Practical Tips & Skills for Family Caregivers

UPDATED: This article is updated from an article that appeared on HelpingYouCare® on December 31, 2014. Happy New Year! Now is the exhilarating time for a new beginning -- the time to make New Years resolutions for the coming year! Have you tho...

As part of National Family Caregivers Month - November, 2013 - the National Parkinson Foundation has announced that it will offer Free Caregiving tips and resources during the entire month of November. On the NPF Facebook page, the Foundation will p...

The Parkinson Foundation has announced that it will offer a Free Online Webinar on "Caring for the Caregiver" on Thursday, November 7 at 1:00 PM. The webinar, for caregivers, patients and their families and friends, is presented in recognition o...

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced a new website, video and other resources with tips and information on extreme heat and how to prevent heat-related deaths and illness, as temperatures rise this summer. In a rel...

In a HealthBeat message and podcast issued on April 22, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) pronounced that "Your health is going digital. Health applications on the go are becoming more available." The message describes new mobi...

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has recently issued a tipsheet for Alzheimer's caregivers on Coping with Agitation and Aggression. As the tipsheet points out, agitation and aggressive behavior ar...

The February, 2013 issue of the journal HealthAffairs features several studies addressing how more active engagement of patients in their own health and health care can affect health care outcomes and costs of care. "Studies show that more informed ...

Contributed By Shirley A. Woods EDITOR'S NOTE: In a previous post, our dear friend Jackie Barber told the inspiring story of how she is overcoming the dreaded Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) that eighteen months ago left her completely paralyzed from...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urges consumers to be on guard against fraudulent products claiming to treat, prevent, or cure a wide variety of medical conditions. FDA provides information and resources on its website on Health Fraud, i...

As Hurricane Sandy was preparing to strike New Jersey and New York on October 29, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) circulated a bulletin on how to prepare for, and keep your food and water safe during, emergencies. The HHS Bu...

A new update on the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website announces and provides information about a new Helpline called "TSA Cares" that will be provided by the TSA to assist travelers with disabilities and medical conditions. A...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the following Bulletin on September 25, 2012: Scam Alert: Beware of Bogus FDA Agents "Hundreds of people who have purchased drugs over the Internet or via telephone have unwittingly exposed thems...

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Research on Women's Health, announced on Thursday that it is providing a new mobile health app for women that is available for free download to an iPhone, iPad or Android device. The new "52 Weeks f...

Harvard Health Publications of Harvard Medical School has published Caregiver's Handbook: A guide to caring for the ill, elderly, disabled ... and yourself, a basic introductory handbook to some of the topics and concerns faced by family caregivers. ...

The American College of Physicians (ACP) and Consumer Reports jointly announced yesterday that they will work together to produce a new series of "High Value Care" guides to help patients understand what are appropriate treatments for common health pro...

Several new reports have indicated that, facing rising healthcare costs and high-deductible health insurance or no insurance, patients and consumers are increasingly negotiating lower medical bills directly with their doctors, hospitals, and other heal...

A new survey published on October 19 found that while almost eight in ten people who reported having a recent blood test claim they understood the results, in fact 48 percent did not know their cholesterol level, and 65 percent did not know their blood...

The American Red Cross is sponsoring a series of Classes for Family caregivers, which include eight one-hour modules of instruction on topics intended "to help participants gain an understanding of what is involved in caring for a loved one." The cl...

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has launched a new section of the Medicare.gov website focused on helping caregivers. The new site, called Medicare Basics -- Eligibility and enrollment; defini...

Please take a minute to answer a few questions (anonymously) that will help us learn and let others know what most concerns family caregiver and what would most help family caregivers. Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's ...

This Video produced by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Resources provides a good introduction to the many federal government resources available to family caregivers and seniors:

Sixteen different online education/ course modules for family caregivers are provided free of charge by familycaregiversonline.net, a website funded by the

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs publishes a free bi-monthly newspaper for Florida seniors and caregivers, which is packed with news, tips for health and wellness, Medicare information, and coverage of other topics of interest to seniors, as w...

Guide from AARP helps caregivers gather critical information in advance "After she died, I went to her house and had to go through her papers to find important things like the title to her car, burial arrangements, house title," she said. "They we...

As part of National Family Caregivers Month - November, 2013 - the National Parkinson Foundation has announced that it will offer Free Caregiving tips and resources during the entire month of November. On the NPF Facebook page, the Foundation will p...

The Eldercare Locator, a service of the Administration on Aging, part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), has issued a list of 10 Warning Signs Your Older Family Member May Need Help in the home. "Any one of the following be...

The February, 2013 issue of the journal HealthAffairs features several studies addressing how more active engagement of patients in their own health and health care can affect health care outcomes and costs of care. "Studies show that more informed ...

