Posted by Rosie on December 12, 2008
Health is one of the main concerns of baby boomers. We are concerned about the health of our children, parents and finally ourselves. I feel that our concern for ourselves is critical if we are to help others. As a long time Community Health Educator I was excited about compiling this list. And as a caregiver and baby boomer I know that it is important to have resources that speak directly to the needs of baby boomers.
Of course not all the blogs in blog world are listed in this little list. This is just a way of “priming the pump.” (Getting the water to flow) The list is limited to baby boomer authors or sites directed to baby boomers. Note also, that all the blogs in this list are by real people. Many sites were omitted from my list although they were directed to baby boomers because they did not have an ABOUT page or information about the authors.
If any sites are included without an ABOUT page it is because I knew the author to be a live person not a robot or sales machine.
Please tell me about other blogs that are by or written for baby boomers. I hope the resources are helpful to you.
Thanks so much.
A blog on brain health by Suzanna B. Stinnett who states:
I focus on brain fitness and the power of our imagination because these are the things I relate to the most. After all, how can we innovate if our brains quit working? This is my way of keeping my community fit and engaged for the promising world I believe is now unfolding.
The author,Gregory Anne Cox was one of the early female graduates of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. She spent 20+ years in the hospitality industry, and cooked privately for many of the country’s rich and famous. Reviews of her culinary efforts have appeared in The New York Times, Gourmet, and The San Diego Union Tribune among others. While in San Diego, Gregory helped develop and expand the first heart healthy, fresh, quick food restaurant called Daily’s Fit & Fresh.
The tag line of her site says: All a Woman Needs to Stay ,Fit, Healthy, Sassy and Sane.
Archer Pam says: My intent and purpose of this page is to share health and fitness information with you in a real and personal way. I have been a fitness professional, personal trainer, and instructor for nearly two decades. I draw from my own experence and research to write a column for our local newspaper on health and fitness.
Personal Note: She inspired me to take Zumba classes from her writings and interview I had with her which is listed on this site.
Peace with PTSD” is authored by baby boomerLady Spirit Moon Cerelli, Author, Speaker and Workshop Presenter, to assist those with PTSD, and other stress-related behavior disorders, find a comfortable place to inquire about the information available on PTSD.
The blog is authored by journalist, author and talks show host, Beverly Mahone. She is also the founder of Boomer Diva Nation.
A blog authored by baby boomer, Debbie Mormino. She promotes and shares the message of good breast health.
are both authored by baby boomer Claudia L. Meydrech, CN .She states: “I have been helping people find health through nutrition for over 22 years. After attending college, and a few years learning and teaching others about medicinal herbs, I continued my education and received my CN designation (Certified Nutritionist)…”
“… educating my patients is what I do - it’s a guiding principal to my practice. After all, it’s not my body, but yours. It’s up to each of us to take the advice we are given,
evaluate it and make the best choice for ourselves.
Our providers are merely our guides.”
Barbara C. Phillips, MN, NP
Family & Geriatric Nurse Practitioner
This is just one of a series of sites by Bob DeMarco. Be sure to visit all the sites he has providing information to any baby boomer currently providing care to their parents or other relatives.
Providing Midlife Men a Place to Breathe
Trisha provides patient empowerment, advocacy, medical consumerism and tools to navigate the dysfunction of American health care.
Just looking at the catergories tell the rest of the story. They include:
# Exercise Guidance
# Nutrition Basics
# Flat Belly Recipes
# Fat Loss Tips
# Healthy Habits
# Inspiratio
Posted by Rosie on November 2, 2008
Special Thanks once again to Greg Brown and James Armstrong, from Now What Jobs for this article. Many of us are attempting to deal with this new role in our boomer years.
Following is part two of an interview with Phyllis Slater, owner of Slater Solutions LLC. Ms. Slater has devoted years to providing coaching and concierge services to the working caregiver and aging parent. Visit Phyllis Slater’s website .
Q. Is caregiving a rewarding career?
A. Yes, I have a creative personality and passion to find solutions. Working for others did not provide that freedom, which was a trade-off for security. Eight years ago I started my own business helping seniors to downsize their home, pack and unpack for relocation, and organize the home for ease of movement. This process is more than just packing and unpacking. Now the family can learn how to properly do these tasks for themselves by hiring me for coaching sessions over the telephone.
As time went on, I created friendships with other senior care providers. It became clear that there was a gap with respect to information, resources and the caregiver. Unfortunately, aging is not a pleasant thought and people wait for the last minute to think about it.
Q. could we have an overview of caregiving?
A. There are two types of caregivers. There are both family and professional caregivers.
Q. What does it mean to be a family caregiver?
A. Family caregivers are on call 24/7 should a loved one’s health and care change. Today a loved one may be independent but a fall tonight could mean hospitalization, rehabilitation and care when they return home. That is if they return home.
