Caregivers of Older Adults Blog | Caregiver Info (14)

Listening is one of the simplest ways to show you care.

The life of a caregiver can often feel overwhelming -- particularly when the day-to-day demands of caregiving obscure the "big picture" view of why caregivers do what they do. If you're just going through the motions every day without stopping to reflect on your role and its impact, it's important to check in to make sure you're truly connecting with your aging loved one.

One simple way to improve your connections as a caregiver is to hone your listening skills. Let's count down three simple techniques for being a better listener, along with examining why they matter.

Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this year which means warm weather may be closer than you think. And while thoughts of spring may turn to summer and sunshine, the season also brings to mind something else: spring cleaning. For overloaded caregivers, however, spring cleaning can be a dreaded task. These six tips can help you get the job done with minimal stress and maximal results.

Make a list and stick to it.

Joints connect bones, provide support, and help us move. Unfortunately, injury and disease can damage joints, leading to impeded movement and debilitating pain. As we age, these issues become increasingly common -- particularly during the winter months when cold exacerbates the issue. But while joint pain is a fact of life for many seniors, caregivers can help them manage their discomfort and improve their quality of life. Let's take a closer look at the issue of joint pain, along with several effective pain management techniques.

A doctor can shed light on what's causing senior joint pain.

Mike Good, founder of TogetherInThis.com, is passionate about helping caregivers manage the challenges and unique needs of loved ones with Alzheimer's. Here, he discusses his site while offering advice to caregivers on finding resources and assistance in caring for Alzheimer's patients.

From cute and cuddly to friendly and faithful, pets come in all shapes, sizes and personality types. But did you know that pets also offer numerous health and wellness benefits to their owners - particularly in the case of seniors? As it turns out, pet ownership isn't merely good for older people. It can actually be life-changing and, in some cases, life-saving.

A senior's best friend?

America's senior population is facing a crisis of unprecedented proportions. According to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation, 45 percent of Americans over the age of 65 live below the poverty level. What does this mean in human terms?

As a Registered Nurse and family caregiver with a Ph.D. in human services, Dr. Eboni I. Green specializes in health care administration. She co-founded Caregiver Support Services with her husband in 1997 to provide training and support for families and frontline direct caregivers.

Dr. Green loved providing direct care but wanted to reach more people. She chatted with us recently about self-assessments for caregivers and other aspects of her rewarding profession.

Sheila Korn of Love 2 Live Care Services recently chatted with us about the qualities of a top-notch, in-home caregiver. She came to create Love 2 Live Inc. in 2003 after experiencing challenges during her beloved mother's illness.

She opened the company to offer personalized, non-medical home care to seniors who want to remain in their own homes and continue to live their lives with independence and dignity.

Caregiving might be described as "the business of caring," but it is a business nonetheless. Both sides of this equation need to be balanced for a caregiver to be as successful as possible. After all, how useful can we really be, as caregivers, if we're constantly overworked or desperately hunting for new clients?

More than half of seniors suffer from urinary incontinence, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While many people accept incontinence as part of the "normal" aging process, the truth is that there are many ways to treat and even cure the problem. Let's take a closer look at this common issue, along with ways elder caregivers can help their loved ones manage and even overcome urinary incontinence.