Posts Tagged ‘caring’
Babies: Caring for your Baby after Vaccinations
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009Caring for Quilts
Wednesday, December 17th, 2008Caring for Quilts
By: Joyce Moseley Pierce
For many years my mother worked in sales and lived out
of a suitcase as she traveled the country, but that
didn’t stop her from doing some of the most beautiful
needlepoint and cross-stitch work I’ve ever seen.
When she retired, she quickly filled up the walls of
her home and kept the local frame shop in business.
After she had given favorites to her children and
filled every white space in her home, she decided to
start making quilts, but instead of just sewing the
pieces of fabric together, she cross-stitched or
needlepointed squares that would be sewn together by
the town’s quilting expert.
I was the recipient of one of these beautiful quilts
but because my children were small, I didn’t want to
leave it out on a bed where it might get smeared with
peanut butter and jelly, or even worse, colored with
crayons or a permanent marker. Instead, I folded it
up and put it in my closet inside a plastic zippered
bag that my bedspread had come in.
Well, when Mom came to visit the next time, she went
looking for that quilt. I assured her that it was
packed away and that nothing could harm it. After all,
it was sealed in plastic. Nothing could get to it.
Boy, was I wrong!
I learned a lesson from Mom about how to store quilts:
1. Don’t ever store them in plastic of any kind! It
doesn’t matter that your bedspread came in it. It’s
not the same.
2. Don’t store them in humid or hot climates. If the
temperature feels good to you, then it’s okay for your
quilt. If you live in Houston you shouldn’t even own
a quilt!
3. Don’t store quilts in attics or garages. It makes
a comfy bed for rodents and insects.
Instead, you should:
1. Store your quilt in a pillowcase or sheet, or
roll it onto a muslin-covered tube.
2. Place a piece of fabric between the pillowcase or
sheet and your quilt to protect it from the acids
in the wood.
3. Twice a year, when the humidity is low and the
air is blowing, air your quilt outside, out of direct
sunlight.
4. Mark your calendar to refold your quilt every 3-4
months so you won’t make a permanent crease in
it. Crumple up some acid-free tissue paper to help
eliminate fold lines.
If you feel comfortable in displaying or actually
using your quilts (and isn’t that why we make them?),
you’ll want to follow these guidelines to make your
quilt last longer and help retain its beauty.
1. Keep your quilts away from direct light. The sun
will make them fade and will age the fabric.
2. If you notice any tears, repair them as soon as
possible. Remember that “a stitch in time saves nine,”
and will help lengthen the life of your quilt.
3. Clean up any accidents immediately. Washable quilts
can be cleaned with cold water. My quilt, with the
delicate cross-stitching fabric and thread, would need
to be dry cleaned by an expert.
4. Before you wash, test the fabric to see if the
colors are going to run. Use a white towel and cold
water to test each color.
5. Do not put quilts in the dryer or hang them over
a clothesline. They should lay flat between two sheets
placed on the grass in the shade.
When I was a young, married woman I discovered a box
of fabric in my grandmother’s closet along with the
pattern for a quilt that had been published by the
Kansas City Star in the 1920s. Grandma told me she
had bought the fabric when my dad was born and had
just never made the quilt. She told me if I wanted
to make it, she would pay to have it quilted for me.
I accepted the challenge, and without knowing anything
about quilts (or anything else!), I cut and assembled
all of the pieces. It was beautiful, and I remember the
pride I felt in knowing that I had sewn every stitch,
but even as I laid it across my daughter’s
twin-sized bed, I could see how thin and worn the
fabric had become. I wish now I would have used the
pattern and bought newer, more sturdy fabric, that
would have lengthened the life of the quilt, but that
was just one of life’s lessons I had to learn.
Going through the process of piecing that quilt helped
me to have a deep appreciation for all of the time
and love that goes into each stitch. As I worked on
it, I tried to imagine my grandmother as a young mother
and wondered what life was like for her. Was motherhood
as challenging for her as it was for me? Did she ever
imagine that she would have a granddaughter who would
treasure this old fabric and the bond it gave to
both of them?
Buying a bedspread is fast and fairly inexpensive
because they are mass produced, but you can’t expect
it to give you you the same warm feeling as when you
run your hands over the stitches of a quilt that was
made by you or someone you love. When your hands
caress the fabric and stitches of the quilt you have
painstakingly created, the memories of the past are
guaranteed to rush into your heart. If that quilt was
made by someone who loved you, you will feel a
connection that seems oblivious to time.