Q. Describe a day in the life of a family caregiver.
A. From rising in the morning, responsibilities start with making sure a loved one takes meals and medications; is bathed and dressed; you cook, clean, shop and provide transportation. Don?t forget the importance of social interaction with the loved one.
Family and professional caregivers must work as a team. A perfect scenario of how to be a great caregiver includes planning ahead for any contingency, which includes a list of products, services and resources within reach. However, this is not reality since most caregivers wait until a crisis to think about these things. There are unknowns, such as being independent until illness places them into a nursing home. Years ago there wasn?t any in-between stage. Now we have options such as Assisted Living and Continuing Care Facilities.
Q. What kinds of people are most in need of caregiver services?
A. Caregiver services should be available to someone who has physical, mental or age related challenges.
Q. What do these people need the most?
A. Support and services in a clean, caring and affordable environment. Aging is a process. Preparing for reality of aging is as important as preparing for retirement.
Q. What kinds of challenges does a family caregiver face?
A. When a loved one can no longer be fully independent, many families have no idea of the emotional and physical stress it puts on them. The key is to avoid ?burnout? by taking time out for a quiet walk, lunch with friends or bringing a massage therapist and hair stylist to the home.
Q. What kinds of advice do you give to a Boomer who is considering getting a caregiver for his or her parent?
A. Plan ahead by asking friends for referral services they have used. Keep a record of this for future reference. Doctors and organizations provide referrals, but that does not mean they have ever used them or know someone who has.
If a professional caregiver is required, interview their company as closely as they will interview you.
* Is the company and staff bonded?
* Will one person be the primary caregiver?
* Does the personality of your loved one work with the personality of the caregiver?
* What is the pricing?
* Perform company background checks.
Q. What are some of the disadvantages of being a caregiver?
A. Burnout is a big concern if there is no personal respite time allowed. Sometimes a spouse feels guilty about taking time away from the ailing spouse. What happens is that the healthy spouse dies first.
James O. Armstrong, who is President of NowWhatJobs.net, Inc., http://www.nowwhatjobs.net, also serves as the Editor of NowWhatJobs.net. In addition, he is the author of “Now What: Discovering Your New Life And Career After 50″ and the President of James Armstrong & Associates, Inc., which is a media representation firm based in Suburban Chicago.
Posted by Rosie on October 8, 2008
As baby boomers many of us are care givers for family members. This is an insightful article from James O. Armstrong.
Following is part one of an interview with Phyllis Slater, owner of Slater Solutions LLC. Ms. Slater has devoted years to providing coaching and concierge services to the working caregiver and aging parent. Visit Phyllis Slater’s website at EldercareConcierge.Blogspot.com.
Q. Why did you become a caregiver?
A. At 23 years of age my first husband became ill at the same time I became pregnant. I was to become a caregiver to two people. This challenge has made me sensitive to the stress of being a caregiver. There was a limited support system available at that time. Today, the best support systems are for those who are low income.
Q. Where does a person go to become a caregiver?
A. Check with the Area Agency on Aging or government aging services. They can provide information about which jobs require certification, bonding, and extensive training. Non-medical in-home care requires very little schooling.
Q. Are there classes that people take?
A. Colleges offer courses for a variety of caregiving careers. Hospitals have their classes and requirements. The Internet is a great source of research for this. However, decide what area you would enjoy working in and contact the appropriate companies in that field to see what they require.
Check out Center for Caregiver Training at Caregiving101.org. And, there is Educational Resources for the Family and Professional Caregiver at Medifecta.com. I have never used them, so it would be up to individuals to learn more.
Q. What is the income for the professional caregiver?
A. It depends on the field of caregiving that is desired. An in-home care worker earns between $15 to $21 dollars an hour. Many times they work for a client only four hours a day or once a week. In-home care companies usually do not provide health coverage but pay for the bonding and background checks. Each state has a different law about this. Naturally, an insurance specialist, lawyer, and financial planner can earn whatever the market allows.
Q. Where can a family caregiver get funds to pay for professional services?
A. From…
* Family
* Medicare
* Medicaid
* Reverse Mortgages
* Long Term Care Insurance
* Financial Planning
Some Senior Centers have volunteers to assist with non-medical care.
Q. Tell us about you.
A. Eight years ago, I left 25 years of working as an administrative assistant and word processor for Human Resources, to start my own business. I was concerned about the challenges of the working caregiver generation. They will face situations our parents did not.
Two years ago, I was diagnosed with a vision challenge that to date has no cure and am considered legally blind. To date I remain independent and able to assist others outside of the home. However, planning for the future, I had adjusted how to assist others by offering on-line support 24/7 anywhere in the United States.
The key is to face reality and make changes before needing to. I refuse to give up my passion to make life easier for the working caregiver and praise their efforts. My first step was to write a book [CALMING THE CHAOS: Life Raft for the Working Caregiver] to be used as a tool only. It talks about all the information you will learn during this interview in an easy to read, large print guide. Once a caregiver understands what services to look for and why, the next step is finding a professional caregiver.