Contributed By Shirley A. Woods EDITOR'S NOTE: In a previous post, our dear friend Jackie Barber told the inspiring story of how she is overcoming the dreaded Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) that eighteen months ago left her completely paralyzed from...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urges consumers to be on guard against fraudulent products claiming to treat, prevent, or cure a wide variety of medical conditions. FDA provides information and resources on its website on Health Fraud, i...

As Hurricane Sandy was preparing to strike New Jersey and New York on October 29, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) circulated a bulletin on how to prepare for, and keep your food and water safe during, emergencies. The HHS Bu...

In a Health Alert published October 17, 2012 by Johns Hopkins, Peter Goadsby, M.D., Ph.D., a neurologist who is director of the Headache Center at the University of California at San Francisco, lists some of the signs and symptoms that may indicate a h...

A new update on the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website announces and provides information about a new Helpline called "TSA Cares" that will be provided by the TSA to assist travelers with disabilities and medical conditions. A...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the following Bulletin on September 25, 2012: Scam Alert: Beware of Bogus FDA Agents "Hundreds of people who have purchased drugs over the Internet or via telephone have unwittingly exposed thems...

Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius announced that $12.5 million in awards funded by the Affordable Care Act and the Older Americans Act will be made to local Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) to help older Americ...

New research published September 12 in The Cochrane Library has found that of several fall-prevention methods studied, exercise including strength and balance training was most effective in reducing the risk of falling for seniors. Modifications o...

"Many older adults do not successfully make the transition home well and end up returning to the hospital. In fact, one in five Medicare patients are readmitted to a hospital within 30 days after discharge," according to a new Guide on planning for Ho...

As Tropical Storm Isaac approaches Florida, with Hurricane warnings in effect for much of Florida's West coast, government authorities are urging all citizens to prepare, and are focusing attention on government resources available to help you prepare ...

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Thursday that it has updated and re-designed its Hospital Compare and Nursing Home Compare websites, which provide tools and quality measures to help consumers find hospitals and Medicare-C...

The U.S. Government today circulated a news bulletin from its official website, USA.gov, advising of a number of new or expanded resources on how to prepare for and stay safe in a Summer weather emergency. Today is the first full day of Summer in th...

Harvard Health Publications of Harvard Medical School has published Caregiver's Handbook: A guide to caring for the ill, elderly, disabled ... and yourself, a basic introductory handbook to some of the topics and concerns faced by family caregivers. ...

The American College of Physicians (ACP) and Consumer Reports jointly announced yesterday that they will work together to produce a new series of "High Value Care" guides to help patients understand what are appropriate treatments for common health pro...

Several new reports have indicated that, facing rising healthcare costs and high-deductible health insurance or no insurance, patients and consumers are increasingly negotiating lower medical bills directly with their doctors, hospitals, and other heal...

Cynthia Whisker, a social service coordinator who counsels families and seniors about how to handle the stress of caregiving for their loved ones, has herself become a caregiver for her husband. Her husband underwent both a liver transplant and heart ...

Medicare recipients under the Affordable Care Act are entitled to an annual wellness visit with their physician at no cost to them. You can review medications with your doctor and talk about whether any changes are needed. You can go over your ...

A new survey published on October 19 found that while almost eight in ten people who reported having a recent blood test claim they understood the results, in fact 48 percent did not know their cholesterol level, and 65 percent did not know their blood...

On Tuesday, September 20, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS), along with the Ad Council, a non-profit organization, launched a new Questions are the Answer initiative ...

The American Red Cross is sponsoring a series of Classes for Family caregivers, which include eight one-hour modules of instruction on topics intended "to help participants gain an understanding of what is involved in caring for a loved one." The cl...

Reluctant to ask for a second opinion from another Doctor? Watch Dr. Bruce Lytle, Chairman, Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, discuss the importance of a second or even third opinion»

As part of National Family Caregivers Month - November, 2013 - the National Parkinson Foundation has announced that it will offer Free Caregiving tips and resources during the entire month of November. On the NPF Facebook page, the Foundation will p...

As we all know, Independence Day, the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States.  It is a day on which we celebrate the founding and independence of our nation.  The Declaration of Independence, declaring independence from the Kingdo...

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced a new website, video and other resources with tips and information on extreme heat and how to prevent heat-related deaths and illness, as temperatures rise this summer. In a rel...

The Eldercare Locator, a service of the Administration on Aging, part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), has issued a list of 10 Warning Signs Your Older Family Member May Need Help in the home. "Any one of the following be...

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has recently issued a tipsheet for Alzheimer's caregivers on Coping with Agitation and Aggression. As the tipsheet points out, agitation and aggressive behavior ar...

