Category / Aging parents

by Coach Wendy

Luxurious products (that are bargains) on Amazon to nourish yourself just in time for Spring

As the earth awakens with the arrival of spring, it’s the perfect time to nourish yourself with mindful self-care rituals.

The Self-Care Sanctuary Journal 12.97

A gratitude journal can help you reflect on the blessings of the renewing season and let go of any lingering winter burdens. In fact, The Self-Care Sanctuary Journal, which I wrote, features 30 Days of Journaling Prompts for Peace of Mind.

This journal is designed to help you to embrace your worthiness and cultivate a life filled with peace, balance, and gratitude. This beautifully designed journal offers 30 days of guided journaling prompts that empower you to let go of worry, release guilt, and prioritize your well-being.

Each prompt encourages you to reflect on your journey, helping you to:

🌺 Let Go of Worry: Discover techniques to quiet your mind and embrace tranquility.

🌺 Care for Yourself: Prioritize your needs and learn the importance of self-care, so you can be your best for those you love.

🌺 Embrace Your Worthiness: Acknowledge that you are enough and deserving of joy and fulfillment.

With daily reflections, you’ll find yourself welcoming peace and joy into your heart, fostering a sense of balance, and living each day with purpose. This journal is not just a tool; it’s a sanctuary for your thoughts and feelings, guiding you toward a more mindful and enriched life.

Join the journey of self-discovery and thrive as you navigate through life’s challenges with confidence and grace.

Click here to purchase your journal so that you can start your transformation today—because you are worthy, you are enough, and you choose to thrive!

Aila Meditation Cushion with Yoga Mat – Luxurious Meditation Accessories Spiritual Decor Zafu Meditation Cushion – Meditation Floor Pillow for Women Include Extra Cushion Cover – Memory Foam Material 59.99

Carving out time for meditation or gentle yoga outdoors can make space for you to really relax and value your connection to the natural world.

And with these cushions and yoga mat, you can really relax so that you can let all of that stress and pain go!

Bath Pillow Bathtub Pillow, Luxury Bath Pillows for Tub Neck and Back Support 35.99

What is better than a relaxing bath to really make space for you? Treating yourself to a luxurious floral-infused bath or diffusing uplifting spring scents can cultivate a sense of peace and ease.

With this pillow in place, you’ll be soaking up gratitude and mindfulness so that you can be in a place of receiving.

Light some of your favorite scented candles and remember to keep your favorite lotion on hand for after your soak. Stop and take a moment to really enjoy your peaceful moment and inhale the relaxing fragrances around you.

By receiving the rejuvenating energy of these self-care practices, you can emerge feeling refreshed and confident, ready to step into the vibrant bloom of spring with an open and grateful heart.

In love & light,

P.S. As an Amazon Associate, I do earn a commission off of the sale of the items you see here – and I so appreciate your support 🩷

by Coach Wendy

How to enjoy peace of mind and focus in the new year

Are you looking for an easy way to wrap up this past year?

Recently I did a very powerful and easy exercise looking back at this last year that I really want to share with you.

First, I looked at all of my pictures on my camera roll for the past year. Starting with the first day of 2024 to the end. Looking at the pictures helped to jog my memory about special things that happened and I wrote them out in my journal. Has that ever happened to you? Just by looking at a picture, does it also take you back to that moment and the thoughts and feelings you were experiencing?

Then, in my journal I wrote, ‘What made me successful’ because that is how I felt coming to the end of 2024.

I let it flow and ended up with 7 pages. Which I will be able to look back on whenever I like.

Once I felt complete reflecting on the previous year, I then took a few days to process that. Then I began to look ahead to the new year.

A few days later, I asked myself what I desire in 2025 and I wrote those out in my journal.

What if you tried this exercise for yourself? What do you think it would give to you?

Want a journal to easily guide you to peace of mind and focus? I have just the thing. My Self-Care Sanctuary Journal is now available on Amazon through my Associates Link where I do earn a small commission (thank you for your support).

The Self-Care Sanctuary Journal – with 30 days of Journaling Prompts

This journal has 30 days of journaling prompts to guide you to enjoying peace of mind.

Click here to take a look and see if it might be a good fit for you.

Wishing you a new year filled with health, wealth, abundance and prosperity.

by Coach Wendy

10 Life-Changing Amazon Subscribe and Save Hacks for Caregivers That You Need to Know!

As a caregiver, managing all the things can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, Amazon’s Subscribe and Save program offers a range of products that can simplify your life. Here are ten that simplified mine and will help you streamline your caregiving tasks and free up more time for what truly matters.

1. Laundry Soap

I subscribe to laundry soap for my mom, ensuring she never run out. Since she has very sensitive skin she uses 7th Generation Laundry Detergent, Free & Clear. This means I can focus on spending quality time with her instead of running errands to find cleaning supplies.

2. Briefs

I also have Always Discreet Adult Incontinence Underwear delivered regularly through Subscribe and Save. This discreet solution saves me time and ensures my mom has what she needs without the hassle of last-minute shopping. Plus – it’s cheaper than buying this in a store! Winner, winner.

