Over the past two decades, I presented thousands of programs on various aspects of caregiving. However, I’ve never addressed the fundamental question of WHY we care for each other. What is the essence of care? Why are we seemingly compelled to care despite the challenges, the complexities, and the concerns associated with caring? Perhaps by exploring the heart and soul of care, we’ll gain a greater appreciation and reverence for the care we receive as well as the care we offer.

Technology will never replace the human touch. But it's an available tool to be leveraged for the benefit of caregivers and care receivers. Tech fills in the gaps of care. What gaps? Lack of family and friends needed to provide care. This is often due to smaller families. Geographically dispersed families. Combine those situations with the fact that most people cannot afford the expense of long term professional care - there are some significant gaps in care. These are just a few of the reasons that technology is becoming a vital part of every day life for many people. Technology has truly come of age!

The COVID crisis serves to highlight the importance of planning ahead - preparing to care. Constructing the basic outline regarding how we will care for ourselves or our loved ones WHEN there is a medical concern or disability is wise indeed. If we wait for an emergency, we’ll be caught off guard. Consequently, we’ll be in a reactionary mode instead of responding from a position of considered understanding. So, let's chat about ways we can plan ahead!

Over the past 7 months since COVID changed Life forever, I have a renewed appreciation of ritual - all kinds of ritual. During times when Life is chaotic, frightening, and uncertain, ritual serves to provide balance and stability. Interestingly, an incredibly important type of ritual has been difficult to conduct during the global pandemic...end-of-life rituals such as funerals and memorial services. Today, let's chat about the importance and the potential blessings of creating and conducting these rituals.

Today, I am going to be a bit counter cultural. I am going to speak of grief - the grief we’re all feeling due to the losses caused by the global pandemic. The coronavirus is not only causing a viral pandemic, but it’s giving rise to a pandemic of grief as well. Although grief is a difficult subject, I hope you’ll stay tuned!

In previous years, I’ve addressed the issue of Compassion Fatigue - a type of stress often experienced when we witness the suffering of others. Due to the COVID situation, I believe it’s worth our time and attention to revisit the topic. Each and every one of us has been through so much over the past 7 months. Additionally, we’ve witnessed our family, friends, colleagues and neighbors struggling with daily challenges. Being witness to the suffering of others ultimately takes a toll. So let's chat about how we can recognize the signs of Compassion Fatigue and then ways to address this stress.

Today, let’s address the life transition that all caregivers experience when the journey of caregiving ends. The ending may be caused by the recovery or by the death of the care receiver. Either way, who are we and what are we called to do when care is no longer needed? How do we feel? And what’s next for us? Important questions worthy of our serious consideration.

We are now 6 months into the COVID-19 pandemic. Hard to believe right? Looking back, I’m amazed by what I’ve seen and heard. Despite the daily - if not hourly - challenges posed by Life, I’ve witnessed the awesome resilience of people. So, let’s chat about what it takes to bounce back from this unexpected crisis.

Today, let’s chat about the COVID crisis from the emotional perspective. With the highs and lows presented by this challenge, we have been put through the emotional wringer! And when feeling wrung out by life, it’s difficult to meet the day to day challenges of family, work, and life! If serving as a caregiver these days, the emotional angst experienced during the COVID adventure is just another drain on your limited reservoir of energy. So, how can we effectively deal with all the emotions that bubble up?

Change has always been part of the lived experience. However, as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, we are experiencing change fatigue - one change after another. The proverbial domino effect. Nothing seems normal! Change disrupts our daily routines, life expectations, and our sense of certainty. Change reminds us that we are not in control! Challenging to say the very least, but this is the current reality. So instead of resisting change, how can we engage it?