Sunday, June 20, 2021

35 Quotes for Caregivers That’ll Brighten Your Day


www.strokecamp.org



http://www.unitedstrokealliance.org/


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The following is an article originally posted on https://www.mycaringplan.com. This web site was founded by Daniel Morris. His site addresses issues focused on senior living and home care for them, however, there are some articles on his site that can be useful for caregivers of stroke survivors also. 

Need something to lift your spirits on a difficult day or inspire you to be your best self?
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35 Quotes for Caregivers That’ll Brighten Your Day

Those who care for others are the backbone of a functioning society, and yet, sometimes they go unappreciated. For that reason, even the greatest caregivers need reminders that what they are doing is important, and their time spent giving is valued. These inspirational quotes for caregivers will help you remember your “why,” and send you on your way with a reinvigorated optimism. When you have peace and pride in your heart, you will be a light to others as well.

Throughout the ups and downs, there is hope to be found. Sometimes we just need a little reminder.

If that’s the case for you, you’re in luck. Here are 35 quotes all about the realities of being a caregiver that are sure to brighten your day:

Inspirational Quotes for Caregivers

Need something to lift your spirits on a difficult day or inspire you to be your best self? Look no further than these inspirational, motivational quotes!

“Each day brings new opportunities, allowing you to constantly live with love – be there for others – bring a little light into someone’s day. Be grateful and live each day to the fullest.” -Roy T. Bennett

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” -Dalai Lama

“Never believe that a few caring people can change the world. For indeed, that’s all who ever have.” -Margaret Mead

“Affirmations are our mental vitamins, providing the supplementary positive thoughts we need to balance the barrage of negative events and thoughts we experience daily.” – Tia Walker

Funny Caregiver Quotes

Caregiving can be stressful and tough. Sometimes, giving yourself the chance to have a laugh about your experiences is helpful. Other times, you may be in need of a serious pick-me-up.

These quotes are sure to boost your mood:

“My opinions may have changed, but not the fact that I’m right.” -Ashleigh Brilliant

“Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. After that, who cares? He’s a mile away and you’ve got his shoes!” -Billy Connolly

“By the time a man realizes that his father was right, he has a son who thinks he’s wrong.” -Charles Wadsworth

“A failure is like fertilizer; it stinks to be sure, but it makes things grow faster in the future.” -Denis Waitley

Life as a Caregiver Quotes

Life as a caregiver can be challenging, but it can also be incredibly meaningful and empowering.

There’s a lot to be said about the ups and downs of caregiving, and these picks are a great start:

“To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honors.” -Tia Walker

“Offering care means being a companion, not a superior. It doesn’t matter whether the the person we are caring for is experiencing cancer, the flu, dementia, or grief… When our role is to be providers of care, we should be there as equals.” -Judy Cornish, The Dementia Handbook: How to Provide Dementia Care at Home

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt

“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.” -E.E. Cummings

“My caregiver mantra is to remember: the only control you have is over the changes you choose to make.” -Nancy L. Kriseman, Mindful Caregiver: Finding Ease in the Caregiving Journey

Caregiver Appreciation Quotes

Being a caregiver is no easy task. When someone decides to take on the challenging, but essential, role of being a caregiver, they certainly deserve appreciation. Include these quotes in a thoughtful card, a text message, or social media post. Any caregiver who reads it will feel suddenly lifted and seen.

Whether you’re looking to acknowledge a caregiver in your life or trying to reflect on the value of your own caregiving experiences, these quotes are perfect:

“Caregiving often calls us to lean into love we didn’t know possible.” -Tia Walker

“One person caring about another represents life’s greatest value.” -John Rohn

“Caregiving has no second agendas or hidden motives. The care is given from love for the joy of giving without expectations, no strings attached.” -Gary Zukav

“Kindness can transform someone’s dark moment with a blaze of light. You’ll never know how much your caring matters. Making a difference for another today.” -Amy Leigh-Mercree

“It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” -Mother Theresa

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.” -Henri Nouwen

Thank You Quotes for Caregivers

Trying to think of a way to thank a caregiver in your life for their hard work and commitment? Or, perhaps you’re a caregiver looking to express your gratitude for others in your life. Whatever the case may be, take a look at these for inspiration:

“Sometimes we need someone to simply be there. Not to fix anything, or to do anything in particular, but just to let us feel that we are cared for and supported.” -Anonymous

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” -Leo Buscaglia

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” -John F. Kennedy

“‘I wanted to thank you,’ I said. She wrinkled her nose and squinted like I’d said something funny. ‘Thank me for what?’ she said. ‘You give me strength I didn’t know I had,’ I said. ‘You make me better.’” -Ransom Riggs, Hollow City

“Practice to live a thank you and acknowledge your blessings. A new world will open up to you.” Anupama Garg, The Tantric Curse

Caregiver Burnout Quotes

Caregiver burnout (click here to read our guide on the topic) is a very real and challenging state to find yourself in.

