1. < Caregivers
Moderator

Meet fellow Caregivers - Introduce yourself

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Aug 27, 2016

Welcome to the Caregivers group on Mayo Clinic Connect.
Caring for someone can be rewarding, but it is also very demanding and can be isolating. Let's use this space to connect with other caregivers, share experiences, talk frankly about the tough stuff without judgement and to provide a virtual shoulder to lean on.

I'm Colleen, and I'm the moderator of this group, and Community Director of Connect. I look forwarding to welcoming you and introducing you to other members. Feel free to browse the topics or start a new one.

Grab a cup of tea, or beverage of you choice, and let's chat. Why not start by introducing yourself?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Caregivers Support Group.

sunshine | @lizny | Oct 8, 2019
In reply to @debbraw "Hi @lizny - I agree that caregiving is often underappreciated and challenging. My husband has dementia..." + (show)
@debbraw

Hi @lizny - I agree that caregiving is often underappreciated and challenging. My husband has dementia and it is sometimes a rollercoaster here! It sounds as if you gave your parents and grandparents a lot of love. You can always feel good about that. You use the past tense when you speak of your caregiving? Are you still a caregiver?

Jump to this post

Sadly my mom passed in May and my caregiver duties have ended. Now a difficult challenge, what to do.....?

REPLY
2 replies
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Oct 8, 2019
In reply to @lizny "Sadly my mom passed in May and my caregiver duties have ended. Now a difficult challenge,..." + (show)
@lizny

Sadly my mom passed in May and my caregiver duties have ended. Now a difficult challenge, what to do.....?

Jump to this post

@lizny My condolences for the loss of your mom. It sometimes takes a while to get the ground under us solid again, we devote an enormous percentage of our day and energy to caretaking. Allow yourself this respite to find yourself, perhaps re-start a hobby or pastime you placed on hold. Honor the energy you spent with your mom, be gentle on yourself. Perhaps you will find a cause to volunteer for?
Ginger

REPLY
Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor | @debbraw | Oct 9, 2019
In reply to @lizny "Sadly my mom passed in May and my caregiver duties have ended. Now a difficult challenge,..." + (show)
@lizny

Sadly my mom passed in May and my caregiver duties have ended. Now a difficult challenge, what to do.....?

Jump to this post

Oh @lizny - I am so sorry for the loss of your mom. And I understand the question of "what do to now?". After my dad died many years ago, I thought to myself "What did I used to do before I spent so much time going back and forth to visit/care for my dad?" Only one thought came to mind. I used to take dance lessons. So... I went back to the place for lessons, the first week there I met my now husband... It's been 25 years now, so I'm here to tell you that life has ups and downs all over the place but it goes on, and some of it is wonderful. Is there anything you remember that you used to LOVE doing before you were a caretaker to your mom?

REPLY
1 reply
sunshine | @lizny | Oct 11, 2019
In reply to @debbraw "Oh @lizny - I am so sorry for the loss of your mom. And I understand..." + (show)
@debbraw

Oh @lizny - I am so sorry for the loss of your mom. And I understand the question of "what do to now?". After my dad died many years ago, I thought to myself "What did I used to do before I spent so much time going back and forth to visit/care for my dad?" Only one thought came to mind. I used to take dance lessons. So... I went back to the place for lessons, the first week there I met my now husband... It's been 25 years now, so I'm here to tell you that life has ups and downs all over the place but it goes on, and some of it is wonderful. Is there anything you remember that you used to LOVE doing before you were a caretaker to your mom?

Jump to this post

Hi, thank you for the advice. It been so long been trying to remember but on the other hand I just do not feel like doing anything. Thanks again.

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 30, 2019

Hi everyone,
As the number of discussions related to caregiving increase, it was time to open a new group dedicated to caring for someone who has dementia. Many of you have already participated in discussions centered around dementia, such as mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's, long term care, medications, activities, self care and more. Those discussions have been moved to the new group.

General caregiving discussions and caregiving specific to other situations, such as cancer, ALS, Parkinson's, aging, lung disease, transplant, etc will remain in the Caregivers group (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/caregivers/)

If you are caring for someone living with dementia, I invite you to +Follow the Caregivers: Dementia group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/caregivers-dementia/

REPLY
4 replies
coloradogirl | @coloradogirl | Oct 30, 2019
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi everyone, As the number of discussions related to caregiving increase, it was time to open..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi everyone,
As the number of discussions related to caregiving increase, it was time to open a new group dedicated to caring for someone who has dementia. Many of you have already participated in discussions centered around dementia, such as mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's, long term care, medications, activities, self care and more. Those discussions have been moved to the new group.

General caregiving discussions and caregiving specific to other situations, such as cancer, ALS, Parkinson's, aging, lung disease, transplant, etc will remain in the Caregivers group (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/caregivers/)

If you are caring for someone living with dementia, I invite you to +Follow the Caregivers: Dementia group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/caregivers-dementia/

Jump to this post

This is a great idea. I have joined the new group. Thanks!

REPLY
virginianaeve | @virginianaeve | Oct 30, 2019
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi everyone, As the number of discussions related to caregiving increase, it was time to open..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi everyone,
As the number of discussions related to caregiving increase, it was time to open a new group dedicated to caring for someone who has dementia. Many of you have already participated in discussions centered around dementia, such as mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's, long term care, medications, activities, self care and more. Those discussions have been moved to the new group.

General caregiving discussions and caregiving specific to other situations, such as cancer, ALS, Parkinson's, aging, lung disease, transplant, etc will remain in the Caregivers group (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/caregivers/)

If you are caring for someone living with dementia, I invite you to +Follow the Caregivers: Dementia group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/caregivers-dementia/

Jump to this post

Hi Colleen,

Yay!!! Thanks so much! I will be able to focus on dementia
issues and stop having to delete millions of emails related to things I
know nothing about.

Have a great day!
Virginia Naeve
>

REPLY
1 reply
eleanorf | @eleanorf | Oct 30, 2019

That’s great, as it is the one group I can relate to. Thanks!

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 30, 2019
In reply to @virginianaeve "Hi Colleen, Yay!!! Thanks so much! I will be able to focus on dementia issues and..." + (show)
@virginianaeve

Hi Colleen,

Yay!!! Thanks so much! I will be able to focus on dementia
issues and stop having to delete millions of emails related to things I
know nothing about.

Have a great day!
Virginia Naeve
>

Jump to this post

Let me know if anyone has any issues adjusting their notification preferences to receive only the email notices that interest you.

Here are some helpful tips
- Adjust your preferences in your Account Settings https://connect.mayoclinic.org/account/
- Subscribe or Unsubscribe from a Discussion https://connect.mayoclinic.org/get-started-on-connect/#subscribe-unsubscribe-discussion
- How to Set Notification Preferences https://connect.mayoclinic.org/get-started-on-connect/#notification-preferences

REPLY
sallysue | @sallysue | Oct 31, 2019

Yes! Colleen keep me in the dementia care givers’ group.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.