“Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” So quipped comedian Victor Borge. And indeed, studies bear him out. Laughter, especially when it’s a shared joke, creates a bond between people that generates a feeling of intimacy. Humor reduces tension and lowers stress. It also helps people to think more creatively and come up with…
As a family caregiver, you are likely experiencing many types of loss, each triggering normal, if uncomfortable, emotional responses. Losing the person you love. Illness and frailty can change a person. So, too, can some of the behavior and personality changes that often occur with dementia. The absence of familiar ways to connect may bring…
As humans, we are hard wired to pay more attention to what’s not working or dangerous than what is going well. For instance, dwelling on a parent’s growing weakness and instability rather than on his or her uncomplaining attitude. This tendency to notice the negative can help us learn from mistakes and avoid preventable problems….
Anger as an emotion is neither good nor bad. It is a messenger. It can provide energy and motivate you to action. But anger by itself has never solved a problem. The trouble with anger rests on how you respond to its message. Ideally, you want to harness that energy for finding constructive solutions to…
As a family caregiver, you may have made some resolutions for the New Year. And like many people, you may have lost your momentum. All those good intentions… – Call or visit once a week – Fuss less over details – Make time to exercise – Practice gratitude Stop beating yourself up for “lack of willpower.”…
Stress has gained a dirty name during the past decades. It’s something we talk about needing to get rid of, as if it were wholly bad. Recent research, however, is showing that stress isn’t always a threat to our well-being. In fact, it provides many opportunities for growth. The very things that bring greatest meaning…
It is said that touch is our “first language.” As babies, it is through touch that we learn connection, trust, and well-being. Not just for children. Touch is integral to these feelings throughout our lifespan. But older adults have roughly 75% fewer touch receptors than 20-year-olds. In a twist of fate, when we literally need…
If the role of “chief caregiver” for Mom or Dad was not one you chose, you are not alone. According to a study by the American Association of Retired Persons and the National Alliance for Caregiving, 49% of family caregivers feel they really did not have a choice in the matter. There are several factors:…
Loneliness is more than an unpleasant emotion. Older adults who are lonely are also more likely to be depressed and more likely to die at a younger age than their peers. They are also more likely to need help sooner with walking, dressing, and bathing. Loneliness comes about when there is a mismatch between the…
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