3. Distilled Water for Humidifiers

In the winter, I use Instacart to have distilled water delivered for my mom’s humidifier. This not only saves my back from carrying heavy bottles but also ensures that her humidifier runs smoothly, improving her comfort.

4. Medications and Supplements

Set up a subscription for any medications or supplements your loved one needs. This ensures you never miss a refill, keeping your caregiving routine consistent and stress-free.

5. Personal Care Products

Subscribe to personal care items like shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Having these essentials delivered regularly means you can focus on your mom’s needs instead of running to the store for toiletries.

6. Incontinence Products

By the way, did I mention that when I subscribe to Amazon’s Subscribe and Save for her incontinence products, she appreciates the fact that no one knows what is in the boxes vs. me hauling them in a bag for everyone to see.

7. Healthy Snacks

Healthy snacks can be hard to find, especially if you’re busy. Subscribe to nutritious snacks that your loved one enjoys, ensuring they have healthy options available without constant trips to the store.

8. Cleaning Supplies

Keep your home clean and organized by subscribing to cleaning supplies like all-purpose cleaners, paper towels, and disinfecting wipes. This reduces the stress of last-minute cleaning runs.

9. Pet Supplies

If you’re caring for pets as well, subscribe to pet food and supplies. This ensures you never run out of food or litter, making it easier to care for your furry family members.

10. Meal Kits or Pre-Packaged Meals

Consider subscribing to meal kits or pre-packaged meals designed for seniors. These can save you time on meal prep while ensuring your loved one eats nutritious and balanced meals.

Conclusion

By utilizing Amazon’s Subscribe and Save program, you can simplify many aspects of caregiving. These hacks not only save time but also reduce stress, allowing you to focus on what truly matters: spending quality time with your loved one. Start exploring these options today and make caregiving a little easier.

Click here to take a look at Amazon’s Subscribe and Save Program using my Amazon Associates Link

It really does save time and money so that I can spend more time with my mom.

In love & light,

by Coach Wendy

A Man On The Inside Gets It All Right

#AManOnTheInside

Watching this show through the lens of a daughter whose mother has been in a care setting for 13 plus years, I can see that the writers of A Man On the Inside have done their homework.

✔️ Daughter grappling with her strained relationship with her dad and coping with her mother’s death oh and trying to balance work, a husband and three children.

✔️ The ever evolving dichotomy of the parent/child and child/parent dynamic.

✔️ Children not being there enough because they are busy – however you see yourself in this. I noticed myself a few times here, to be honest.

✔️ Gossip spreads faster in a ‘community’ than anywhere else in the world.

When your parent moves into a ‘community’ it brings up a LOT of emotions – not just for them. It brings up a LOT of emotions for you, too.

✔️ The feeling of needing to care for everyone else before caring for yourself.

✔️ Caring for your parent, for your children, working full time and still having time for your partner.

✔️ Exhaustion and wresting with the whole crazy part of it all.

✔️ Overwhelm and wishing you had peace of mind.

Having peace of mind is something you can have and your next best step to it is by grabbing your FREE Journal WITH 30 days of Journaling Prompts

Find out in 30 days what your life will look like when you are able to release all guilt, let go of worry, find balance and be present.

In love & light,

by Coach Wendy

Win A 1 Hour Coaching Call!

Taking a few minutes to share your top question(s) with me would be incredibly valuable. Your answers will guide the topics I cover in upcoming articles and Q&A events.

Please rest assured that your answers will be kept confidential and will only be read by me.

Click here to ask your questions: https://forms.gle/o5s2aEC9aLdRCR6VA

🩷Coach Wendy 

#QandAEvents
#ShareYourQuestions
#ConfidentialInput
#CoachingCallGiveaway
#AgingParents

by Coach Wendy

Which would you choose?

‘Someone to talk to and connect to local resources’,

‘Figure out when and how I will know when to put my mother into a retirement community’,

‘How to prepare to care for an aging parent’, or

‘How do I avoid burnout taking care of my aging parent?’

Join our course, Confident Caregiver Connection: A supportive resource hub, and discover empowering solutions to navigate these challenges.

Details coming soon!

#CaregiverSupport #LocalResources #AgingParents

by Coach Wendy

Supporting Aging Parents: Understanding the Expenses of Home Care, Assisted Living, and Other Alternatives

My mom fell for the 3rd time in a span of about 6 months. When she got home from the hospital after the 3rd fall, with a concussion, split lip and two black eyes, I asked her what she wanted to do.

She said she wanted to live at a retirement community and in fact named the one that we ultimately moved her into.

Then it was up to me to figure out how she was going to pay for it.

I’d like to share with you my interview with my friend and colleague Joyce Blue as she shares her knowledge about one way to pay for care of an aging parent and that is through Long Term Care.

Then when you finish watching that, take a look at this document from a group that I belong to, Aging Connections, as it walks you through and explains options for seniors like home care, assisted living, hospice, etc.

Another resource you can look to for help in paying for care is the Veterans Administration. If your parent or your parent’s spouse was in the military and honorably discharged, you may be entitled to help. You can learn more here.

You can also pay for care from the assets from selling your parents real estate and contents.

