THE PATIENT VOICE

Welcome to Issue 14!

Hello Friends,

When I was in my 30s, my grandmother developed Alzheimer's disease. My grandfather did soon after. The honorable burden of caring for them fell on my mother.

Her regular visits to them increased over the course of seven years and at some point she got what help medicare would cover, then a bit more that they wouldn't. There were plenty of times she reached exhaustion, but she never walked away from her commitment.

There are millions of people like my mom out there. You may be one of them.

So in this month of November, which is National Family Caregiver's Month, I want to thank you. Thank you for shouldering this honorable burden.

I invite you to email me at jsliney@patientsrising.org and tell me your caregiver stories, giver or receiver of care. Let's share these experiences.

Warmly,

Jim

Financial Elder Abuse and How I Became My Mother's Caregiver
by Alyse Poteshman

Challenges of the Full Time Caregiver
by Kristine Hutchinson

5 Essential Skills of a Caregiver from The Caregiver Space

"Some of my happiest moments are when I cook for others. I enjoy every aspect of it - planning what to cook, shopping for ingredients, and the art of combining it all together into a beautiful meal. The piece de resistance of course is their face as they take the first bite. There's something magical about that look! They're savoring every complex flavor combination I created.

As time went on and my health began to deteriorate, I was limited with the foods that I could eat. After gastric surgery, I was required to eat an extremely low-carb diet. The rice, breads, pastas, and sweets I once adored were off-limits. But my love for food and my creativity allowed me to create new favorites and comparable (if not better) replacements for my once favorite staples of my diet.

I also realized that food could do more than just satisfy cravings or delight my tastebuds - it could nurture and heal. Obviously it can't heal my many chronic illnesses, but it could help me be more conscious about my health, my nutrition, and improve my well-being."

- Bela