National Family Caregivers Month

It would be remiss of me to let November slip by without recognizing National Family Caregivers Month. It's a time to honor and thank all family caregivers who, as President Obama wrote in his proclamation, “are the humble heroes who do so much to keep our families and communities strong.” This year's theme is Take Care to Give Care, and it's designed to remind caregivers to take care of themselves so that they can successfully care for their loved one (or neighbor). 

The National Family Caregivers Association runs an excellent website, Caregiver Action Network, www.caregiveraction.org. This site helps all caregivers. So, you may want to pass on this information to a friend in need of support in their caregiving efforts. 

I particularly like these ten tips which the site lays out for us:

10 Tips for Family Caregivers

1. Seek support from other caregivers. You are not alone!

2. Take care of your own health so that you can be strong enough to take care of your loved one.

3. Accept offers of help and suggest specific things people can do to help you.

4. Learn how to communicate effectively with doctors.

5. Caregiving is hard work so take respite breaks often.

6. Watch out for signs of depression and don't delay getting professional help when you need it.

7. Be open to new technologies that can help you care for your loved one.

8. Organize medical information so it's up to date and easy to find.

9. Make sure legal documents are in order.

10. Give yourself credit for doing the best you can in one of the toughest jobs there is!

There's also a Family Caregiver Toolbox with many links to other sites, and even a special section on coping with Alzheimer's Disease. 

Retiring, Not!

People are working longer, later into their senior years. I could find you the statistics, but you've heard it and you've seen it. For example, there’s the receptionist at your doctor who has been there for decades, well even your doctor is growing old with you.

It's not just what They say, that 70 is the new 60, 60 is the new 50, etc.  People are living longer, yes, but they also feel as if they're not ready to retire. They're vital, healthy, sharp-minded and the stereotypical image of sitting around on the front porch rocking chair with a blanket on their lap just isn't appealing. Then, there's the fact that many people have to work, there are too many financial burdens to be able to live off of Social Security or maybe that pension.

Two recent articles in The New York Times demonstrated the kinds of work that's out there for “retirees.” One article featured a man whose was a hospital maintenance man, someone who had climbed the ranks to manager, who finally found that work was just too hard on his aging body. He became the concierge. Nobody knew the building better than him! [Too Old for Hard Labor, but Still on the Job, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/13/your-money/too-old-for-hard-labor-but-still-on-the-job.html?rref=collection%2Fcolumn%2Fretiring] The other article featured a man whose heart attack caused him to slow down and he found a mentoring program that taught new technologies. He started his own business and created an interactive game to be used at a place he had loved as a child, Harper's Ferry Historical Site. He gets to make his own hours! [Older Entrepreneurs Take on the Concrete Ceiling, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/10/your-money/older-entrepreneurs-take-on-the-concrete-ceiling.html?rref=collection%2Fcolumn%2Fretiring]

Both articles show that you can create a new life for yourself. These men channeled their previous skills into a new job. This probably seems like a daunting task, but it is entirely possible. Even I did it in going back to college for my Coaching Certificate a few years ago. So, here's some ideas to get you started:

You can consider changing jobs as an exciting opportunity to try something new. Try going back to your childhood passion; you may have loved baseball or jewelry making and you can explore what's available in those areas. Try that job you started with, as a teen or as an adult, and see what a lifetime of experiences brings to the job now. I'm not talking flipping burgers necessarily, but maybe those skills that you started acquiring as a camp counselor now, after all the other skills you've acquired, can be turned into a mentor position or managing a youth center. Try thinking of the things you love to do now, and find a way to turn them into a new job.


I like to tell people to look at the skills you've acquired in your various jobs, leadership, teamwork, problem solving, maybe even how to flip the perfect burger. Then, see what else you can apply those skills to, like the men in those articles did. Okay, maybe you won't be making as much money, but it can be enough. After looking at your skills, next embrace the change and make a plan, set actionable goals, and just do it. I can also suggest watching Robert DeNiro in The Intern for inspiration!


Lastly, remember there are people like me, there to help and support you along the way.