HealthyLife Articles

Category: Family Life

Caregivers: Take Time For Yourself

FAMILY LIFE

There’s no doubt: caregiving is a stressful job. If you help take care of an aging, ill, or disabled loved one, you are a caregiver. And although caregiving may take up a lot of your time, you need to make time for yourself too, says the Family Caregiving Alliance.

If you’ve been trying to juggle caregiving with your other commitments, it’s time to take a moment and think about your own needs. If you keep doing things for others without taking time for yourself, your health and entire life could suffer. Caregivers of all ages can be prone to the following problems:

* Depression or anxiety

* High stress levels

* Poor quality sleep or not sleeping enough

* Unhealthy diet choices

* Lack of exercise

* Not getting needed health care for themselves

* Financial problems

* Feeling isolated and alone

These factors together can create health and personal problems. Before you reach the point of burnout, try to find a way to get a break from caregiving. Think about what would relax you and help you recharge. Is it a lunch date with a friend? An aerobics or yoga class? A walk through the park? A soak in the tub? Whatever it is, you deserve the time to do it.

How to find the time

Not sure how to find time for yourself? Talk to others who can help out. Ask friends, neighbors, or family members to step in for just an hour or two so you can have a break. Or, if you can, have your loved one spend some time at an adult day care or respite center. If others have offered to help in any way, learn how to say, “Yes, that would be great,” and accept their offer. Many caregivers mistakenly think they need to do it all themselves – don’t!

Many people feel guilty leaving their loved one for even a short while. But remember, you need to recharge yourself so you can be the best caregiver possible. You’re doing it for others just as much as for yourself.

Talk to others

Many caregiver support groups are available online and in local communities. Connecting with others who understand can go a long way in helping you feel better. The local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is a good place to start. Some support groups are online, while others offer in-person meetings. Choose what is right for you.

Remember:Taking time for you is not being selfish. It’s a necessity. You deserve some time to take care of your own needs. It will allow you to be the best you can be in all areas of your life.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Home Alone (After School)

FAMILY LIFE

Set rules for success if kids are home alone after school. The Red Cross recommends that parents and guardians take the following steps for kids alone at home:

* Have your kids call you at work or send a text to check in when they get home.

* Lock the doors and don’t open the door for delivery or service workers. Don’t tell anyone on the phone that the parents are not home. Don’t reveal this information online or in social media chats or texts.

* Set ground rules for older kids about whether other kids can come over or if they can cook or leave the home.

* Post an emergency phone list with parents’ work numbers, cell numbers, neighbors, and others the kids can trust including 9-1-1.

* Practice an emergency plan about what to do in case of fire, injury, or other emergencies. Know where the flashlights and first-aid kit are kept.

* Remove or safely store in locked areas dangerous items like guns. Keep potential poisons such as lighter fluid out of reach. Lock up medications.

* Limit the time kids spend in front of the television or computer. Activate parental controls.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Power Down At Night

FAMILY LIFE

Make the hour before bed a no-electronics zone, said Dr. Jill Creighton, pediatrician at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. Powering down makes bedtime easier because kids need to relax before going to sleep.

Most school-age kids (ages 6 to 17) have at least one device; a smartphone, video games, iPad or computer in their bedrooms while sleeping, according to a National Sleep Foundation survey. And children who leave those devices on at night sleep less-up to one hour less on average per night. Dr. Creighton makes a few more observations for your kids (and maybe for you as well):

* Ban hand-held devices from the bedroom. “The burst of light from a phone (even if it’s just to check the time) can break a sleep cycle,” she said. “A regular alarm clock is best.”

* If your child has a slight addiction to technology and is resistant about turning off a device, try dialing down the screen time. “Reduce screen time by 30 minutes or more each week until you reach your goal,” said Dr. Creighton. “A good rule of thumb is try to limit recreational screen time to 60 minutes every day. And for every 30 minutes of screen time, make sure your kids get 30 minutes of physical activity.”

* Try to replace screen time with an activity. “It’s sometimes hard to get kids off the couch and get them moving,” said Dr. Creighton. “Parents, get creative and make moving fun for kids.” Some ideas: a 20-minute family walk, 20 minutes of shooting hoops outside, walking the dog, going bike riding and doing chores (with the promise of an allowance) such as vacuuming, putting away laundry, raking leaves, shoveling snow and helping with the garbage/recycling.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Telling Kids About Tragedy

FAMILY LIFE

Talking to kids about scary events and disasters is important when they’re old enough to understand. Kids may have more fear of an event if they don’t know any details. They may imagine something much worse than what happened.