Copyright 2002 Joyce Moseley Pierce
http://www.emersonpublications.com
Joyce is a freelance writer and owner of Emerson Publications.She is the creator of “All They’ll Need
to Know,” a workbook to help families record personal and financial information. She is also the editor of
The Family First Newsletter
, an ezine for families with young children.
Caring for Aging Parents
Saturday, December 13th, 2008Who typically cares for mom and dad as they age?� Research studies indicate that it’s mostly women, usually daughters that become the care-givers for aging parents. Recent estimates report that 34 million Americans serve as unpaid caregivers for other adults, usually elderly relatives, and that they spend an average of 21 hours a week helping out.� One of the most important things you can do to help yourself and your family through this transitions is to plan ahead.� So let’s take a look at some the issues you might be facing.
Increased Financial Burden
AARP estimates that unpaid caregivers spend an average of $2,400 a year on care for their elderly.� Those who put in more than 40 hours a week spend as much as $3,888 of their own money each year. You will need to prepare for this either individually or as a family.� One of the best ways is to have a conversation early on with your parents about what monies they have designed for retirement and how it can be accessed when needed.
The Emotional Consequences
Caregivers typically experience significantly increased levels of stress and restricted social activities.� They report having one or more chronic condition such as high blood pressure at nearly twice the rate of all Americans.� 91% report being depressed.
This is easy to understand if only one person is responsible for all of the caregiving.� It’s important to manage these duties between several members of the family and/or friends if possible.� If money permits, hire outside caregivers that have been carefully screened.
This is also a time of life when your parents aging can be the cause that unlocks your family’s hidden (or ignored) dysfunctions.� Tempers may flare over seemingly inane situations – often about money.� If need be, hire a third-party to come in and mediate family meetings.� Someone has to remain objective with the eye on the primary goal of taking care of your elderly parents.
What becomes extremely important is how the caregiver communicates to his/her elderly. Getting old is hard enough and when children have to tell their parents that they are worried about them living alone, it can be uncomfortable for everyone involved. Where will your parents live as they age?� How do you tell them that they can’t drive any more?� No one prepares us for these kinds of conversations.� Again, planning for the future is key to easing this process.
Talking to Older Parents About Independence
Unfortunately the issues won’t go away if you ignore them.� So the best way to deal with these inevitable changes is to plan in advance – before any problems arise.� A study done by AARP magazine found that most parents feel better about having this kind of discussion when things are going well.�
When talking to your parents it’s ok to be direct just not confrontational.� Always remember to notice how they are feeling (vs. how you are thinking or feeling or how you think they feel).� For example, say to your dad, “My friend Paul’s father is giving up driving.� How would you like to get around when you can no longer drive?”� Or, “Mom, you seem unsteady on your feet.� How can we protect you from falling and hurting yourself?”
Don’t be afraid to share your feelings about the life changes your parents are going through.� Say to Mom, “You have always been so independent and I can only imagine how hard it is for you to ask for help.� I just want you to know that I’m here for you whatever you need.”
If your parents are resistant to talking about their loss of independence, be assured that this is normal.� They may tell you to mind your own business, so be patient and respect their feelings.� You have to remember to keep treating them like equals.� Make conversation another time unless the issue of their health or safety is at immediate risk.��You might need to hold a family meeting where everyone can discuss their concerns jointly and develop a plan that is agreeable for all.� But make sure that your parents feel a sense of involvement and that they still have some control over their own lives.� Listen to their opinions and recognize their right to help make decisions.� Sometimes your parents will make decisions that you don’t agree with.� You have to deal with that yourself.� Make a list of the key issues you need to cover including money, living arrangements, activities such as yard work, doctor visits, and taking prescription medication.
Always remember to be kind.� Not just to your elderly, but also to yourself if you are the caregiver.� This can be a challenging period of life, but with acceptance and planning, it can go a lot smoother.
