There is a reason I say preparation is self care

When I lived in New York and cared for my Mother in Massachusetts, I was always nervous about her whereabouts. We spoke twice a day so I could hear from her and know she was well. One day we were chatting and she casually shared she forgot how to get home! I was gutted, and knew I would eventually move back home. All of these thoughts came back to me as I read Gene Hackman story. Make sure you’ve prepared a process or appointed folks to check in on your loved ones in case something happens. This post can give you a few ideas and help create some peace of mind.

Welcome to Your Bonus Edition of Care Fully

It’s the second week of March. I’m optimistic that spring weather is making its way to us. While we wait for it, I’m sharing a bonus edition of Care Fully. This edition features a few resources that you or someone you know can use.

Here are a few resources to keep in mind:

• The Alzheimer’s Association partners with organizations to increase awareness of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Sebra, one of our subscribers, shared a flyer from a Boston event with me. It prompted me to visit the Alzheimer’s site. I came across this series of stories highlighting early discussions with loved ones about Alzheimer's.

• Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the US and globally. We “can do better by making the small steps” to improve overall health. Read here for more details and motivation.

• The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services provides some funding for unpaid caregivers of people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Caregivers might be eligible to receive $1,000 through a special program the state created.

• Mom’s First published their 2024 impact report. Since launching their PaidLeave.AI site, they’ve seen searches for “paid family leave” increase 20x! The organization continues to advocate and you can read about the progress they continue to make in their report.

• Could “Life Care Planning” be helpful for your family? This a practice area that some law firms offer to help caregivers and the elderly plan for long-term care and other associated activities. If you have not already done so, please consider learning more about the Life Care Planning practice.

Thanks for reading my newsletter. If you like what you read, please consider:

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2. Pitching me as a speaker at your company. November is National Caregiver’s Month. I'd be happy to share topics I support through fireside chats or keynotes. Email [email protected] for more information.

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Thanks for reading Care Fully.

Erna