Although telling kids some details may help, the American Academy of Pediatrics says it’s important that you filter the information you give your child. Think about the child’s age, personality and what they will be able to cope with. These steps can get the conversation started:

*Ask the child what they know about the event.This can help you separate facts from fiction. It gives you a way to explain the things they already know in a way that is direct but not scary.

*Avoid any graphic details.Although the media may share lots of details that are graphic and scary, children should be shielded from these things.

*Don’t be too vague.Saying “something happened that was bad” doesn’t give enough information. Instead, name the place where it happened and tell them that some people were hurt. The police/firemen/ government, etc. are helping people and working to keep us safe.

*Keep it open ended.Tell them if they have any questions, they can ask you.

Is your child coping?

After a disaster, some children have a hard time coping. These red flags may be a sign that your child needs help:

* Trouble sleeping, nightmares or being very tired all the time

* Unusual aches and pains, such as headache or feeling “sick” often

* Appetite changes

* Social changes, such as aggression or being clingy

* Frequent feelings of sadness or fear

Talk to your child’s doctor if you notice any of these changes.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Wired And Dangerous

FAMILY LIFE

Parents beware. If your tots and teens get their hands on your energy drinks, they could experience seizures, heart palpitations, or other problems that drive them to the hospital ER.

Children most at risk appear to be those who regularly consume the increasingly popular caffeine-laden energy drinks or gulp down a relatively large amount of the liquid in a short span, according to Rutgers University’s poison control experts.

“These drinks are made for adults. When young children drink them, they consume a large quantity of caffeine for their body mass. At the minimum, they become wired-just as an adult would-and it might be difficult for parents to console them or calm them down,” said Bruce Ruck, director of drug information and professional education for the New Jersey Poison Information & Education System at Rutgers.

“Children also might have trouble falling asleep or experience tremors, anxiety, agitation, heart palpitations, nausea or vomiting. Of more concern, they may experience a rapid heart rate or seizures,” he said.

Ruck also said that, in addition to large amounts of caffeine, most energy drinks contain sweeteners, vitamins, and maybe herbal products, some of which may hold hidden risks for certain people.

* Don’t let kids be lured by the “rock star” graphics on the cans that look like soda pop.

* Store drinks on a high shelf, away from the view of kids.

* Monitor and limit your teens’ exposure to these drinks. Mixing them with alcohol or a rigorous workout can cause death.

* The journal Clinical Toxicology has reported that children under age 6 who consumed caffeine-infused energy drinks accounted for more than half of the energy drink-related poisonings involving children. The American Medical Association is calling for a ban on marketing energy drinks to children under 18.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Caregiving Takes A Toll On Marriage

FAMILY LIFE

Caring for an aging parent puts a strain on marriage, said 80% of baby boomers. This insight is one of many garnered from a research study conducted by Caring.com to measure the impact of caregiving on marriage.

“Raising children is a challenge, but caring for aging parents can be an even greater challenge,” said Dr. Elizabeth Schmitz. “The time spent caring for an aging parent can take a serious toll on the caregiver’s relationship with their spouse.”

Baby boomers who are working full-time are providing financial help to aging parents and/or have aging parents living with them are at the greatest risk of marital strain.

Drs. Charles and Elizabeth Schmitz are the authors of the book Golden Anniversaries: The Seven Secrets of Successful Marriage. They suggest these ways to cope with the care of aging parents while maintaining and strengthening your marriage:

* Talk openly with each other about feelings, emotions, and stresses as they relate to your care of aging parents.

* Make a concerted effort every day to keep the flame of your love affair with each other alive.

* Approach all financial challenges with teamwork and open communication.

* Don’t blame each other when things get tough, since casting blame never solved a problem.

* Don’t wallow in self-pity. It’s a wasted emotion.

* Enhance your love relationship by providing each other occasional time for privacy and solitude.