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article and video are updated from an earlier version that appeared on HelpingYouCare® October 9, 2011. They contain important health and prevention reminders which are particularly relevant as we currently face a widespread flu e...

According to the latest Seasonal Flu Surveillance (FluView) Report, issued today by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "the United States is having an early flu season with most of the country now experiencing high levels of inf...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urges consumers to be on guard against fraudulent products claiming to treat, prevent, or cure a wide variety of medical conditions. FDA provides information and resources on its website on Health Fraud, i...

As Hurricane Sandy was preparing to strike New Jersey and New York on October 29, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) circulated a bulletin on how to prepare for, and keep your food and water safe during, emergencies. The HHS Bu...

In a Health Alert published October 17, 2012 by Johns Hopkins, Peter Goadsby, M.D., Ph.D., a neurologist who is director of the Headache Center at the University of California at San Francisco, lists some of the signs and symptoms that may indicate a h...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the following Bulletin on September 25, 2012: Scam Alert: Beware of Bogus FDA Agents "Hundreds of people who have purchased drugs over the Internet or via telephone have unwittingly exposed thems...

"Many older adults do not successfully make the transition home well and end up returning to the hospital. In fact, one in five Medicare patients are readmitted to a hospital within 30 days after discharge," according to a new Guide on planning for Ho...

As Tropical Storm Isaac approaches Florida, with Hurricane warnings in effect for much of Florida's West coast, government authorities are urging all citizens to prepare, and are focusing attention on government resources available to help you prepare ...

June has been designated "National Safety Month," an annual observance sponsored by the National Safety Council (NSC), a non-profit organization, "to increase awareness of the top causes of preventable injuries and deaths and to encourage safe behavior...

Harvard Health Publications of Harvard Medical School has published Caregiver's Handbook: A guide to caring for the ill, elderly, disabled ... and yourself, a basic introductory handbook to some of the topics and concerns faced by family caregivers. ...

While caring for an older parent can be one of the most rewarding experiences of a lifetime, it can also be frustrating and stressful, leading to "caregiver burnout." Dr. Alicia Arbaje, of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine offers some help...

Caregiving expert, Elinor Ginzler, former AARP Senior Vice President for Livable Communities addresses some questions: Who are caregivers in America today? What are the challenges of being a family caregiver? How can families prepare for the ine...

Geriatric health experts say a good place to start in assessing elderly health is weight.  A weight gain or loss is something to be addressed with a doctor (especially if the reason for the gain or loss is not known). Other elderly health considerati...

A new survey published on October 19 found that while almost eight in ten people who reported having a recent blood test claim they understood the results, in fact 48 percent did not know their cholesterol level, and 65 percent did not know their blood...

Harvard Medical School has recently issued a new HealthBeat report, published by Harvard Health Publications, with practical tips on how to measure your blood pressure at home. "Checking blood pressure at home won't cure hypertension, but it will he...

The American Red Cross is sponsoring a series of Classes for Family caregivers, which include eight one-hour modules of instruction on topics intended "to help participants gain an understanding of what is involved in caring for a loved one." The cl...

At a time of widely reported rising risks from widespread hospital errors and hospital-acquired infections, doctors in Italy have conducted a pilot study that showed that at least some hospital care (routine X-rays) can better be delivered to elderly p...

Modern Health Talk is a new online community promoting home health care technologies as a way of replacing institutional care (nursing homes & assisted living) with aging in place at home. The community includes: Website (mHealthTalk.com) wi...

Several pilot programs are being conducted by the Oregon Center for Aging & Technology to test motion sensors, skype-like video monitors, robots and other high-tech equipment, as a means of constantly monitoring the well-being of seniors in their own h...

A new update on the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website announces and provides information about a new Helpline called "TSA Cares" that will be provided by the TSA to assist travelers with disabilities and medical conditions. A...

Several pilot programs are being conducted by the Oregon Center for Aging & Technology to test motion sensors, skype-like video monitors, robots and other high-tech equipment, as a means of constantly monitoring the well-being of seniors in their own h...

The National Diabetes Education Program, jointly sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), has issued a checklist of tips to help you travel with diabetes. These may be helpful to ...

Watch Dr. Ronan Factora from the Cleveland Clinic Discovery Health video»

A phone with video capability, or an Internet-connected computer with a webcam that allows a caregiver to view a loved one when the caregiver is away, is a technology most long-distance caregivers would like to have. In a recent study by the Nation...

Caregivers are beginning to recognize that technology can provide significant benefits both to themselves and their care recipient, helping them to be more effective as caregivers, saving time and money, and reducing stress. Health records, web-base...