Also, look into Medicaid or Medicare to see if that is an option.

The other smart thing to do, if your parent has not already, is to get council from an elder law attorney. They can help you to navigate around paying for care. While you are there it is also a good idea to ask about an estate plan for your parent, if they do not already have one in place.

Finally, do what I did when I asked my mom, ‘What do you want?, which is my abbreviated version of ‘the uncomfortable conversation.’ 

Find out what your parent wants as far as care – do they want to stay in their home, do they want to live in a community, do they want you to care for them, do they want to move in with a family member?

Once you know what they want, it’s time to think about what you want. Do you want to care for your parent? What will that look like for you? Will it be your parent living in your home? Will it be your parent living in a community?

These are big decisions to make. I’m happy to help you. I’ve helped many clients to help their aging parents while honoring themselves. You can click here to schedule your complimentary consultation.

🩷Coach Wendy

by Coach Wendy

Navigating the Journey of Aging Parent Care: 6 Essential Areas to Consider

Most of our aging parents prefer to be self-reliant and contribute actively to their families, communities, and workplaces. However, as they reach their 70s, 80s, 90s, and beyond, many of our aging parents eventually require some form of assistance. In such cases, it’s usually us, the adult children, who step in to provide the necessary care and support.

Assisting an aging parent can range from simple tasks like transportation and household chores to more complex responsibilities due to health-related issues. These challenges often arise from conditions such as dementia, chronic illnesses, falls, difficulty recovering from hospitalization, and the effects of just plain getting older.

I’ve seen many families struggle with these issues over the years, and in the beginning of taking care of my mom – I struggled with myself – which inspired me to create the “Caregiver Support and Resource Connection” online program. As part of this program, I’ve compiled a list of six key areas that family caregivers typically need to address when taking care of an aging parent.

Here are the six areas to be aware of when taking care of aging parents:

  1. Your Self care
  2. Medical
  3. Living arrangement
  4. Care
  5. Financial
  6. Legal

These areas often intersect and influence each other, making caring for an aging parent a complex endeavor. If you’re currently taking care of an aging parent, I hope this list proves helpful to you. It may seem overwhelming at first, but with persistence, you’ll navigate your way through it. Just remember to prioritize your self-care along the way. Which is why I’ve put that at #1 on the list.

If you’re facing challenges getting your aging parent to accept help, be sure to check out my free online training for effective methods to reduce conflicts and provide better care.

🩷Coach Wendy

by Coach Wendy

Great products to help you, help your aging parents

At various times of the year, many of us are on the lookout for meaningful and helpful gifts for our elderly loved ones. I’ve put together an article featuring 4 products that I believe are particularly worth considering:

These are just some of the products and resources that my clients have access to, aiming to make their caregiving journey a bit easier.

“4 Helpful Products for Older Adults & Caregivers”

Jelly Drops: Can’t get your aging parent to drink water? These Jelly Drops entice older folks to eat them and this helps their water intake.

Amazon Echo Show: I should list this as number one because I love this device for communicating with my mom every day.  We get to see each other on screen and she gets to play music, turn her television on and off, it tells her jokes and she enjoys the pictures I load onto it as a slideshow.

Joy for All: This is another product that I absolutely love and so does mom. After mom’s beloved cat passed away, my husband found this brand and purchased a ‘robot cat’ for mom. She loves it and best of all, she does not have to clean up the kitty litter!

    Medisafe Medication Reminder – this is a product that I haven’t used but think should be mentioned. It’s actually an app that you can download that reminds you to take your medication. By the looks of it, it’s free.

    While these suggestions cater to older adults in general, some are also useful for you. Win-win!

    Let us know in the comments, which is your favorite? If you have a favorite product, please share that in the comments as well!

    Wishing you and your loved ones a meaningful, joyful year full of celebrations!

    🩷Coach Wendy

    P.S. To be transparent, there are a few affiliate links listed above and I do receive some compensation.

    #ElderlyGifts #CaregivingResources #SeniorCare #GiftIdeas #AgingWell #SeniorHealth

    by Coach Wendy

    Keep an Eye out Next Time You Visit Your Aging Parent

    Since the holidays, have you been thinking and wondering about your aging parent?

    Did you notice something that is bothering you? Like the unwashed dishes in the sink. Or maybe how your parent is just a little more withdrawn and quiet than they used to be.

    There are a few signs to look out for when you visit your aging parent, 10 to be exact, and I’ve attached a PDF that covers them all right here. 10 Signs to Know When It’s Time to Care for Your Aging Parent.

    Maybe you aren’t wondering at all and you know for a fact that your parent needs assistance. What do you do next?

    It all begins with a conversation. With your parent(s), if possible. And you can also include their friends and neighbors – asking them what they’ve noticed. It can also include your family.

    You can start the difficult conversation out by saying something like, “I have something that I’d like to talk with you about …….. can we talk?” If that person says yes, then you can say: 

    I feel (say what you are feeling)

    I need (say what you need)

    Then ask them – what do you need. And get quiet. Listen.

    Give it a try and let us know in the comments how it goes!

    🩷Coach Wendy

    #Caregiver #AgingHealth #Relationships