Caregiver's Beacon Newsletter March 2012

[Guest guest]

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Caregiver's Beacon

" Tell me why – Show me how – Hold my hand "

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

March 1, 2012 Vol. 13 No. 2

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ALZwell Caregiver Support and ElderCare Online

http://www.alzwell.com and http://www.ec-online.net

Serving the Needs of Caregivers Since 1996

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It's Spring again. The warm weather is spreading up from the South of the

continental United States and will eventually hit the most Northern reaches.

While we often focus on the improving weather at this time of year, it's also a

good time to consider improving our own personal, spiritual, and emotional

relationships as well.

Renewal mean taking a fresh look at your life. I tend to view things in

categories such as nutrition, exercise, self, relationships, and environment.

You don't have to revamp every aspect of your life. But you can make a huge

impact by taking one core issue that you grapple with, find its root cause, and

deal with it methodically. One person may have food and weight issues, while

another may have some sour relationships that cause emotional stress, or another

may need to cheer herself up.

I have written a bonus article this month that includes some insights and

suggestions to help jump start your own personal renewal commitments at

http://www.ec-online.net/Knowledge/Articles/renewal.html.

Kind Regards,

Rich O'Boyle, Publisher

ElderCare Online

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

If you have trouble with links, the complete issue is available online at

http://www.ec-online.net/Knowledge/Newsletters/beacon3112.htm

Feature Article: " Tax Credits for Caregivers, " by O'Boyle, Publisher

Book Review: " They're Your Parent, Too: How Siblings Can Survive Their Parents'

Aging Without Driving Each Other Crazy, " by Francine Russo

Our Sponsor: Silvert's Adaptive Clothing and Footwear

Keepin' Up With ALZwell: " 7 Tips to Make Life a Little Easier for Caregivers " by

Ethelle G. Lord

Caregiver Support: The ElderCare Forum/Most Recent Topics

Subscription Information

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Feature Article: " Tax Credits for Caregivers, " by O'Boyle, Publisher

Two important tax benefits are available to caregivers: The ability to lump your

dependent loved one's medical expenses in with yours (and potentially claim a

deduction for them), and the Child and Dependent Care Credit for costs

associated with having someone provide care to your loved one who lives with

you. Individual states may have additional tax benefits. Please consult your

state's taxing authority for more details.

Caregiving expenses may be combined with your personal medical and dental

expenses. You may be able to deduct expenses associated with helping with

activities of daily living such as toileting, bathing and dressing if they add

up to 7.5% or more of your adjusted gross income.

Read the entire article…

http://www.ec-online.net/Knowledge/Articles/taxtips.html

Book Review: " They're Your Parent, Too: How Siblings Can Survive Their Parents'

Aging Without Driving Each Other Crazy, " by Francine Russo

Francine Russo has diligently researched the published literature as well as

interviewed professionals such as gerontologists, psychologists, geriatric care

managers, and attorneys. The heart (and soul) of her book are the frank and very

real case studies with siblings involved in challenging caregiving situations.

" They're Your Parents, Too " offers the time-pressed reader with practical advice

on topics such as:

- Deciding who in the family should take the lead in financial, medical, and

caregiving matters;

- Balancing the contributions of siblings who have different skills, proximity

to the parent(s);

- Understanding and accepting the unique emotional challenges that dementia

creates in a family;

- Coping with re-emerging childhood rivalries, feelings of guilt, unresolved

parent-child relationship issues; and

- Ensuring – in the midst of this emotional whirlwind – that your parent(s) get

the best possible care without driving you and your siblings crazy.

Read the complete review at….

http://www.ec-online.net/Knowledge/BookReviews/russoparents.htm

Our Sponsor: Silvert's Adaptive Clothing and Footwear

Caregivers know all too well that helping someone get dressed can be a difficult

and painful experience. But it doesn't have to be so hard. Silvert's Adaptive

Clothing carries a wide array of helpful clothes designed for special needs such

as Alzheimer's, arthritis, incontinence and dressing from a seated position.

This special open back clothing overlaps in the back for easy dressing, while

also ensuring dignity and modesty.

The line has been so popular that many nursing homes have adopted Silvert's as

their primary provider of elder care clothing. You can buy helpful adaptive

clothing online at Silvert's website at…

http://www.affbot1.com/link-e1415e5ae1405e520455500d5a125f5d525302000a45591f4b49\

50534602070e0307525d4655060153?plan=1056

Keepin' Up With ALZwell: " 7 Tips to Make Life a Little Easier for Caregivers " by

Ethelle G. Lord

These seven tips can make the work and life of a caregiver a little easier.

Keeping it simple maximizes energy and minimizes the possibility of exhaustion.

Here are seven tips that are easy to adopt and implement in your daily

caregiving schedule when providing care for someone with Alzheimer's Disease or

another form of dementia.

Read the complete article at… http://www.alzwell.com/caregiver_tips.html

Caregiver Support: The ElderCare Forum

The ElderCare Forum has been continuously providing support to caregivers since

1997. The technology certainly has changed over the last 15 years. One thing

that has not changed is the valuable exchange that has served so many caregivers

over those years.

This is a safe place for people to share ideas, humor, anger, and make lasting

relationships. No topic is out of bounds. Drop by today to browse or join in the

discussions. We have currently over 4,000 registered members.

Most recent active topics on the ElderCare Forum at

http://eldercare.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x:

5 Most Active Topics

Finally filed formal complaints with the State by Gidge (with 21 posts and 346

page views)

The very worst kind of people by dazwilson72 (with 3 posts and 261 page views)

Queen of the obvious by Unicorn (with 5 posts and 222 page views)

Our latest by T.O.R.P. (with 11 posts and 187 page views)

These hallucinations by secondchild (with 5 posts and 210 page views)

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

The Caregiver's Beacon is published bimonthly by ElderCare Online and ALZwell

Caregiver Support. To subscribe to this free newsletter, visit the subscription

information page at

http://www.ec-online.net/Knowledge/Newsletters/subscribe.htm.

You may also go to the main page of the website at http://www.ec-online.net add

your e-mail address to the white box and click on the " Subscribe " button (just

one click!).