Read tips for long-distance caregivers from the Cleveland Clinic. Some of the tips: Get organized; Schedule a family meeting; Research your loved one's illness and treatment; Keep in touch with the medical providers for your lov...

As part of National Family Caregivers Month - November, 2013 - the National Parkinson Foundation has announced that it will offer Free Caregiving tips and resources during the entire month of November. On the NPF Facebook page, the Foundation will p...

As we all know, Independence Day, the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States.  It is a day on which we celebrate the founding and independence of our nation.  The Declaration of Independence, declaring independence from the Kingdo...

In a HealthBeat message and podcast issued on April 22, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) pronounced that "Your health is going digital. Health applications on the go are becoming more available." The message describes new mobi...

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has recently issued a tipsheet for Alzheimer's caregivers on Coping with Agitation and Aggression. As the tipsheet points out, agitation and aggressive behavior ar...

The February, 2013 issue of the journal HealthAffairs features several studies addressing how more active engagement of patients in their own health and health care can affect health care outcomes and costs of care. "Studies show that more informed ...

According to the latest Seasonal Flu Surveillance (FluView) Report, issued today by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "the United States is having an early flu season with most of the country now experiencing high levels of inf...

Frequently late? Often angry or irritated? Unsure of your ability to do something? Overextended? Not enough time for stress relief? A new report by Harvard Medical School, Stress Management: Approaches for preventing and reducing stress, "can h...

Contributed By Shirley A. Woods EDITOR'S NOTE: In a previous post, our dear friend Jackie Barber told the inspiring story of how she is overcoming the dreaded Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) that eighteen months ago left her completely paralyzed from...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urges consumers to be on guard against fraudulent products claiming to treat, prevent, or cure a wide variety of medical conditions. FDA provides information and resources on its website on Health Fraud, i...

As Hurricane Sandy was preparing to strike New Jersey and New York on October 29, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) circulated a bulletin on how to prepare for, and keep your food and water safe during, emergencies. The HHS Bu...

In a Health Alert published October 17, 2012 by Johns Hopkins, Peter Goadsby, M.D., Ph.D., a neurologist who is director of the Headache Center at the University of California at San Francisco, lists some of the signs and symptoms that may indicate a h...

October 7-13 has been declared "Mental Illness Awareness Week" in the U.S.  This annual health observance to raise mental illness awareness was declared by an Act of Congress in 1990, to occur in the first full week of October each year. The observ...

A new update on the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website announces and provides information about a new Helpline called "TSA Cares" that will be provided by the TSA to assist travelers with disabilities and medical conditions. A...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the following Bulletin on September 25, 2012: Scam Alert: Beware of Bogus FDA Agents "Hundreds of people who have purchased drugs over the Internet or via telephone have unwittingly exposed thems...

Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius announced that $12.5 million in awards funded by the Affordable Care Act and the Older Americans Act will be made to local Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) to help older Americ...

As Tropical Storm Isaac approaches Florida, with Hurricane warnings in effect for much of Florida's West coast, government authorities are urging all citizens to prepare, and are focusing attention on government resources available to help you prepare ...

This Fourth of July will be the 236th birthday of the United States of America. To help you celebrate safely, the U.S. Government has posted a number of resources at USA.gov, the U.S. government's official web portal, and on other government websites....

The U.S. Government today circulated a news bulletin from its official website, USA.gov, advising of a number of new or expanded resources on how to prepare for and stay safe in a Summer weather emergency. Today is the first full day of Summer in th...

Harvard Health Publications of Harvard Medical School has published Caregiver's Handbook: A guide to caring for the ill, elderly, disabled ... and yourself, a basic introductory handbook to some of the topics and concerns faced by family caregivers. ...

Ask Dr. Z December, 2011 By Laura Zipris, Psy. D., LMHC Editor's Note: Dr. Laura Zipris, Psy. D., LMHC, holds a doctorate in Psychology and is licensed to practice psychotherapy in New York and Florida. She writes a monthly column, Ask Dr. Z...

The American Red Cross is sponsoring a series of Classes for Family caregivers, which include eight one-hour modules of instruction on topics intended "to help participants gain an understanding of what is involved in caring for a loved one." The cl...

Watch Caring Canines Therapy Dogs, Inc., a Non-Profit Therapy Dog organization whose purpose is to share love, joy, and make people feel better»

If you or your senior loved one live in a coastal area, have you taken the advisable steps to prepare in advance for a Hurricane? If an evacuation order were given, have you planned how and where your elderly parent would evacuate? The U.S. Centers ...

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services released an investigation report on May 4, 2011, finding that among elderly Medicare patients in nursing homes, dangerous antipsychotic drugs are being given predom...