For Primary Caregivers(articles)

Your absence has gone through me Like a thread through a needle. Everything I do is stitched with its colour. W.S Mervin Fear is one of our most primal instincts. It’s hardwired into us through years of being hammered and drilled into us through suffering. We recoil at a harsh sound, wince at a sight, startle at a touch. Now that we’ve outgrown hunting and gathering, now that we stand tall on two feet, now that we segregate ourselves by Read More

My grandparents, both maternal and paternal, shed gender expectations like snakeskin. They were bold in their thinking for the time. They divided the chores of the house, pursued careers in fields they were interested in, were legally, financially and morally equal individuals in each other’s eyes. It was the first spawn of true feminism in our household that once demanded strength and structure. To my surprise, my parents more or less fit the mould of traditional roles: my mother stays Read More

Parkinson’s has even more complex needs towards the end of life. As the patient transitions towards the end stage, they may stand or walk for short periods unassisted but require assistance in daily living and can’t live alone. The tendency to fall while standing or walking is higher and the patient may freeze or stumble. Round the clock assistance becomes necessary at the end stages. Read more about the caregiving in mid-stage of Parkinson’s here. Towards the end stages of Read More

A young couple was sitting in front of the doctor, anxious and at the same time hopeful. The doctor had an inscrutable expression but didn’t know what to tell and how to tell. With great difficulty he nodded his head and whispered “results are positive”.  The wife beamed and shouted “I knew it! Nothing is wrong with you. It is just stress we need a break and all shall be fine. Doctor I told him so!”  She heard and understood Read More

“Care”is the all-encompassing being inside us all,embodied as an entity with emotional, spiritual, intellectual, financial and physical dimensions… Care is mostly activated by our sense of responsibility, love, compassion for our family and loved ones, while for some as an occupation. All these emotions make that entity of “Care” take on the act of caregiving for someone with a condition or in a state where they are unable to manage by themselves – temporarily or permanently. Let’s take a trip Read More

Original Publishing Date: 10-7- 2019 Publisher: Tiny Buddha Author: Angie Schultz Watching a loved one grieve can be very unnerving for most of us. Grieving can be so private that we may not know when help is needed the most. Our helplessness and desire to do “something” – worry of what to say or fear saying the wrong thing can be counter productive at best. But, it is in these darkest times that our loved ones need us the most. “I Read More

My father-in-law has the softest, gentlest demeanor. With neatly-parted lush silver hair and a calm reassuring voice, he is a doctor you would trust in a heartbeat and love forever. He continues his disciplined routine, regimented eating and exercise from his three decades of service in the Indian Air Force, living everyday what he preaches. Two years ago, he was also the fittest septuagenarian I knew. So, when on their morning walk, he lagged behind his wife citing chest discomfort, Read More

Human beings thrive on relationships and interaction with fellow human beings is essential for survival no matter how busy they are. Caregivers tend to get trapped into a “selfless” cycle where they devote their entire time and energy being with or around the care-receiver. But taking a break is important for the caregiver for their well-being and the ability to sustain care. I’m not saying that devoting time to the care-receiver is wrong or that it should be reduced. All Read More

Progression in Parkinson’s disease is measured on a scale of 1 to 5 stages, with five being severe. The beginning of Stage 3 is considered to be the turning point or the mid-stage of the condition. With Parkinson’s progression varying from one individual to another, the onset of the mid-stage or the intensity of the symptoms would also differ from person to person. If you or your loved ones have recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, read here on coping with Read More

“Better access to health and education has benefited us and also given birth to a new demographic – the sandwiched caregiver. Unique challenges need appropriate strategies that can help cope.” The Merriam-Webster dictionary acquired a new word in 2006 – “sandwich generation”. This was a clear nod to the growing population of adults who are caught between two generations, both of which need their care. Sandwiched caregivers are typically those raising young children while simultaneously caring for their parents, in-laws Read More