Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/244291
Simplify your schedule Make a list of things you used to do before you started caregiving. Say 'no' to lower-priority activities and "yes" to what's most important and enjoyable to you. Book club seem frivolous? Not if it helps you relax, laugh and enjoy the company of friends. Ask for and accept help Remember that friends and family feel good when they can help. Give them a specific task or errand. You get what you need, and they don't struggle to decide how to help. Seek support* Many caregivers find value talking to someone in a similar situation, be it through a caregivers' support group or connecting one-on-one. Keep up your physical health Don't forget to schedule yearly physicals, dental and other health care appointments. Eat well, exercise and get as much sleep as possible. The payoff is more energy and less stress, which helps everyone. Recognize signs of depression Depression is common among caregivers, so seek help if you are feeling overwhelmed, cannot sleep or notice a change in your eating habits. Seek out skilled help Be realistic about what you can handle as a caregiver and how your loved one's needs are being met at home. Consider hiring a nurse or nurse's aide to give you a break, and research respite services in your area. Expenses run high, but Medicaid or Medicare help pay a portion of costs in certain situations. Practice self-healing Set aside 'you' time every day, even for just five minutes. Have a cup of tea, talk to a friend or keep a journal. This honors your needs and can help revive your energy. For instance, Gordon sometimes takes breaks to work on her photography. "I can just sort of forget about everything else for a while," she says. Be present and find the positive Dr. Monique Giroux helps both patients and their caregivers cope with debilitating diseases. *Care Partners support group and Parkinson's of the Rockies (PAR) offer free support groups at the Heritage Club in Greenwood Village. Meetings are held on the second Saturday of every month at 10 a.m. Remember that planning is important, but so is being present. When your thoughts are right here, right now, it can help you from feeling overwhelmed and allow you to fully experience a beautiful sunset or laugh at a funny joke. Guest speaker & light brunch served. 6450 S. Boston St., Greenwood Village Call Wendy Sousa for details: 303.268.8042 Swedish 'Lou Gehrig's' patient becomes first recipient of breathing technology A surgical team at Swedish Medical Center recently implanted a cutting-edge, pacemaker-like device that expands breathing capacity into a "Lou Gehrig's Disease" patient, potentially improving and extending his life. It was the first such procedure on a Lou Gehrig's patient in Colorado. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often called "Lou Gehrig's Disease" for the famous Yankee player who died from it, is a progressive, incurable neurodegenerative disease that hinders nerve cells in 60 the brain and spinal cord from communicating with muscles, including the diaphragm. As a result, breathing (and other normal functions) becomes progressively more difficult.