Author: Archana

Hello and Welcome to my sixth attempt at the AtoZ blogging challenge.
My theme this year is Caring for the Caregiver. My posts are based on my experience and are not meant to be a comprehensive guide on the subject. I would love to hear your experiences..
You can catch up with my previous posts here.
With each post, I am sharing a sketch that I have done as a means for stress busting. 

Why Me?
My husband and I look after and are main caregivers for three elders (four, till my father passed away a couple of years ago). 
And I have asked myself “Why Me” umpteen times and with no answer.
Why this? Why that? Why Why Why

Very slowly and painfully I have accepted that this is how it is going to be, maybe this is what God wants me to do so its best that I simply get on with my job instead of complaining and cribbing. It is easy to say so and write here but very difficult to implement. Especially when one has to give up doing things we love or enjoy. 


Yet, once I have accepted the situation, its been much easier, my stress has reduced and generally I think I can become a better care giver. Being emotionally charged up is not good as I tend to  become irritable, argumentative and so on.. 


We relish and appreciate every support and help from our family members .. Along with professional helpers, we have managed to keep ourselves sane and try to stay fit and happy. 
Why me is not a question that I ask now..

However, as I said before…
There is no one size fits all solution. 
Every family has to find something that suits them best. 
At best, posts such as mine will inspire a family to come up with their unique workable plan.


Sketch for the day

We are almost at the end of the Ato Z!
How has it treated you?
Have you kept up with reading and commenting? This is where I could not keep up but I hope to catch up soon.
Stay happy folks!

Hello and Welcome to my sixth attempt at the AtoZ blogging challenge.
My theme this year is Caring for the Caregiver. My posts are based on my experience and are not meant to be a comprehensive guide on the subject. I would love to hear your experiences..
You can catch up with my previous posts here.
With each post, I am sharing a sketch that I have done as a means for stress busting. 


Visitors
Meeting friends, family members, colleagues from work, neighbours etc can help cheer seniors especially when their mobility is restricted. Despite technology keeping them updated with happenings around them, there is nothing to beat the human touch and voice. 
However, its necessary to restrict the number of people who visit our wards lest the latter get tired. Instead of us care givers making a schedule, the visitors can be requested to tie up among themselves. This way someone is visiting regularly and our wards do not tire. Additionally it gives us some time away either for work or simply relax!


I also discourage visitors from bringing gifts. Especially food. Elders usually are finicky about what they eat and there may be health restrictions as well. Flowers may cause allergy. Books may end up just lying around and never read. Happy thoughts and laughter are the best gift that visitors can give the elders they visit. (A point for us to remember as well when we call on elders.)


I have found that some people end up giving negativity by their visits. I have strongly discouraged such people even at the risk of being labelled as people-unfriendly. I cannot have my ward disturbed for no reason at all. 


If visitors wish to genuinely help caregivers, then Heather Erickson has a list of thoughtful things that caregivers will really appreciate. e.g. Offering to do their laundry, cook a meal for them… Do visit her post to read many more wonderful suggestions.

However, as I said before…
There is no one size fits all solution. 
Every family has to find something that suits them best. 
At best, posts such as mine will inspire a family to come up with their unique workable plan.

Only four more alphabets till this challenge ends.
How has it treated you?
Meet you tomorrow with the Y post!
Stay happy!

Hello and Welcome to my sixth attempt at the AtoZ blogging challenge.
My theme this year is Caring for the Caregiver. My posts are based on my experience and are not meant to be a comprehensive guide on the subject. I would love to hear your experiences..
You can catch up with my previous posts here.
With each post, I am sharing a sketch that I have done as a means for stress busting. 


Unique
As you would have noticed, I have repeatedly said, “every family has to find something that suits them best.”
Which means a Unique solution.


I have tried to bring out various aspects that care givers have to deal with and some methods to deal with them. What is suitable for me may not work for others and visa versa.
We meet many people who love to advise us on what should be done to look after our wards. Often these are just empty words, never backed with concrete support or facts. This sounds harsh but is true. 


I know of a very old couple who is happily living in a centre for assisted ageing. Another who has chosen to stay in their own home with several helpers. Another lady has chosen to spend 3 months alternately with her daughters while another gentleman is staying alone. One lady has moved to a new home closer to that of her daughter so that the daughter does not need to commute to look after her mother’s needs.

The immediate families of each are comfortable with their own set up as it works for them. The wards and caregivers are both happy to the extent possible. 


Each family has created their own Unique solution.


Ageing is not easy. We have to make the best of the situation so that everyone is happy and comfortable.

However, as I said before…
There is no one size fits all solution. 
Every family has to find something that suits them best. 
At best, posts such as mine will inspire a family to come up with their unique workable plan.


Today’s sketch is of a vase lying on the mantle.

Hello and Welcome to my sixth attempt at the AtoZ blogging challenge.
My theme this year is Caring for the Caregiver. My posts are based on my experience and are not meant to be a comprehensive guide on the subject. I would love to hear your experiences..
You can catch up with my previous posts here.
With each post, I am sharing a sketch that I have done as a means for stress busting. 

Share
Being care givers means having to take umpteen decisions (about medications, therapy, finances, diet choices etc etc) for our wards. In addition to the stress and responsibilities of our own lives. This can double our load mentally.


