Finding A Foothold

Yes, the stroke has already happened, and you might think, “Learn? What does it matter now? It won’t change anything!” But it will. Learning gives you power. It helps you make informed decisions about the immediate and long-term considerations that need to take place in their recovery process and in your role as a caregiver. As an OT for nearly 30 years, I’ve witnessed a lot. I’ve seen disparities in the sharing of information, families rejecting or being passive about the information given, or just not being proactive in seeing that their loved one gets the care needed —all of which significantly reduces the recovery and quality of life for both the patient and the caregiver (now and for years to come). This is true whether your loved one has just had a stroke or it has been months or years. #strokesurvivor #strokecaregiver #familycaregiver #CVA #spousalcaregiver #aginginplace #occupationaltherapy #physicaltherapy #speechtherapy #caregiver #caregiving #caregivercoach #groupcoaching #brain #brainhealth

Beautiful!

I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve been selected as an awardee by the North Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce in an upcoming banquet! It’s an honor to serve my local community, focusing on supporting family caregivers and those seeking to age in place safely. This is just the beginning of my journey! As I discover more about the needs of my community, both locally and online, I’m eager to expand collaborations and partnerships to better support family caregivers and the rapidly growing population of older seniors. Additionally, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the North Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce for this recognition and their unwavering support of local businesses and community initiatives. Together, we can continue to make a meaningful impact and foster a thriving, supportive environment for all. Thank you for this opportunity to contribute and serve. #Consultant #FamilyCaregiverconsultant #AgingInPlaceSpecialist #AgingInPlace #CommunitySupport #BakerLA #BatonRouge #ChamberOfCommerce #NorthBatonRouge #seniorcare #occupationaltherapist

I’m deeply honored to have collaborated with a group of dedicated family caregiver advocates on the recently published white paper, ‘The Importance of Supporting Working Family Caregivers! Our collective efforts aim to inspire companies to create a culture of support, where working family caregivers feel valued and can continue to contribute to the success of their organizations. Please take a moment to read and share this important resource. Thank you. https://lnkd.in/gAYbQgr7 #whitepaper #workingcaregivers #employeesupport #humanresourses #caregiversupport #employeebenefits #caregivers #familycaregiver #caregiverstress #occupationaltherapist

📣Announcing A NEW WEBINAR!!!📣 Topic: I Wish I had Known This Sooner Pain should not be a part of caregiving. Your approach and technique matters. This and other topics are addressed in webinar. This webinar is to offer practical insights, tools, tips and encouragement to new and “not-so-new” caregivers, to help you avoid always having to learn things the hard way. I am Consuela, an Occupational Therapist, a Certified Aging in Place Specialist. I AM ALSO A CAREGIVER. I understand trends and challenges that often surface in caregiving and the challenges with mobility tasks and activities of daily living that occur with progressive cognitive and physical decline. Get equipped. Learn strategies, techniques and tips that can help you better care for your loved one, better care for yourself and better integrate caregiving into your life while also prioritizing your own well-being. Register today. https://lnkd.in/gCDJNPkj ⭐️⭐️Please share post. ⭐️⭐️ Thank You. #caregivers #familycaregivers #groupcoaching #newcaregiver #familycaregiver #caregiverstress #occupationaltherapist #webinar #caregiverwebinar #agingparents #caringforparents #caregiving

There is a “such thing” as doing too much, when helping your aging parents, you could actually be causing them to become weaker or developing a learned dependency on you. 📣Announcing A NEW WORKSHOP!!!📣 Topic: I wish I had Known This Sooner Unfortunately, these are the words I often hear from family caregivers, as they face the many challenges and unfamiliarities of caregiving. The purpose of this webinar is to offer practical insights, tools, tips and encouragement to new and “not-so-new” caregivers, to help you avoid always having to learn things the hard way. I am Consuela, an Occupational Therapist, a Certified Aging in Place Specialist. I have worked as a home health therapist for 25 years and also have experience working on inpatient rehab units and skilled nursing facility units. I AM ALSO A CAREGIVER. I understand trends and challenges that often surface in caregiving and the challenges with mobility tasks and activities of daily living that occur with progressive cognitive and physical decline. Get equipped. Learn strategies, techniques and tips that can help you better care for your loved one, better care for yourself and better integrate caregiving into your life while also prioritizing your own well-being. Register today. Click the link in the bio https://lnkd.in/gdAzDvut ⭐️⭐️Please share post. ⭐️⭐️ Thank You. #caregivers #familycaregivers #groupcoaching #newcaregiver #familycaregiver #caregiverstress #occupationaltherapist #webinar #caregiverwebinar #agingparents #caringforparents #caregiving

Announcing A NEW WEBINAR!!!📣 Topic: I wish I had Known this Sooner — (As A New Caregiver) Unfortunately, these are the words I hear often from family caregivers, as they face the many challenges and unfamiliarities of caring for an aging parent who my be recovering from an illness or have been diagnosed with a progressive illness. These words are often echoed throughout the continuum of the caregiving journey—starting with new caregivers and continuing as the caregiving journey unfolds. The purpose of this webinar is to offer practical insights, education, tips and encouragement to new and “not-so-new” caregivers, to help avoid always having to learn things the hard way. I am Consuela, an Occupational Therapist, a Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and Fall Prevention Specialist. I have worked as a home health therapist for 25 years and also have experience working on inpatient rehab units and skilled nursing facility units. I have had the honor of working with 100’s of family caregivers and patients living with various diagnoses, injuries and surgeries. I AM ALSO A CAREGIVER and was also former caregiver to my mother who had multiple strokes and an aunt living with Alzheimer’s Disease. I understand trends and challenges that often surface in caregiving and the challenges with mobility tasks and activities of daily living that occur with progressive cognitive and physical decline. Get equipped. Learn strategies, techniques and tips that can help you better care for your loved one, better care for yourself and better integrate caregiving into your life while also prioritizing your own well-being. Register today. https://lnkd.in/gdAzDvut Please share post. Thank You. #caregivers #familycaregivers #groupcoaching #newcaregiver #familycaregiver #caregiverstress #occupationaltherapist #webinar #caregiverwebinar

Saying no is one way you set boundaries! Saying no, is an act of self-preservation. Saying no when necessary, allows you to maintain your own well-being and create balance while still being there for your loved one. Remember, it’s OK to prioritize your own needs and establish healthy boundaries.

As we care for aging parents or a spouse, there are many days things go into left field —you say something you shouldn’t have or things don’t go as planned. That’s life, leave it in the past, today is a new day. No one is perfect. Continuous learning and knowing how to evolve as care needs change or your needs change is essential. Think about what you can do differently! What needs to change?