DeDivahDeals

Fashion and Fun after Fifty

Posts Tagged ‘grandparents’

Free Resources for Caregivers in honor of Father’s Day | Ad Council & AARP Campaign

Taking care of grandparents and parents takes its toll on caregivers who are often sandwiched between the activities of children, a busy work schedule and the needs of aging loved ones.

In 2008, when my grandmother’s health began to deteriorate I became her primary caregiver until the day she died in 2009 at the age of 98. Fortunately I was able to work from home most days but trying to keep a normal schedule with both boys in school and the daily grind of running a household oftentimes became overwhelming.

Although hubby and the boys were there to support me, I wish I had know about the resources offered by AARP which would have been a tremendous help.  AARP offers several resources to help the nearly 44 million Americans – 1 in 5 adults – who are family caregivers for a relative or friend over the age 50.

THE THANKS PROJECT AARP_FathersDay_v3

The Thanks Project is an online platform that enables caregivers to publically recognize the parents for whom they care. Each individual ‘thanks’ will be integrated into the interactive tapestry, representing the 42 million caregivers in the US. Caregivers everywhere deserve to be recognized for the important work that they do, and Father’s Day remind us why it’s worth it.

CAREGIVING RESOURCE CENTER

The Caregiving Resource Center by the AARP offers articles by experts, answers to pressing questions, the latest in caregiver news and a helpline for caregivers to connect on a daily basis.

You can also read about 12 Resources Every Caregiver Should Know About on the Caregiving Resource Center Page.

PREPARE TO CARE: A PLANNING GUIDE FOR FAMILIES

Prepare to Care is a downloadable pdf e-book that walks caregivers through the steps of starting the conversation with aging parents about upcoming decisions that will  have to be made and to form a team and create a plan before an emergency arises rather than waiting until a crisis occurs to act.

At the end of the guide is a both a glossary and two pages of additional resources for caregivers handling a range of issues related parents from Alzheimers care to legal issues affecting older adults.


OOTD – Politically Incorrect President’s Day

Hello Friends and Happy President’s Day 2013

Lucky lucky you if you are home today on holiday because “it’s as cold as a witches’ tit”!   I remember that as being one of my mother’s favorite sayings during those cold New York winters.  Do you remember any crude statements that your parents or grandparents liked to say way before it would be considered politically incorrect? (careful)

In honor of President’s Day I was going to wear Red with Blue and White Polka Dots but it’s just too cold.  Instead I chose the warm and cozy flannel shirt that my son put in the “to be donated” box but never made it, a thrifted khaki skirt and knee high boots – it’s all about keeping warm!  I like these boots because they can be worn full length showing the brass studs or folded over to reveal the leopard print – two styles in one for less than $20!

 

president's day

  Image Image

Flannel Shirt – son’s giveaway // Skirt – GW Boutique (Goodwill) // Boots – Rugged Wearhouse // Watch – Avon // Rings, Earrings and Bracely – Jewelry Box // Belt –

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then an now

I’ve added more pictures to my “As Seen Through My Car Window” page – check them out when you get a chance.

Linking up today with ColorBlind: Thrifters Anonymous & Megnificent Monday – hop over and meet a new blogger.

Have a fantabulous afternoon – Smooches!

dedivahdeals signature sverve-banner600x120-


OOTD – Politically Incorrect President's Day

Hello Friends and Happy President’s Day 2013

Lucky lucky you if you are home today on holiday because “it’s as cold as a witches’ tit”!   I remember that as being one of my mother’s favorite sayings during those cold New York winters.  Do you remember any crude statements that your parents or grandparents liked to say way before it would be considered politically incorrect? (careful)

In honor of President’s Day I was going to wear Red with Blue and White Polka Dots but it’s just too cold.  Instead I chose the warm and cozy flannel shirt that my son put in the “to be donated” box but never made it, a thrifted khaki skirt and knee high boots – it’s all about keeping warm!  I like these boots because they can be worn full length showing the brass studs or folded over to reveal the leopard print – two styles in one for less than $20!

 

president's day

  Image Image

Flannel Shirt – son’s giveaway // Skirt – GW Boutique (Goodwill) // Boots – Rugged Wearhouse // Watch – Avon // Rings, Earrings and Bracely – Jewelry Box // Belt –

Image Image

then an now

I’ve added more pictures to my “As Seen Through My Car Window” page – check them out when you get a chance.

Linking up today with ColorBlind: Thrifters Anonymous & Megnificent Monday – hop over and meet a new blogger.

Have a fantabulous afternoon – Smooches!

dedivahdeals signature sverve-banner600x120-


Grandma’s Hands

Hello friends and Happy Monday. I hope you had a wonderful weekend and today proves to be stress free and productive.

Friday night and Sunday afternoon, my sons and I went to Heartland Hospice to visit my mother-in-law, their only living grandparent. It brought back so many memories, ones of my own grandmother who was cared for by nurses from Heartland. However, in her case she was able to be home with us in her own bed when she transitioned. The thought process and physical condition of my mother-in-law is identical to that of my grandmother’s, now knowing it’s only a matter of time. She is heavily medicated as to not be in much pain, in and out of consciousnesses often times becoming lucid which is heart breaking. She spoke of leaving soon to go home and make chili, naming all the ingredients she needed and then the next minute looked up at me to compliment my scarf and nail polish – tears!

My sons are once again losing a family elder and they held her hands just as they did with my grandmother their great-grandmother in 2009. The song Grandma’s Hands by Bill Withers was the song that accompanied a montage at my grandmother’s funeral and it’s appropriate for this post.

If you have your grandparents in your life please celebrate them especially during this joyous season as they are truly a treasure to be honored and cherished.

I also ask for prayers for my husband and his mother during this time.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Grandma’s Hands

dedivahdeals signature


Grandma's Hands

Hello friends and Happy Monday. I hope you had a wonderful weekend and today proves to be stress free and productive.

Friday night and Sunday afternoon, my sons and I went to Heartland Hospice to visit my mother-in-law, their only living grandparent. It brought back so many memories, ones of my own grandmother who was cared for by nurses from Heartland. However, in her case she was able to be home with us in her own bed when she transitioned. The thought process and physical condition of my mother-in-law is identical to that of my grandmother’s, now knowing it’s only a matter of time. She is heavily medicated as to not be in much pain, in and out of consciousnesses often times becoming lucid which is heart breaking. She spoke of leaving soon to go home and make chili, naming all the ingredients she needed and then the next minute looked up at me to compliment my scarf and nail polish – tears!

My sons are once again losing a family elder and they held her hands just as they did with my grandmother their great-grandmother in 2009. The song Grandma’s Hands by Bill Withers was the song that accompanied a montage at my grandmother’s funeral and it’s appropriate for this post.

If you have your grandparents in your life please celebrate them especially during this joyous season as they are truly a treasure to be honored and cherished.

I also ask for prayers for my husband and his mother during this time.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Grandma’s Hands

dedivahdeals signature