Additional Resources ��Ideas for simple home modifications that can help parents remain at home http://www.aarp.org/families/home_design/
Resources for caregivers developed by the Administration on Aginghttp://www.aoa.gov/prof/aoaprog/caregiver/caregiver.asp
A free searchable database of a wide variety of community services for older adults http://www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare/Public/Home.asp�
An online directory of adult day centershttp://www.nadsa.org/
Books You Can Read
American Medical Association Guide to Home Caregiving American Medical Association, Angela Perry (Editor); Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated, 2001. http://www.amazon.com/American-Medical-Association-Guide-Caregiving/dp/0471414093/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207873318&sr=1-1� �And Thou Shalt Honor: A Caregiver’s CompanionBeth Witrogen McLeod (Editor), Bob Condor, Rodale press, 2002Written for the caregiver with advice from experts and experienced caregivers on all aspects of providing carehttp://www.amazon.com/Thou-Shalt-Honor-Caregivers-Companion/dp/B000GYI1VA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207873353&sr=1-1
Caregiving Tips for Boomers: 5 Tips for Decreasing the Cost of Caring for Elderly Parents
Monday, November 24th, 2008Over 30 million Baby Boomers provide countless hours of assistance to elderly parents at no charge. It is estimated that, using average hourly wages, the total amount of this uncompensated care is comparable to the entire Medicare budget. For the estimated 7 million Boomers who provide long distance care, actual out of pocket expenses amount to almost $5,000 per month. For caregivers who have, or are considering leaving the workforce to care for an ailing parent, the costs are even greater over $650,000 in forfeited salaries, benefits and pensions.
This stark economic reality shows only one dimension of the price caregivers pay for this act of love.
Caregivers pay with losses that extend well beyond their bank accounts.
They often forego the activities that bring joy and richness to their lives, like meeting friends for dinner, or going out to the movies or taking family vacations.
They pay with their time, the loss of professional opportunities and the erosion of personal relationships that result in isolation.
Sometimes, otherwise healthy loved ones need a short dose of care as they recover from an acute medical episode like a broken leg.
Usually loved ones are on a path of steady decline with cascading assistance needs.
Some caregivers sacrifice large chunks of their own lives as they help their parents and other family members and friends peacefully make their transitions.
Caregivers can pay with their own health and well-being.
In fact, we have evidence that some caregivers pay for their acts of care with their very lives.
You can decrease the personal and economic costs of caregiving.
This means proactive planning rather than reactive responding.
Planning saves money. You know this as you reflect upon your experiences of going to the grocery store with and without a shopping list.
Planning also minimizes personal wear and tear and decreases stress.
You will feel much better when you know your options and develop back-up plans before you jump into a challenging project. 5 Tips to Decrease the Cost of Caregiving:
1. Begin the conversation today.
We have tremendous cultural resistance to the recognition of aging, disability and death.
Just as the first few steps uphill are the hardest, so, too, you may meet the greatest resistance simply starting the conversation about their possible need for care.
Say today, Mom and Dad, it would be great if you lived forever, but the discovery for the fountain of youth is nowhere on the horizon.
What thoughts and plans do you have about enjoying your golden years?
2. Create a plan.
Talk with your parents about their ideal plan if they are no longer able to care for themselves.
Then, start to work toward that proactively.
Investigate long-term care insurance.
Draw up the appropriate legal documents.
Find out who would make medical choices if they were not able to make them on their own, along with some guiding principles for the choices.
You can anticipate and limit parental resistance by saying, Mom and Dad, I just got back from the lawyers office signing my will and durable medical power of attorney.
Ive asked Mitch to make my medical choices if I cannot make them myself.
Just so you know, if I were in vegetative state, I wouldnt want to be maintained on a machine.
You probably already planned ahead too, right?
3. Use personal and community resources.
Make caregiving a family job to which each member contributes. Even children can make grandmas life special with drawings and phone calls. Identify services that make your job as a caregiver easier.
If you and your parents live in the same community, check with friends and neighbors and local organizations to learn about services and resources that will make your job easier.
You say, Mom has just moved in with us, and she wants to find a card game with the girls. Do you know of any senior centers that have social events? How about transportation? Were a mobile society and millions of caregivers live more than an hour away from their parents.
Executive William Gillis learned from his own personal experience how challenging it is to identify community resources from afar.
As he was carving the path that ultimately led his on-line portfolio management service, he became the caregiver for his father. Talk about mixed emotions! Professionally, he was introducing a service that let millions manage their investments with one click of a computer mouse. Personally, he was investing untold hours just to find one bit of information to help his dad. As with so many innovators, he used his personal and professional experience to launch Parent Care (, and many do.
Sometimes the question is not the personal cost of caregiving; its the value that you bring to the lives of others that matter at the end.
What personal cost are you willing to pay for the privilege of helping those who welcomed you into the world to enjoy their golden years and travel the road of illness with love and dignity?
Is Caring For Pets As Stressful As Raising Kids?
