New to Caregiving Articles

• 12 Handy Apps for Caregivers
  Your smartphone or tablet may not seem like the go-to resource for caregiving assistance, but there are some apps that may help you take care of an elderly loved one. Here's a list of 12 apps for caregivers
  From emergency response to meal planning »
• What’s OK and What’s Not OK When You Are a Caregiver
  Most family caregivers are afraid to ask for help. They think they should know how to care for an aging loved one. When you are a new caregiver, there's no rulebook. Here's a caregiving expert's take on what new caregivers should know.
  A list of what's OK and what's not »
• How to Run Caregiving like a Business
  Feel like an emotional basket case due to caregiving? Feel as if life is spinning out of control? To preserve your sanity and be an effective caregiver, you have to remove the emotion from the situation, and treat caregiving like a business.
  The business of caregiving »
• How to Say 'No' to Caregiving
  How can you set limits without feeling guilty? Where do you draw a line and say "I can do this much and no more"?
  Learning to say 'no' »
• Five Questions All Caregivers Should Ask Themselves
  How do you know if you can handle the responsibilities and time commitments of caregiving - while keeping your own sanity and protecting your other relationships?
  Are you cut out for caregiving? »
• New Caregivers: What to Expect
  Do you find yourself suddenly responsible for taking care of an elderly parent? No matter how you entered into your caregiving role, you will have to make changes in your life.
  What new caregivers should expect »
• How to Know if Your Aging Parent Needs a Caregiver
  When will you know when your aging parents need help? Family members should look for certain warning signs to determine if their elderly parent needs help.
  Anticipating an elder's care needs »
• How can we coordinate a care plan for my parents who have vastly different caregiving needs?
  It is not unusual for each elderly parent to have different caregiving needs at different times, and coordinating individual care plans will help with care.
  Read More »
• New Caregivers: Get a Health Assessment for Your Parent
  Being a new caregiver is overwhelming, but getting organized and gaining knowledge about your parent's health can start to get your life in order and reduce some caregiver stress.
  What is a health assessment? »
• Dad was just diagnosed with Alzheimer's and I'm a new caregiver. Help!
  New to caregiving? The first thing you should start by doing, is to keep your elderly father with Alzheimer's safe in his environment.
  Read More »
• Should I quit my job to take care of my elderly parents?
  Before quitting your job, I would recommend have your aging parent's overall living situation assessed.
  Read More »
• Health Information Checklist to Keep Caregivers Organized
  If you're new to caregiving, it's important to gather important information all in one place. Use this checklist to help get you started.
  Printable health information checklist »
• Long-Distance Caregiving: Geriatric Care Managers Can Help
  Geriatric care managers can offer long-distance care givers peace of mind by evaluating an elderly parent's needs, coordinating care, and communicating regularly with the caregiver.
  How a care manager can help your family »
• Long-Distance Caregiving: How to Help From Far Away
  Taking care of a parent from far away? It can be done, it just takes a concerted effort to ensure that your elderly parent is well cared for and safe.
  Tips to help long-distance caregivers »
• New to Caregiving: How to Prepare the Family
  Here are the major concerns that families face when parents start to age and how to prepare your family.
  What the family will need to prepare for »
• How can a geriatric care manager help a long-distance caregiver?
  Geriatric care managers, GCMs for short, act as a more knowledgeable you--informing you and your parent about what kind of care alternatives are available within the community and helping you assess all the medical, financial and legal issues involved with any given choice.
  Read More »
• Must Read Books for Caregivers
  Our editors have picked the top books about elder care to help you cope with any caregiver situation.
  34 books every caregiver should read »
• Resources Every Caregiver Should Know
  A list of useful organizations and resources for any caregiver and their elderly parents.
  Read More »