The season of transitions is upon us.

BEFORE WE GET INTO THINGS . . .

Technically, we’ve got under a month of summer left. It pains me to say it, but kids are already in school. Today is the last Summer Friday at my company. Sweaters and jeans are making their way back into our clothing rotations.

We’re entering another season of transition. Weather-wise, I’m looking forward to fall. The coziness of sweaters, apple cider donuts, and the leaves turning all make me happy. What doesn’t?Daylight savings time. Just saying, I’m not looking forward to it.

LET’S TALK ABOUT THE 2025 CAREGIVING REPORT

Change is one of the few constants for caregivers.

Caregiving scenarios vary. Care might be intense for a period of time and then reduced if we’re caring for some one recovering from a hip replacement. Or conditions evolve slowly, progressively becoming worse. I call this process the caregiver continuum.

My caregiving experience covered the full breadth of the continuum. Things started off with a serious stroke. Then, years pass until the next one. And then my Mother experienced the stroke that ultimately took her independence.

Caregivers provide care for a variety of conditions. Note the chart below. Old age is at the top of the list. The number of people turning 65 increased to 61.2 million in the US, while the number of folks under 18 decreased to 73.1 million from 2023 to 2024.

This data reminds us of how varied our care must be to support these conditions as well as others. The caregiving report containing these details also revealed an insight about the cognitive conditions.

When asked if care recipients were living with conditions causing cognitive impairment, 17% of caregivers responded, “not sure.” This datapoint is an opportunity to improve clinical detection and education about cognition issues before they take place.

My Take:

Our caregiving journeys may have differences, but they also have similarities. If you are caring for someone with a chronic illness, care needs will shift frequently.

The report insight about cognitive conditions rang true for me. It was always difficult to get my Mother to share if she had issues with anything. If I didn’t carefully observe things myself or establish an ornate story to have her share things, I would be unaware of her difficulties.

Scroll down to the Watchout section on my site for a list of things to keep alert about. If you see any changes with your care recipient, make a note and keep observing. Mention the changes to a physician if the behaviors are constant and take things from there.

LINKS OF NOTE

News for you.

• Open enrollment is around the corner. Start your planning here. Staying ahead of the approaching deadlines, makes it easier to remember what you really need for the upcoming year.

• Heming Willis, Bruce Willis’ wife, wrote a book about her caregiving journey. I’m happy to see more folks in the mainstream sharing their stories. Those of us not in the mainstream can also do so.

• Is a loved one in a nursing facility? There have always been challenges, but we’re in a difficult time with staffing shortages. Read this article to learn what you should stay on top of for your loved one.