Saturday, August 9th, 2008For many people pets are very much a part of the family and many pet owners will even refer to their pets as their ‘children’. So, if raising children can provide abundant opportunities for stress to enter your life, can caring for pets do the same thing?
While there will always be times when you will have cause to worry about your pets, especially when they are sick or stray from home, the reality of the situation is that rather than provide a cause for stress, caring for pets has quite the opposite effect.
A number of studies have suggested that having a pet helps patients who are recovering from surgery to heal faster. If the link between infection and stress that some of them show is correct, this shouldn’t be surprising. The positive effect on the immune system could account for that.
For many people, owning pets provides an abundance of psychological pluses. For example, a cat appears oblivious to any problems you might have and will happily lie curled up in your lap purring, waking only to let you know that it’s time for dinner. And yet the mere fact that your attention is directed towards the cat and away from some problem that might have occurred during the day, such as an unpleasant confrontation with your boss at work, helps to lower stress.
Dogs are also great stress relievers, when they’re not digging holes in the garden, chewing on a good pair of shoes or creating a mess on the carpet. Take them out into the garden and have a game of fetch with a ball can and watching their joy in this simple activity soon takes your mind away from the doom and gloom of life.
Man has been keeping dogs for over 10,000 years now and, during that time, they have participated in hundreds of everyday human rituals and activities, many of which act as stress relievers. Fishing, hiking and other activities in themselves provide relief from stress and, when accompanied by a loved and loving dog, the effect is amplified.
Even aquarium fish can provide a source of stress relief. Caring for tropical fish takes a lot of careful planning and execution and focusing your mind on this task helps to keep it off what often amounts to trivial problems. In addition, simply sitting quietly and observing the many interesting behaviors sea creatures exhibit can be very relaxing.
Many pets including birds, hamsters, gerbils, rabbits and others often display behavior which we find humorous and even the most serious of psychotherapists would agree that laughter is an excellent form of medicine when it comes to lowering stress.
Although we don’t communicate with animals in the same way that we do with other humans, there is no doubt that an understanding forms between individuals and their pets. That bond is often very strong and results in a feeling of support without the expectation of anything in return other than food and a little of our time and attention.
Caring for your Baby
Sunday, July 13th, 2008Caring for your baby is one of the most life altering, rewarding experiences, as it is exciting, emotional, and scary for both new, and experienced parents as you care for and become responsible for a new life. You may be surprised to discover all the things that are needed for the new baby! After all, the little precious addition’s needs only seem to extend to eating and sleeping. The clothing, furniture, equipment etc. that you initially gather whether it’s a gift or through purchases tends to be a good foundation to get parents started. But just as adults the needs of babies tend to and will change on a day-to-day basis. As all new parents find out, and experienced parents can attest to your clothing needs will depend on the time of year your baby is born and your climate.
From your baby needing a comfortable place to sleep, to buying the cutest/sweetest (depending on the gender) outfits you will find all of your baby needs. This article was inspired by the birth of my son, and the trials and triumphs as a first time parent that I have encountered. We offer everything that you and your baby will need as you and your family embarks on your wonderful journey, into a great fulfilling life. We have the solutions to your day-to-day problems that are right for you and your baby!
Learn about how to choose baby products and what is the best brands based on our customers reviews. You can also submit your baby product reviews, even if you brought it elsewhere. Have fun reading baby related articles written by you, your friends or someone else. We all learn something new from each other everyday.
From my family to yours we look forward to the opportunity to service your family needs and grow with you and your new addition(s).
Caring New Born โ an Overwhelming and Lifeโs Biggest Challenge
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008Having a new baby is a wonderful experience and at the same time caring new born is overwhelming. There are many comfortable and safe ways to carry a baby. Always support your babyโs head and neck under forearms as they cannot lift their head.
Caring new born involves the cleaning of umbilical cord stump with alcohol after every diaper change. Parents wonder when this will fall off. Umbilical cord is connected to the placenta and your baby at the belly button area (navel). After the birth the cord is cut and covered with clamps.
Care of umbilical has to be taken to prevent the infection until it falls off by itself. Dip a cotton swab or cotton ball in alcohol and move it around the bottom of the cord where it is attached to the navel. It has to fall off within 1 to 3 weeks after the birth.
New born usually eat for every three to four hours, some even feed for every two hours. As breast-fed babies can digest fast they need to be fed more frequently than the bottle-fed young ones.
Baby crying is a sort of communication between the mother and the baby. They usually cry when they are hungry, wet, tired, and lonely, bored and have to burp.
