New to Caregiving

More than any other medical professionals, nurses spend the most time providing hands-on care for patients and interacting with family caregivers. Here’s a list of six elder care insights that nurses share with family members who are new to caregiving.

Signs your parent may need help include sudden or significant changes in behavior, physical function, appearance, cognition, memory, or judgment.

Most people become caregivers with little to no knowledge of or firsthand experience with the complexities of this role. Books and articles are excellent sources of information, but there’s another valuable resource that is often overlooked: podcasts.

Millions of Americans step into the role of family caregiver without really thinking about this label or fully understanding the responsibilities and sacrifices that come with it.

A list of both professional and colloquial abbreviations commonly used in the Caregiver Forum on AgingCare for medical, long term care, and senior housing terms.

The emotions involved in relocating a senior often overshadow the medical, financial and legal implications. Make sure you and your loved one are fully prepared for everything that a move entails.

Experienced caregivers share the most efficient and innovative aspects of the care plans they have created for their loved ones. Use these examples to see if you could incorporate some of their tips into your own caregiving routine.

The AgingCare forum is filled with people coming together to share valuable information. We’ve compiled experienced caregivers’ best suggestions for staying active, relaxing and maintaining relationships in the new year.

Many individuals struggle to accept the label of “family caregiver,” but fully embracing this role increases our chances of succeeding in it.

It helps to look at aging as a potential fire; the chance of a major disaster is low, but you can still evaluate the potential risk areas and plan for unexpected crises with aging emergency 'fire drills.'

A caregiver shares his journey in finding the right skilled nursing facility for his mother, including steps to take before and after placement as well as the hard lessons he learned throughout the process.

New caregivers often encounter one crisis after another. Learn how to recognize when your life is in crisis and tips for empowering yourself

One of the most exhausting parts of being a caregiver, from my point of view, is that there's always the threat of an emergency that we are responsible to handle. We are literally on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

This is my story about how I committed to caregiving, adapted to my role, overcame caregiver burnout, and learned to thrive despite the many hurdles and setbacks I faced.

Managing stress while caregiving is a hard thing to do and most family caregivers are afraid to ask for help. Here's a caregiving expert's take on what new caregivers should know when you feel the stress of being a caregiver.

Effective caregiving is like a business. Taking the emotion out of the situation, being proactive, and have a solid plan of action can help you succeed and preserve your sanity.

Caregivers are nurturing people who often put others’ needs before their own. So, where do you draw the line and say, “I can do this much and nothing more”?

Before quitting your job, I would recommend have your aging parent's overall living situation assessed.

Long-distance caregivers often struggle to monitor and support their aging parents from afar. A geriatric care manager can evaluate a senior’s needs, coordinate their care, communicate regularly with family and provide valuable peace of mind.

Concerns for families new to caregiving and how to prepare. Here are some concerns families should take into consideration when caring for an elderly parent or loved one.