Lotsa Blog

For Our Loved Ones: How to Support Someone With Cancer

Have you ever needed to know how to support someone with cancer? Have you delivered a meal to a mother with breast cancer juggling care for her children or offered to drive a friend to a chemotherapy session? Chances are, if you have helped a person with cancer you have experienced the profound emotions that come with helping, from great joy and relief that, indeed, there is something that you can actually do to make a difference — to sadness for what your loved one is experiencing.

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The Caregiving Version of the Olympics

Contributed by Sherri Snelling

When it comes to caregiving, staying fit so that you have the energy to care for your loved one is like training for an Olympic marathon not a sprint.  Even though your caregiving race may begin with a crisis event, very often it lasts far longer than you may anticipate – not days but weeks, months, years.  According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, caregivers spend on average 4.6 years caring for a loved one with 15 percent spending more than 10 years.  A world-class runner who can finish the 100-yard dash in 9.1 seconds cannot keep up that pace for 26 miles – it is simply impossible.

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Be a Resource, Find a Resource

By The National Health Council

Communities come in all shapes and sizes. There are friends who get together around a common interest, such as playing soccer, working on a community garden, or discussing a new book. Then there are more formal communities based on geographical neighborhoods or places of worship.

Judging from the fact that you’re on the Lotsa Helping Hands website, it’s safe to say you’ve taken a step toward joining or establishing a community of your own – one that revolves around your health needs or caring for a family member or friend.

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When Community Matters Most

Contributed by Hal Chapel, CEO and Co-Founder of Lotsa Helping Hands

As family and friends of the victims of the Aurora tragedy began their unbearable journey dealing with the impossible suddenly becoming reality, the rest of the country looked on with horror, sadness, and anger. We were all unexpectedly united, simply as human beings distraught, appalled, and without answers to so many questions such shock evokes.  Many of us wanted desperately to do something, anything, to help those immediately affected by this terror, to let them know they were not alone.  But of course, what could we really do?

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The Perfect Match – Nonprofits and Companies doing Lotsa Good

Contributed by Brooks Kenny, Lead Strategist at Lotsa Helping Hands

I’ve been lucky enough to be selected two years in a row to speak at the Silicon Valley Boomer Venture Summit where leading investors, entrepreneurs, researchers, analysts and marketers gathered to address the needs and wants of the 50+ demographic. On the agenda? The power that comes when nonprofit organizations team up with companies. As consumers, we look to companies to support social causes, to put their marketing muscle to good use. Here at Lotsa, our commitment to “doing good” is embedded in the fabric of our vision. So, you can imagine my delight to have been able to share the stage with John Feather, CEO of Grantmakers in Aging and our moderator, Sherri Snelling, CEO of the Caregiving Club to share strategies in forging these great relationships for good.

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Your Real Age – 8 Tips to Help Caregivers Find Their Inner Child

Contributed by Guest Blogger, Sherri Snelling

I recently celebrated my birthday and it got me to thinking about our “real age.”  Whenever I meet a friend for coffee the conversation now turns to our latest health issue (we are at that age) – hurt knees from running, migraines from changing hormones, sun spots on our face, wrinkles on our foreheads, and intestinal rumblings from last night’s Mexican food.  And, when the bill comes, we all hold the check back about 12 inches so we can read it (always forgetting the reading glasses which are now common among my friends).  However, we marvel at how we don’t see ourselves as our real age – and as friends we even comfort each other that we certainly don’t look our real age either.

As we grow older and start to care for aging parents, what is our risk as caregivers for being “older” than our real age because we often neglect our own health and wellness needs?

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Spring Into Spring

 Contributed by Sherri Snelling 

Many caregivers are housebound caring for their loved one. It is especially hard after long winter months where you are also hampered by weather from getting outside and enjoying the sunshine.  Spring is here (it actually officially started a month ago) and the bright rays of light and fresh air bring a welcome opportunity to get out of the house.

Caregivers often forget to give themselves a break so they can refresh and reinvigorate when caring for a loved one. Following are three easy, inexpensive ways to enjoy Spring and improve your health and wellness at the same time. These tips only take a few minutes a day to recharge your batteries:

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Caregiving Youth: A Hidden Population

Contributed by Cristy Kovach Hom

When Jason was 13, his grandmother moved in. She was suffering from dementia and could no longer live alone. Jason awoke every night to take his grandma to the bathroom. When her dementia caused her hysteria, Jason was the only family member who could calm her down.

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Caregiving and the Power of Community

Contributed by Hal Chapel, CEO and Co-Founder of Lotsa Helping Hands

At Lotsa Helping Hands, we are committed to shedding light on the needs of caregivers across our country. At some point in our lives, most of us will become caregivers. But the truth is, most of those who care for a loved one do not even consider themselves caregivers.

 

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