Rockland Psychiatric asks about the emotional issues that Caregiver face

Hear about why Christine Sotmary chose to interview 22 Family Caregivers to find out what emotional issues they faced. There are many surprises in their responses! Watch the video interview.

1,000 act of kindness #1

1,000 acts if kindness. Caregiver Access wants to acknowledge every time a Caregiver can still show affection to a mom that's driving them crazy, or a bossy dad, a husband that didn't like what they made for dinner, a wife who complained about which toothpaste they bought at the grocery store or a child whose medical needs are all consuming. Giving a hug, a squeeze of a hand, a quick kiss can feel harder than climbing a mountain.

Families face different challenges when taking care of Mom and Dad

Give a listen to this series. So many decisions, so few options. At Caregiver Access we are getting ready to help in a big way. We are creating a profession that is family focused and will create support programs for these wonderful families to know they are not alone.

Rockland Psychiatric did two TV shows with Christine Sotmary, talking about how to support families caring for those who are frail, disabled or sick. This is the first show.

http://youtu.be/iwwGg-aVSA4

Doctors discover Family Caregivers!

It really matters when you include the Family Caregivers and Informal Caregivers in the medical conversation!

Hudson Valley Caregivers.....give a listen.

Radio Rotary focuses on Caring for the Caregiver. Lots of great stuff to share with the Caregivers in your life.

The unspoken side of Caregiving

Caregivers who already have leanings towards various addictions need to stay alert to the stress they are experiencing. Read about this Caregiver issue to prevent the heart break.

Radio piece and article that will astound you humans!

Rats are natural at being Caregivers

....and let's remember the former Caregivers in our midst

We've opened up our Family Wellness Workshops to our former Caregivers with the idea that now is the time for them to finally be able to reflect on their experiences and then possibly mentor the new folks going down that similar path. Grieving the loss of this life altering lifestyle and celebrating the richness that is Caregiving is now open to anyone who has been there and done that.

Caregiver Access for you newbie Caregivers

If you are just starting down the Caregiver road we that know you are probably busy getting everything in order. At Caregiver Access we might be able to help you with that. We've put together a few short videos to help you organize your thoughts and when you need it there's more information on the site.

Caregiver Access the website is live

Join us in celebrating the launch of www.caregiveraccess.org. It's where you'll find resources, programs, information and support for Family and Informal Caregivers. At Caregiver Access we believe that when families have support from their community their Caregiving gets easier. We believe that when Caregivers are equipped with the information they need to know they can rest secure in the knowledge that they are giving their best. We also believe that when Caregivers feel loved and appreciated by those around them it helps to strengthen their hearts for the journey ahead. We want Caregivers to always feel loved and appreciated and welcomed to our family at Caregiver Access.

Caregivers in the research lab

I watched DVD's on stress last week just before the storm hit. Good timing! Living without electricity for 5 days gave me time to think about those shows. One was by National Geographic called "Stress: Portrait of a Killer". Towards the end of the show they showed a group of mom's of kids with various disabilities. After studying this group, scientists found that the moms produced more of the good kind of cell repair enzymes during and after their support group. This is good news for all of us who thought it might be a good idea for Caregivers to come out and share their experiences and get the support they need.

The other show was "The New Medicine" with Dana Reeves before she passed. These scientists at Ohio State University also studied Caregivers but this time it was Caregivers of someone with Alzheimer's. They found that when the Caregivers don't get the support they need they are so stressed that it took 9 days longer to heal a small wound.

The moral of the story.......come out, come out, where ever you are! Share, laugh, cry, and learn new ways to cope. There are Family Wellness Workshops all over Westchester, NY. Check the calendar at HVHC.org for one near you.