tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8783698673666884973.post5089986174008762049..comments2024-02-18T00:14:47.208-08:00Comments on Dr. Nanette's Journey of Caregiving: Caregiving: It Take a VillageNanette J. Davis, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06651177711191637610noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8783698673666884973.post-78770295391020667552012-11-06T17:28:07.697-08:002012-11-06T17:28:07.697-08:00This is a great and important post and the village...This is a great and important post and the village will include medical professionals and perhaps other outside assistance (esp. as you mentioned, if you are long-distance caregiving). I think some of the caregiver tools out there can be quite handy in this village approach too--when my Mom had a big surgery recently, CaringBridge was a godsend in terms of communicating with everyone, responding to requests to help (and putting out the call for help) and managing our time to focus on the immediate needs.<br /><br />In this vein, in my writing for EasyLivingFL.com I had put together some information on how families can "put together a care team", i.e. ways to make caregiving a team effort working towards the same goals when you are working with outside assistance: http://www.easylivingfl.com/creating-a-care-team-caregiving-together/ and http://www.easylivingfl.com/alzheimers-care-preparing-for-the-professional-home-caregiver/. Otherwise sometimes the help feels like more work! The family coach is invaluable in coaching/training/quality assurance when working with outside help. This is essential even when an elder moves to a care facility--the family role does not end by any means, but changes, and helping make that transition go as smoothly as possible is a big part of that advocacy.<br /><br />Thanks for a great article and a way to frame caregiving in today's world. The realities of today's families ("sandwiched", working, long-distance, possibly caring for more than one elder at a time) mean this is the way we NEED to think about things. And, isn't it interesting what assumptions people make (ie the divorced daughter will do it, I'll just move in with my kids, etc.--important to talk more about this stuff and think through the various scenarios, costs, etc.)?Shannon Martin, Aging Wisely, LLChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14631424365481445653noreply@blogger.com