It is vital to share our fears, reservations with a trusted person. It can be in the form of a support group or spouse or sibling or friend. A person whom you know will keep your trust, and not end up convert your thoughts gossip fodder. 
One can also write a diary or blog .. anything to let off the steam.
Group activities can also help share and relieve the loads of our minds.


Whatever the mode, sharing is important. It can also lead to help find solutions to some problem we may face as care givers. 

However, as I said before…
There is no one size fits all solution. 
Every family has to find something that suits them best. 
At best, posts such as mine will inspire a family to come up with their unique workable plan.



Here is my sketch …

See you tomorrow folks!
Stay happy!

Hello and Welcome to my sixth attempt at the AtoZ blogging challenge.
My theme this year is Caring for the Caregiver. My posts are based on my experience and are not meant to be a comprehensive guide on the subject. I would love to hear your experiences..
You can catch up with my previous posts here.
With each post, I am sharing a sketch that I have done as a means for stress busting. 

Routine
As care givers, there is a whole lot of work waiting to be done (and more…).. and one may cave in under this load – housekeeping, medical followups, bill payments and all this at time has to be of two households. Its easy to miss some important stuff.


My suggestion is to make a strict routine for things to be done. Note it in your diary or simply make a chart and pin  the paper at an easily seen place. It can be a daily schedule or a weekly/monthly one depending on your situation. Make sure to allot time for your own exercise and some relaxation. 
Besides staying up to date with our commitments, it also helps to declutter the mind, and simply prevents unwanted thoughts from entering. Thus helps in managing stress. 


Do you have a routine? 

However, as I said before…
There is no one size fits all solution. 
Every family has to find something that suits them best. 
At best, posts such as mine will inspire a family to come up with their unique workable plan.


Today’s sketch is an attempt to draw a bottle from the dressing table!

We reach the end of the third week of the AtoZ!
Have a great weekend folks!
Stay happy!

Hello and Welcome to my sixth attempt at the AtoZ blogging challenge.
My theme this year is Caring for the Caregiver. My posts are based on my experience and are not meant to be a comprehensive guide on the subject. I would love to hear your experiences..
You can catch up with my previous posts here.
With each post, I am sharing a sketch that I have done as a means for stress busting. 


Questions
When faced with dependency, chronic medical conditions, mobility issues etc, there are bound to be umpteen questions in our minds. They may be about our wards health/medical condition or about ourselves and how we will manage the situation.


Its better to note down the queries and ask them to the doctors. If the doubts pertain to some legal issues then best ask a lawyer. And so on..


Never hold doubts or try to get an answer by internet search. It may turn out to be the wrong one. 

However, as I said before…
There is no one size fits all solution. 
Every family has to find something that suits them best. 
At best, posts such as mine will inspire a family to come up with their unique workable plan.


Today’s is inspired from an image in a magazine.
We have more than half way through the alphabet.
How is the AtoZ treating you?


See you tomorrow folks with the R post.
Stay Happy!

Hello and Welcome to my sixth attempt at the AtoZ blogging challenge.
My theme this year is Caring for the Caregiver. My posts are based on my experience and are not meant to be a comprehensive guide on the subject. I would love to hear your experiences..
You can catch up with my previous posts here.
With each post, I am sharing a sketch that I have done as a means for stress busting. 


Privacy
As age increases, mobility issues creep in. Often elders are unable to carry out their basic care for themselves like having a bath, using the toilet, changing clothes, eating and so on. Irrespective of who helps them (we as care givers or professional helpers), these moments can be extremely embarrassing for our wards. It needs great sensitivity and empathy to tide over this phase. 


Similarly, as care givers, we too need to have some privacy and the best way is to have a space which becomes like an oasis to retreat to. It can be our home or any other place where we can be ourselves, unwind, vent our thoughts and clear our minds. This will be the care givers a neutral, happy space, an Oasis as it were to escape to. 
If our wards continue to live in their own homes, then everyone has their own space and privacy. 
Obviously, this may not always be possible. 

However, as I said before…
There is no one size fits all solution. 
Every family has to find something that suits them best. 
At best, posts such as mine will inspire a family to come up with their unique workable plan.


My sketch for the day

This has been inspired by a Coir Coaster at my Mum’s place.

Meet you again tomorrow with the S post.
Stay Happy!

Hello and Welcome to my sixth attempt at the AtoZ blogging challenge.
My theme this year is Caring for the Caregiver. My posts are based on my experience and are not meant to be a comprehensive guide on the subject. I would love to hear your experiences..
You can catch up with my previous posts here.
With each post, I am sharing a sketch that I have done as a means for stress busting. 

Own Surroundings
When elders are unable to live independently, take care of themselves then arises the most difficult question of whether they should live with their children, in an assisted living facility or by themselves in their own home with some extra help.


I have seen first hand people living in all the above three options. I find that the last one – namely living in their own surroundings, within the four walls (metaphorically speaking) that they have spent so many years in is the best. They have their memories, neighbours, things around them which keeps them connected. Pets if any also make a difference I am told. It also keeps them occupied mentally, as they can stay engaged in supervising the housekeeping, gardening and any other mundane taskes. They have their own TV and favourite channels that they can watch whenever and however long they want. 

However, as I said before…
There is no one size fits all solution. 
Every family has to find something that suits them best. 
At best, posts such as mine will inspire a family to come up with their unique workable plan.


My sketch is in line with my word of the day. It is inspired by an embroidered wall hanging..

See you tomorrow with the P post.
Stay happy!