Happy New Year 2025!

Another new year is upon us. Happy New Year 2025! I hope you all had Happy Holidays whatever you celebrate and are settling in to more normal times. The news was scary yesterday with the terrorist attack in New Orleans and the explosion of the Tesla truck in Las Vegas in front of Trump Tower. I hope this is not an indication of how 2025 is going to go!!! Hoping for a much more peaceful year throughout the world!

Dealing with aging relatives and being sandwiched between caring for them and your growing children and or grandchildren presents enough challenges and issues! Please be sure to take time for YOU! Make that one of your goals, intentions,  and even resolutions for this new year. Resolutions tend to fade quickly as a new year presents itself, so I really tend to push the ideas of goals and intentions. These you can revisit daily, weekly or monthly and make them actually happen! Self care is so very important as you cannot give from an empty well.You must take time out and do something to replenish your strength and energy! 

One way of working on self-care is to journal about your experiences. Journals can be private and personal or you can choose to share them with your trusted humans. They often carry a connotation of being something more complex that you may feel you do not have time for with your overwhelming responsibilities. But might I suggest an easy one for you...

I needed something short and simple for myself and from my memory banks as a nurse I dug out some ideas to design my own. Something that I have always suggested to new and seasoned nurses is to write down those moments with patients that make your day. Of course nurses have to be acutely aware of confidentiality and HIPAA regulations, so we have to get creative about capturing the moment and keeping the details secret. I hope I have made a journal that could work for you as well. 

There are plenty of pages for each month of a calendar year. Each month there is one page for jotting down Daily Gratitudes. Just a word or phrase that makes sense to you. 

Then there a few lined pages for the month to write a few short sentences or paragraphs about good memories as they happen. One thing I know for certain about caring for my aging parents and in-laws as well as adult children and grandchildren is that during overwhelming and stressful time, you don't remember things as clearly. Some of the great moments might be in there somewhere, but my brain seems like it lost them. Taking just a few minutes before bedtime even just to write down a few cryptic notes helps me hang on to things I do remember from the past as well as new memories from each day. 

Journaling can actually help you to relax and release tension, stress and emotions. It can also help you to brainstorm and find solutions, and share the successes you have experienced in dealing with aging parents. Bookmark important passages so you can look back and see how well you have managed the journey, important memories, and tips for making your journey easier!

My Self-Care Journal is available on Amazon.com in paperback format. The price was recently reduced. If you make a purchase, I'd greatly appreciate it if you'd come back and write a quick review. Or drop a comment here. And of course share the link with someone you know who could use some self-care too! 

Here's to a more stress-free new year!

Happy 2025!

 

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Exploring ECDOL: A Comprehensive Senior Resource Webpage and Living Directory

ECDOL stands for Excellent Care, Decency, & Optimal Living. We aim to help seniors and their families find the most reliable and appropriate independent living, assisted living, and home healthcare options. Family and seniors can access an extensive directory to choose their state and find senior living options and by province in Canada. Our directory includes contact information for facilities in your region so you can quickly contact a senior care provider to see if they are the right fit for you or your aging loved one. We also include services provided, amenities, and housing features for each facility. We believe it is crucial to have reliable and accurate resources. Finding the right senior living and caregiving options can be challenging, and we want to help seniors and families make informed decisions.  

ECDOL's Senior Resources 

There is a range of resources available on the ECDOL website. Initially, the directory details some of the senior living and caregiving options available in each state. We describe the different types of senior living and healthcare options in the United States. Our helpful resources for aging adults provide valuable insight into what seniors may struggle with and offer practical tips and information. We want to support seniors and their families with up-to-date information to help them make informed decisions. The navigation is user-friendly; everything can be reached with one mouse click. The resources offer detailed information. 

 Senior Living Directory on ECDOL  

The senior living directory gives a brief introduction for each state. It also lists different independent living and assisted living communities in the state. Each listing provides information on the types of services provided, the amenities available, and the different housing options. When using the directory, it’s a good idea to have an idea of what state would be considered or a city or community within the state. It’s also ideal to know what type of care options are needed and begin contacting facilities. There are numbers listed on the directory, along with services, amenities, and housing features. All of this information helps to make an informed decision. Personalizing search options like this helps families find the right options based on location, amenities, and care needs.  

Highlighted Resource: Seniors Guide to Fentanyl 

 Our Seniors Guide to Fentanyl is a printable three-fold pamphlet that offers an understanding of fentanyl, its threat, and how to have conversations with adult children and grandchildren. The fentanyl epidemic has shown no signs of slowing down, and it has impacted every age demographic. As the population ages, an increasing number of older adults will be affected by problematic opioid use and opioid use disorders. Studies have shown that substance use among older adults is a concern that is often under diagnosed. The prevalence of opioid use disorders among older adults tripled from 2013 to 2018. While the rates of diagnosed opioid use disorders are relatively small among older adults, exposure is not uncommon. The Seniors Guide to Fentanyl aims to provide valuable information, tips, and resources to help seniors and their families. This includes tips for recognizing the signs of fentanyl use, having conversations with grandchildren, and how to speak to adult children about fentanyl.  

Conclusion  

Overall, ECDOL wants to empower seniors with information they can use to make informed decisions. We want to help families and their older loved ones with accurate and current information they can use to find the very best senior living and caregiving options. We want to encourage everyone who visits the website to use the directory, explore the resources, and read the information. We strive to keep information current and examine what problems impact seniors. Educational information plays a vital role in supporting the well-being of anyone. We believe it can be particularly valuable for seniors and their families. It’s important for anyone who visits this website to come to a point where they can make informed decisions that benefit themselves and their families.