Carol O'Dell

Do You Feel Trapped by Caregiving?

If you’re a family caregiver, you can feel like you’re under house arrest for a crime you didn’t commit. It’s not that you don’t want to care for your loved […]

How Should You Celebrate the Anniversary of a Loved One’s Passing?

Anniversaries that mark the day our loved one’s passed away can be tough days.
You think about it weeks leading up to it–dread the day.
Your body seems to remember even before your mind.
Athletes call this muscle memory–
“Muscle memory can best be described as a type of movement with which the muscles become familiar over time. For […]

Is Your Elder Loved One Considering Suicide? Warning Signs

Don’t think it can’t happen.
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Elder suicide rates?are up in the United States and it usually start with depression–also a major factor in the elderly.
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It’s a deadly combination–life debilitating illness, loss of spouse, career, a terminal diagnosis, medications all?exasperate the situation.
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But it’s not the way we want it to end.
It’s not the […]

What I Learned About Caregiving From my Dogs

Life lessons are everywhere, and I was recently reminded of what it’s like to be a caregiver?by my two dogs–Kismet and Rupert. Kizzy (short for Kismet) is an Alaskan Malamute?and her son, Rupert who is part lab. (She had a tryst in the front yard before we could stop her). Miracle was, she only had […]

Are Dads More Difficult to Take Care of Than Moms?

Author Carol O’Dell Discusses Dad’s Just in Time for Father’s Day

How Will You Remember Your Loved One?

We avoid thinking about or dealing with death at every turn.
Even caregivers who are caring for their aging parents try not to think about the inevitable end.

Cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, combined with age will eventually claim the lives of those we love. And sadly, by not fully anticipating and participating in […]

The Power of a Great Dad

My Daddy died at the average age men die in the US (78 years old), from the most common disease men die from–heart disease. Yet, Daddy was anything but typical. He was a big teddy bear of a guy who made my world right again.
I was adopted at the age of four years old–and my […]

Improve Your Relationship in Two Easy Steps

There’s no way to stay in a long-term relationship and not have issues.
Hurts, frustrations, “you weren’t there for me,” “I can’t believe you said that, betrayls and disappointments are all a part of being human.
Whether you’re in a committmed relationship, married, have children, adult children, siblings, and even friends must eventually hit this road block […]

Can You Grieve Too Much?

Grieving is natural. It’s good for you. It’s necessary.
But can you take grief too far?
What is “too far?”
What’s right and necessary for one is dangerous for another.
I recently watched “Reign Over Me”about a man (played brilliantly by Adam Sandler–not his usual comedic role) who loses his wife and three daughters in the airplane crash […]

How to Live with Family Members Without Hating Each Other

Face it, times are tough.
Can you afford to stay in your own home? Are you well enough to manage everything on your own?
Are you recently widowed and wonder if living by yourself is such a good idea?
Are you a boomer or sandwich generationer wondering how to care for/pay for your kids, your parents and save […]