Are you one of the 40 million? ~

That is the estimated number of unpaid family caregivers in the United States today.

And as our population ages and life spans are longer more of us will be finding ourselves caring either for an elderly parent or an aging spouse at some time. Family caregivers are usually unpaid and certainly not trained professionals. Most new family caregivers greatly underestimate the enormity of the task ahead. Many feel like they are "flying by the seat of their pants" having to make quick decisions with long-term consequences.

Caregiver School is a training program designed to provide the needed information and education to help you be a more effective and less stress family caregiver. This nine-part program covers a variety of topics that will help you provide the best care for your loved one and yourself.

Download and print the Course Outline to see that I will cover a lot of really basic yet important information that you will need to help you be a more effective and hopefully a little less stressed family caregiver.

This audio series is for information and educational purposes only. I do not provide any legal, medical or financial advice. My goal is to provide you with general information, so that you can seek out professional assistance from the appropriate subject matter expert.

Not all family caregivers are the same nor are they struggling with the same issues at the same time. Each of you is on a unique journey with your particular loved one and their individual needs and concerns. Some of you are more active in your loved one's care, while others have a much smaller role. Your unique circumstances can make a big difference in the amount of time or skill you will need to provide the best care.

It is important to understand the different path that your caregiving journey might take so you can be prepared for the challenges ahead. Depending on the reason for the caregiving journey some of you might need to do more work and preparation upfront while other have more time to plan and prepare.

This audio series is for information and educational purposes only. I do not provide any legal, medical or financial advice. My goal is to provide you with general information, so that you can seek out professional assistance from the appropriate subject matter expert.

Many families find themselves well into the role of caregiver before they realize what has happened. Whether suddenly at a hospital bedside or slowly over time, families quickly realize just how difficult caring for someone can be at times. They search for information and answers to help make better choices and feel more in control.

In my work with families, I've found that many just want to be told what to do next. When they had a plan or a set of instructions to follow they were better able to manage the day-to-day tasks of care giving.

So in this lesson I will outline the six essential steps, which may help bring some order to the potential chaos of caregiving. I'll go through each of these steps in more detail in future lessons