* Remember that the simple things matter in marriage, and they need to be practiced each day.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
How To Choose A Quality Hospice

FAMILY LIFE

When a loved one is diagnosed with a serious or life-limiting illness, the questions facing an individual or a family can be overwhelming. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization recommends that people learn more about hospice as an important option before they are faced with a medical crisis.

Hospice is not a place but a kind of care for people who have a life-limiting illness and are making the choice to focus on quality and comfort if more conventional treatments have become burdensome.

Hospices provide high-quality care that is tailored to your loved one’s needs and that supports family caregivers.

Your doctor and other health care providers or your company’s EAP may recommend hospice providers in your area. You can also get a list of hospice providers and more information about hospice from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization atwww.nhpco.org.

Important questions in choosing a quality hospice include:

* Is the hospice Medicare certified?

* What services should I expect from the hospice?

* How are services provided after hours?

* How and where does hospice provide short-term inpatient care?

* What services do volunteers offer?

* How long does it typically take the hospice to enroll someone once the request for services is made?

When should hospice care begin?

Every patient and family must decide that based upon their unique needs. Professionals encourage people to learn about care options long before they think they may need them.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Prevent Ear Infections

FAMILY LIFE

“Most children will have at least one ear infection by the time they are 2 years old,” said Dr. Heather Gomes of the Boys Town National Research Hospital. “For those children who have recurring ear infections, further evaluation and treatment by an ear, nose and throat physician is recommended to avoid delays in speech and language skills.”

The top 5 tips to prevent ear infections –

1. Protect your child from secondhand tobacco smoke.

2. Reduce your child’s exposure to colds during the first 2 years of life as much as possible.

3. Breast-feed your baby during the first 6 to 12 months of life.

4. Bottle-feed your child by holding the bottle at a 45-degree angle.

5. Discuss with your doctor any significant symptoms such as excessive spitting up or stomach pain because this is a risk factor.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
The Greatest Gift

FAMILY LIFE

Forget that fancy wrapped gift box. The chance to spend time with loved ones can be more valuable than the most expensive gift, says Sheri Bridges, professor of marketing at Wake Forest University.

Memories of the occasion will live on long after the contents of a ribbon-wrapped box have been forgotten or discarded.

How to give the gift of memories this holiday? Bridges offers a few ideas.

*Take a day trip.Go to the zoo, a favorite restaurant in a nearby city or visit a town with quaint shops. Follow-up by giving the gift of a photo book of the trip, and as the years pass, the pictures become reminders of the feelings and fun of time spent together.

*Offer tickets to a football or basketball game, a play or a musical performance– anything that isn’t part of the recipient’s normal routine.

*Do chores.Baking cookies, wrapping gifts, taking down decorations, straightening up the garage, cleaning out closets-any task that seems hard when performed alone can become fun when shared.

*Relax and recharge.Take a relative or friend to get a massage, pedicure or facial. Spend time together while getting pampered.

*Time alone, together.Unless you make a special effort, it can be hard to find time to spend with family and friends. Watching a favorite movie, sipping hot chocolate in front of a fire, playing Scrabble-these are things that require a real time commitment and focus, and say, “I am putting you first now.”

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
You Can Survive A Family Vacation With The In-Laws

FAMILY LIFE

Instead of calling it “the 7 worst days of your life,” change the mantra to “this will be fun and interesting,” advises Wake Forest University Professor of Counseling Samuel T. Gladding, when describing a family vacation that includes your in-laws.

Time spent together on the beach or at another vacation place can help children bond with grandparents, Gladding said. “If you don’t have some exposure to extended family, you will never truly get to know them. It takes time, effort and expense to be in the same place with them. The dividend is that you get to know them and then you can build a relationship. That’s how people grow.”

Connecting with extended families is important because family members have skills, contacts, and abilities beyond those found in nuclear families, he said. Tapping into that family power is a good idea.

Plan the right activities. Arrange constructive activities that involve interaction, such as cooking or playing board games. A Gladding family favorite is charades because it is silly and makes people laugh. When people laugh together, they create good memories that help build relationships.

But don’t plan to spend every minute with the group. Set aside time to go out to eat or do some other favorite activity with your own immediate family. It’s okay to say, “For this block of time, we want to have just our small family together.”

If you set expectations in advance, no one will be surprised when you take a break on Tuesday night to go play miniature golf. It also gives the grandparents some space they might appreciate just as much as you do.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026