A mother quickly understands what the baby needs. Responding to a baby will simply build the relationship between the child and mother instead of spoiling the child.
Many things can be done to make a crying baby calm. By holding a baby over ones shoulders will make him calm down. Also by placing stomach of the baby across the knees or by wrapping the baby in blankets will do the trick.
Sleep is an essential thing to the new born. Normally a baby can sleep for 16 to 20 hours a day. The American Academy Pediatrics suggested that the healthy full-term babies sleep on their backs in order to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Trim the nails of the infants during their first days of life with blunt edge scissors or file with an emery board to prevent scratching. The nails should be cut slightly across.
Bathing your baby will be a fun and you can enjoy doing it. Until the cord is fallen off give the sponge bath. After that, the tub baths can be given. While bathing, the water should be little warm.
Support the head and neck of the baby while bathing. Donโt use the soap on the face. Bathing should be done before feeding or after one hour after feeding the baby.
Diapers have to be changed when the baby is wet or soiled. Wash and pat dry after each bowel movement and wetting. For girls, gently wash from front to back by separating the folds with a clean wash cloth.
Wash the penis, folds near the scrotum and creases in boys. The foreskin of the uncircumcised baby should not be pushed back.
Hence, Caring newborn is lifeโs biggest challenge but soon you will be able to know their needs and how to soothe them.
Baby Care: Tips for Caring for a Newborn
Sunday, May 25th, 2008Taking care of a newborn baby can be an overwhelming experience for any mom. The tasks involved in baby care โ from feeding to diapering to getting your baby to sleep โ can be both an emotional and stressful time. However, following some simple tips can help you and provide you with what you know about how to take care of your newborn.
Baby Care Tips
The most important thing to remember is that even if youโre a first time mom, you should always trust your instincts when it comes to taking care of your infant. If you are in doubt about something, whether it be your childโs sleep patterns or how often you should feed your baby, do not hesitate to contact your health care provider.
While it may not seem like it at first, know that eventually you will be able to establish a normal routine with your baby. Feeding and sleep time will take place at more or less set times, although it will probably be unlikely that you will be able to have a fixed schedule. This can be especially helpful for stay at home moms who may also have other children to care for and household duties to which to attend.
Feeding is a central component of infant care and is essential to your babyโs health. Make sure not to restrict the length and frequency of feedings, as your baby needs proper nutrition in order to grow at a healthy rate. If you are breastfeeding, follow these helpful breastfeeding tips:
-
nurse your baby as soon as possible after birth
use a pillow to support your baby as well as for your comfort
establish proper latch on (make sure your babyโs mouth completely covers your nipple)
Working moms can also speak to their employers about breastfeeding policies at the workplace, as well as make alternative arrangements, such as pumping milk beforehand, so that baby gets the nutrition he needs while youโre on the job.
If you experience any pain during breastfeeding, or if your baby is having trouble latching on, talk to your health care provider.
New moms are also concerned about baby sleep safety. Your newborn might sleep for up to 16 hours each day, generally sleeping for 3 to 4 hours at a time.
The following tips can help encourage healthy sleep in your newborn, as proper sleep is essential to baby care:
-
always put your baby in her crib for sleep time; this will help her associate sleeping with her crib and help to establish a routine
put your baby to sleep on her back; this reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
reduce stimulation at night; dim the lights prior to bedtime and stay silent or speak in only soothing voices to help lull your baby to sleep. It can also be helpful to establish a bedtime routine; for example, make bath time prior to bed time.
make sure thereโs nothing in or near your babyโs crib, including bedding, stuffed animals and drapes; these objects could pose a hazard to your newborn
Is your baby still crying? Soothing a crying baby can be a frustrating and emotionally draining experience for a mom, even if youโre a second or third time mom.
Sitting in a rocking chair or carrying your baby close to you can help soothe your newborn. Also, going for a walk or a ride in the car can help your newborn relax, as can speaking in soothing tones or singing to your baby. Wrapping your child in a blanket can also help calm your baby. If you are feeling frustrated, take a few minutes to breathe deeply.
Always remember that youโre not alone when taking care of your newborn. Even if youโre a single parent, you still have resources available โ including your health care provider, family and friends โ to provide you with advice on how to take care of your newborn.
Also, remember that your baby is unique and therefore requires different care as she develops at her own rate. This is particularly true of special needs children; be loving and attentive with your baby and try to respond to her unique requirements as best as you can. Remember, no mom is perfect โ thereโs no such thing! The important thing is that you bond with your bundle of joy.