Archives by: Jennifer Beach
About the author
Jennifer Beach, LSW, MA, C-SWCM writes the Thrive blog, Caregiver Corner. She established Advocate for Elders in Rocky River in 2010. Jennifer has 25 years of experience in working with and advocating for older adults and their families. Jennifer is a licensed, insured Social Worker and an Advanced Aging Life Care® Professional. She has served as the Midwest Chapter President of the Aging Life Care Association and additionally served 7 years on the Board of Directors. In 2018, Jennifer was honored as the recipient of the ALCA Midwest Chapter Outstanding Member of the Year Award. Learn more at advocate4elders.com.
Jennifer Beach Posts
Over-the-counter medications are readily available and often perceived as harmless. OTC meds may seem like easy fixes for insomnia and other common health problems. But they may be affecting other parts of your brain-body function and can pose serious risks. ...
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Sleep disturbances can really drag you down. If you want to improve your sleep, the most powerful tools are free and worth trying. Light, timing, temperature and consistency are key. Our bodies want to be in our natural rhythms but require the right signals. ...
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As caregivers, we are always ON. Carrying a cell phone means we are permanently accessible. Anticipating emergency calls or checking for missed calls or notifications creates a constant, low-grade "fight or flight" response within our bodies. This is not healthy. ...
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Hydration does far more than just quench our thirst. Our brain is made up of 75% water, meaning even a tiny 1–2% drop in hydration can trigger brain fog, fatigue, headaches, muscle cramps, changes in blood pressure and heart function, and a severe lack of focus, to name a few. Yet, most of us walk around chronically underhydrated without realizing it. ...
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If you are supporting a person with dementia or a late-stage chronic disease and are assisting them with eating, consider some of these simple tips that may make a big difference in this important and sometimes challenging task. ...
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Most people hear the word "frail" and think of a person who looks old, thin and weak, but frailty is not about how someone looks, it is about how much reserve they have left. Frailty is your body’s way of signaling that it can’t handle the strain it’s under. While frailty is most common in people over 65, it isn’t inevitable. ...
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Caregivers are motivated by love, but over time, feelings can quietly evolve into obligation, guilt and relentless self-criticism. Self-compassion or self-care becomes difficult. We can practice it by asking ourselves, “Would I say the same thing I’m thinking about myself to a dear friend who is exhausted and overwhelmed by caring for a loved one?” ...
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Whether your loved one is laying on the guilt or the blame is largely self-imposed. Try to accept the situation and let it go. You can’t change their disease, condition or medical circumstance. If their situation has progressed, requiring a higher level of care, and you are unable to meet their needs safely, it is time to honor the goal of always caring for them and doing your best. This may not mean they remain at home, as you had promised. And that is OK. ...
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