Get your April reset underway.

Before getting into things, I have news!! This edition of Care Fully is sponsored by Morning Brew!

Care Fully is born out of my own resources and desire to share helpful information to make the lives of caregivers better. Every now and again, I’ll share sponsors I’ve tried and think could be of value to you. I’ll always identify them as such. I’m happy to share the Morning Brew newsletter is Care Fully’s first sponsor!

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How are you feeling? I feel ready for the April reset.

I’ve been more tired than usual. As someone who requires the maximum amount of sunshine in her life, April means a great deal to me. It means more sun (if we’re lucky), buds on trees (I love these but not the allergies that come along for the ride), and spring cleaning (which makes me feel good, but not always in the moment). These are the signals that introduce my mental clearing process in April. Do you have something similar? Feel free to reply to this newsletter and let me know.

My husband and I went for a ramen date the other day. The restaurant was not far from the nursing home my Mother spent her last few years. As we drove, my husband asked if I remembered the number of times I drove down that specific road. I shared I didn’t want to do so. Honestly, my mind blocked out that part of my caregiving journey. For the most part, I was grateful for the nursing home’s care. But that entire experience wasn’t reflective of the ideal my Mother had for herself nor the one I had in mind for her. I still hold mixed feelings about it, and I revisit those feelings throughout the year. It is part of my seasonal reset and though sad, it feels healthy.

Speaking of health, when the weather eventually warms and the first phase of pollen works its way through my system, I’d like to spend some time hiking. This was something I wished I incorporated into my caregiving journey more often. Removing oneself from the situation at hand offers breathing room, essential for caregiver sanity. Frankly, this movement is critical to any scenario causing stress. Here are some tips to support your hiking journey should you choose to start.

Keep informed.

• Are you supporting a loved one with dementia or do you know someone who is? See if the GUIDE Program can help. You can also visit this resource for additional support.

• This year, the World Economic Forum placed emphasis on the need for strong infrastructure to support care recipients and caregivers. If you’d like to read the report this information is based on, or want me to discuss some insights in a future newsletter, let me know.

• Trying to get a loved one to eat healthier? Sometimes it is hard to stay away from snacks. Learn how doctors in one coastal town are tackling the cooking healthy challenge in their community.

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Thanks for reading Care Fully.

Erna