It’s important to remember that it’s okay to take care of yourself too. Not only is it important to take care of yourself for your own personal and mental health, it’s also important when it comes to your ability to care for others.

These quotes are great reminders of not just how challenging burnout is, but also that it’s possible to overcome and learn from it:

“Self-care is not selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” -Eleanor Brown

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.” -Mother Theresa

“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain: when you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what the storm’s all about.” -Haruki Murkami, Kafka on the Shore

“A healthy self-love means we have no compulsion to justify to ourselves or others why we take vacations, why we sleep late, why we buy new shoes, why we spoil ourselves from time to time. We feel comfortable doing things which add quality and beauty to life.” -Andrew Matthews

“Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.” -BrenĂ© Brown

Dementia Caregiver Quotes

Dementia is (unfortunately) becoming increasingly common. According to The World Health Organization, dementia currently impacts nearly 50 million people worldwide. There are also nearly 10 million new cases every year. Remember that even when someone you love does not remember your name, they still do not forget the way they feel about you, and they still feel the love that you have always shared.

Dementia can sometimes feel like a grief impossible to carry, both for the ill and for loved ones/family. These quotes reflect not just upon the challenges dementia present, but also the hope we must try and hold onto throughout:

“The journey of dementia is a journey like no other. Dementia makes you realize that there’s no time to waste. Each moment is precious, a treasure in its own way. We all know the last chapter in the book. Dementia taught me that all any of us really have is today.” -Leanne Chames

“Remind yourself every day: ‘I am in charge of my happiness. I will not let anything outside of myself control me. I am creating a life that feels good on the inside and it will turn into experiences that are good on the outside.” -Unknown

“It is a strange, sad irony that so often, in the territory of a disease that robs an individual of memory, caregivers are often the forgotten.” -Karen Walker

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Those with dementia are still people, and they still have stories, and they still have character, and they are all individuals, and they are all unique. And they just need to be interacted with on a human level.” -Carey Mulligan

Sources

Monday, June 7, 2021

How to Downsize Your Home: A Guide for Stroke Survivors, Caregivers and Seniors



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A new article on sleep by Cindy Page will be available on this blog 6/21.

Andrea Needham is the creator and editor at Elders Day. A lifelong writer, she created her website to share information and resources with other seniors who love living it up as they age. Andrea believes our golden years don’t have to be a time to slow down, and she looks forward to sharing the many health-boosting, fulfilling activities and experiences that are perfect for aging adults.

Editor's note: The tips mentioned in this article appear here because the author (and this editor) feels the issues facing stroke survivors can be similar to those retiring and recognizing the need to downsize their living space in order to better manage their day-to-day lives.

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How to Downsize Your Home

A  Guide for Stroke Survivors, Caregivers and Seniors

by Andrea Needham

                  Image via Unsplash

For many of us, moving becomes much more difficult as we age. In addition to the physical challenges of packing, unpacking, and hauling our belongings from one home to another, the mental and emotional obstacles of relocating may prevent us from moving in the first place. But despite these challenges, moving is oftentimes necessary as we age — especially for those of us who wish to downsize homes. This guide from Retreat & Refresh Stroke Camp a division of United Stroke Alliance will help to make the downsizing process as easy as possible!

Find the Right Type of Housing

After making the decision to downsize, you’ll need to compare housing options to find the right home for your senior years.

● Determine whether renting or buying will be best for you.

● If you’re selling a home during the pandemic, learn about
some precautions you should take.

● If community housing is right for you, decide whether you’ll need independent or assisted living.

Prepare to Sell Your Home

Finding a home to grow old in is just the beginning. If you own your current residence, you’ll also need to start preparing your home for sale.

● Look for an experienced real estate agent to help you throughout the process of selling your current home, and if necessary, buying a new property.

Start preparing your home for selling, like making any necessary repairs and decluttering your furniture and other personal belongings.

Donate unwanted items to soup kitchens, shelters, and other charitable organizations in your community.

Move Into Your New Home

Once you’ve received an offer on your current home and found a new place to live, you’ll need to start planning the move into your new house.

● Decide whether to hire professional movers or recruit a few family members on moving day.

Protect your back when packing and moving to reduce your risk of injury.

● Look out for signs of relocation stress syndrome, which often includes changes in weight or eating habits, depression, anger, and anxiety.

● If you’ll need to modify your new home for accessibility purposes, you may be able to finance your renovations with a reverse mortgage, government loan or grant, or personal loan.

Downsizing may seem like a daunting task, but it’s important to focus on the benefits of moving into a smaller, more manageable home. In many cases, you’ll save on living expenses, reduce stress, and have a lot more time and energy to enjoy your favorite hobbies and activities. After all, your senior years are meant to be spent with the ones you love and the activities you enjoy most!

Retreat & Refresh Stroke Camp can help improve the quality of life of stroke survivors and their caregivers. Call (309)688-5450 to learn more.