Inspiration & Humor For Caregivers

Dorothy Custer demonstrates one of the secrets of her longevity to Jay Leno. It’s comedy! She has appeared twice on “The Tonight Show.” As a teacher some years ago, she found a better reaction from her students if she . . . → Read More: Still Having Fun and over 100 Years Old

As we gather with family to give thanks for our Blessings this Thanksgiving, let us all remember in gratitude our senior loved ones and their family caregivers, and the love they give and sacrifice and many contributions they make . . . → Read More: Happy Thanksgiving to You from HelpingYouCare®

The month of September has been designated as Healthy Aging® Month, an annual health observance developed to help individuals think more positively about growing older, and take actions to promote their own physical, social, mental and financial well-being. The . . . → Read More: Healthy Aging® Month Focuses on Limitless Possibilities After Age 50

A new study by scientists at the University of Kansas has found that a smile on your face – especially a genuine one using both mouth and eye muscles – may help lower heart rate after stressful activities. The . . . → Read More: Can a Smile Reduce Stress?

Contributed By Jackie Barber EDITOR’S NOTE: Our dear friend Jackie Barber tells the moving story of how she is overcoming the dreaded Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) that one year ago left her completely paralyzed from neck to toe. This . . . → Read More: Overcoming Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) – A Hope-Inspiring Story of Courage & Determination

President Barack Obama delivered the commencement address at Barnard College, the women’s college affiliated with Columbia University, on Monday, May 14. His address focused on issues of particular importance to women, and he then challenged the women to “stand . . . → Read More: President Obama Delivers a Message of Hope & Inspiration to Women as Commencement Speaker at Barnard College

As we give thanks for our Blessings this Thanksgiving, let us all remember in gratitude our family members and especially our senior loved ones and the love, sacrifice and many contributions they have given toward bettering the lives of . . . → Read More: Happy Thanksgiving to You from HelpingYouCare™

In trying to help caregivers, emphasis is often placed on the difficulty and stress of the role. But, the positive side of caregiving, the emotional rewards we feel as caregivers when we provide love and care to those in . . . → Read More: Will You Care For Me? Feel the Compassion & Love of a Caregiver in Response to This Touching Song

The publisher of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series of books announced that its Editors are seeking submissions of original family caregiver stories for possible inclusion in a new book to be produced, under the title: Chicken Soup . . . → Read More: Editors Seek Caregivers’ Stories for New Chicken Soup for Caregivers Book

Anna Mary Robertson Moses (September 7, 1860 – December 13, 1961), known as “Grandma Moses” began painting in her 70s. As a renowned American folk artist, her paintings were used to publicize American holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and . . . → Read More: Inspiring Senior: Grandma Moses – Productive and Famous beginning in her 70s

by Kathryn Haslanger, Senior VP for Community Benefit and External Affairs for VNSNY for The Huffington Post Amidst the difficulties of caregiving can be found a satisfaction of just one more of the things really worth doing. Some of the rewards . . . → Read More: ‘Tis the Season to Celebrate the Joys of Caregiving

By Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and LeAnn Thieman L.P.N., with a Foreward by Rosalynn Carter. We recommend this book for needed, soothing inspiration for the caregiver. Uplifting stories to nourish your soul. This is an important part of . . . → Read More: Chicken Soup For The Caregiver’s Soul

Caregiving from the Heart: Tales of Inspiration by Riki Intner and Roberta Cole (Paperback – May 27, 2006).  A compilation of caregivers’ stories, touching, moving, uplifting, insightful, some humorous, that makes you feel like you have a support group . . . → Read More: Caregiving from the Heart

The founder of modern nursing.  One of the earliest models of an inspiring caregiver, Florence Nightingale has inspired generations of family and professional caregivers. “Nightingale continued believing (circa 1850) that the death rates were due to poor nutrition and . . . → Read More: Florence Nightingale

On Vision: “It gives me a deep, comforting sense that things seen are temporal and things unseen are eternal.” “Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity . . . → Read More: Helen Keller

Told that he had little chance of surviving, Cousins developed a recovery program incorporating megadoses of Vitamin C, along with a positive attitude, love, faith, hope, and laughter induced by Marx Brothers films. ‘I made the joyous discovery that . . . → Read More: Norman Cousins

Lincoln’s formal education consisted of about 18 months of schooling, but he was largely self-educated and an avid reader.  His life was a most inspiring example of overcoming the greatest of odds and continual defeats to rise to universally . . . → Read More: Abraham Lincoln

She would have preferred to stay on the Supreme Court for several more years until she was ill and “really in bad shape” but stepped down to spend more time with her husband, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s . . . → Read More: Sandra Day O’Connor

Finding the Joy in Alzheimer’s: Caregivers Share the Joyful Times, by Brenda Avadian  (paperback), Volume I. Recommended as an uplifting support for those caring for an elderly loved one with Alzheimer’s. Readers have commented: “The stories and poems are . . . → Read More: Finding the Joy in Alzheimer’s

Spirituality, Prayer and Healing: Building Strength Through Faith, From Helpguide.org, a not for profit organization dedicated to helping caregivers. Discusses how prayers and a community of faith can provide support and strengthen resolve and courage. Read More…

Caregivers are the Heroes, Alzheimer’s Blog from MayoClinic.com. Tells the true stories of two Alzheimer’s caregivers from the Mayo Clinic support group, the humorous incidents in their caregiving, and the caring, empathy and inspiring generosity that caregiving taught them. . . . → Read More: Caregivers are the Heroes, Alzheimer’s Blog from MayoClinic.com

Doing Sixty and Seventy, by Gloria Steinem, Elders Academy Press. Inspiring essay on aging by Gloria Steinem. Offered by Pacific Institute, a non-profit organization.

Heroes Among Us By Gregory Podell. A son’s inspiring tribute to the courage and heroism of his parents as caregivers to his grandparents, and to the quiet heroism of his grandparents in their approach to aging.

The Gifts of Caregiving: Stories of Hardship, Hope, and Healing, by Connie Goldman. The stories of real caregivers, whose courage, wisdom, hope and humor inspire and enlighten. Buy this Book at Amazon.com: The Gifts of Caregiving: Stories of Hardship, . . . → Read More: The Gifts of Caregiving: Stories of Hardship, Hope, and Healing