out for help and support.  Visit FindingAFoothold.com to see how.    Like us on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/FindingAFoothold/Follow us on Instagram.  https://www.instagram.com/findingafoothold/ 

Falls happen more often than you think.  Some result in minor injuries and some with very serious ones.   They can happen to anyone.  Falls occur inside and outside the home.  On this episode, meet "Ms. Sarah."  “Ms. Sarah” was going out to the mailbox, like she has done almost daily, for nearly 50 years at her current home.  This time she made the wrong step and down she went —into the ditch. Hear about the injury that resulted, and the changes made in her environment to decrease her fall risks.  Learn ways to reduce fall risks around the home.  Learn ways of safely aging in place and keeping your loved ones safe.If you need help devising a plan that will help make your caregiving role easier, Finding A Foothold can help. Finding A Foothold can help.  Reach out for help and support.  Visit FindingAFoothold.com to see how.    Like us on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/FindingAFoothold/Follow us on Instagram.  https://www.instagram.com/findingafoothold/ 

Falls in the home are a great concern to many adult children who have aging parents who are still living in their own homes.  Many adult children have limited incomes, and are even struggling to make ends meet during this pandemic.Many parents are still home alone, even though their children are at work and they worry about their parent's safety.  They do not want them to fall.Having therapists in the home to provide training and recommendations on low cost options for decreasing fall risks and tripping hazards is very valuable.This episode provides options for improving safety in the home, allowing parents to remain in their home safely, for a longer period of time.If you need help devising a plan that will help make your caregiving role easier, Finding A Foothold can help. Finding A Foothold can help.  Reach out for help and support.  Visit FindingAFoothold.com to see how.    Like us on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/FindingAFoothold/Follow us on Instagram.  https://www.instagram.com/findingafoothold/ 

Amputation of a leg is a hard thing to endurance, and it can usually mean use of a wheelchair for the individual, which means a big lifestyle change for them and the caregiver. Accessibility into the home, into bedroom, into bathroom and kitchen area should all be prioritized based on what you desire to see happen.  Start with easy access into the home then look at those changes that will result in your loved one being more independent and those that will reduce your workload.  It doesn’t always have to be huge expensive changes.This podcast episode addresses a concern from a listen who called into the podcast with concerns about her dad who is soon discharging from the hospital after a leg amputation.If you need help devising a plan that will help make your caregiving role easier, Finding A Foothold can help. Finding A Foothold can help.  Reach out for help and support.  Visit FindingAFoothold.com to see how.    Like us on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/FindingAFoothold/Follow us on Instagram.  https://www.instagram.com/findingafoothold/ 

When you become the caregiver to a loved one, you bring into your role a history that may be filled with good and bad.  Be prepared to work through some hurts.  You may need to seek professional help, there may need to be a healing and forgiveness to take place.  If you had a very loving history and you enter into caregiving with the goal of meeting every need of your loved one, you may need to take it slow.  Find a way of providing the best care, with the support from others.  Remember that your demonstration of love is not based on how much you do or the fact that you do it all.  If you need help devising a plan that will help make your caregiving role easier, Finding A Foothold can help. Finding A Foothold can help.  Reach out for help and support.  Visit FindingAFoothold.com to see how.    Like us on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/FindingAFoothold/Follow us on Instagram.  https://www.instagram.com/findingafoothold/ 

It's hard knowing what to do as a caregiver!Should they stay in their own home? Should they move in with me? Should I move in with them? Should I hire a sitter? Should I look at long term placement? etc.There are so many questions and just as many opinions from others on what you should be doing.Yes, it is good to ask for advice from those you trust and value because sometimes we can't see the whole picture.There will also be others who will give advise that you did not seek and frown upon decisions that you make.But the bottom line is, you have the final say so on what works for YOUR LIFE. What works FOR YOU!DO YOU!If you need help devising a plan that will help make your caregiving role easier, Finding A Foothold can help. Finding A Foothold can help.  Reach out for help and support.  Visit FindingAFoothold.com to see how.    Like us on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/FindingAFoothold/Follow us on Instagram.  https://www.instagram.com/findingafoothold/ Consuela Marshall,Occupational Therapist, Caregiver

It is so easy to get into the trap of doing everything for your elder parents or disabled spouse after they have sustained an injury or have a debilitating diagnosis.   You may feel that you are making life easier for them when you cater to their every need but you could in fact be making things more difficult for them in the long run.Yes, there is a time during the recovery phase that they require more assistance with task, but the amount of assist needed can decrease as strength and endurance is allowed to improve.  Not everyone returns to their prior level of functioning after an illness but there is often a level of “new normal” that can be achieved which will allow them to function without always needing assist.  Each task that you totally do for them, takes away the opportunity for them to gain strength and mobility skills to improve in that area.  You must provide opportunity for them to  learn a new way, a different way of living.  It is the daily movements of their bodies that can unlock hidden potential for improvements in activities of daily living (ADLs).Yes, you can do things faster and just get things over with but you are also creating an environment where they are learning to totally depend on you for everything.  And when this happens burnout, resentment can happen.  This can be prevented it requires crafting of a plan that is centered on maximizing their skill level.Finding A Foothold can help.  Reach out for help and support.  Visit FindingAFoothold.com to see how.    Like us on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/FindingAFoothold/Follow us on Instagram.  https://www.instagram.com/findingafoothold/ 

An illness or injury can really change how a loved one can function in their home.  It doesn’t take much for the elderly to become weak and debilitated, resulting in them not being able to do the basic things for themselves that they use to do.A common thing that I’ve seen lately is that many of the elderly patients that I am servicing are not admitted into the hospital for treatment after diagnosed with an illness or who have had minor injuries in their homes.  Lack of medical staff or the unavailability of a room results in them being sent home from the ER sicker and weaker than what we are accustomed to seeing in the home setting.Therapy in the home becomes an important component to their rehabilitation — strengthening, pain mgmt and endurance training.  Temporary help and small changes in the home may also be all that is needed to prevent a bigger problem from occurring.  Not all in-home modifications and changes are big, some are quite simple and many people say, “I never would have thought of that.”Hear Mary’s story.  Know that parts of Mary’s story is also your story and my story.  We all share similar challenges and can overcome them.  We can improve our caregiving outcomes.Reach out for help and support.  Visit FindingAFoothold.com to see how.    Like us on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/FindingAFoothold/Follow us on Instagram.  https://www.instagram.com/findingafoothold/                                                                                                                     

We all respond to a crisis in different ways, but a common initial response that we all have is that we wish it wasn’t happening to us, that we could blink and make it go away! You may not be human if this isn’t the way you initially react to devastating news.I have seen that choosing to remain hopeful and focusing only on things that you can change or improve is key to surviving, being available to function and hopefully thriving in the situation.  I’ve had a patient tell me recently, “I didn’t ask for this to happen to me but I’m gonna do the best I can with it.”  And she did!Caregiver, please know that when your loved one sustains a debilitating injury or illness, you too have also sustained a loss.  I wish I could say that things always get physically better, sadly they don’t.  But where you choose to put your focus and energy will determine your path forward.  Let go of what you can’t change, get help.   You need a plan on how to physically and emotionally move forward.  Get support This topic inspired by a call from an actual client case.What’s your caregiving challenge?Visit the website at FindingAFoothold.com.  Like us on Facebook.Follow us on Instagram.