Six days left until the midterm elections are over. After next Tuesday, all of the bickering, nastiness, mudslinging, back-biting and cruelty on the airwaves can safely return to where they rightly belong - on the reality shows.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, once every two years you get to see a form of democracy in action. The truth of the matter that often becomes subsumed beneath the sea of relentless sound bites and statistics is that politicians, regardless of party affiliation, are actually our temporary employees vying for our attention to either re-hire them for a few more years, or replace them with another candidate for their position. Our responsibility to ourselves, our loved ones and our children is to act as responsible employers and be able to cut through the muck and mire to select those who will best work for us until the next election cycle. In politics as in caregiving, you are the boss and your decision counts as long as you take the time to let your voice be heard in the voting booth.

Two weeks ago I asked for your suggestions and comments on the topic of “getting help from family members”. In that column, I suggested that the family support issue has outweighed the driving issue as the show-stopper question at our Fearless Caregiver conferences. By your responses, I think this rings true online, as well...

GETTING HELP FROM FAMILY MEMBERS

As crazy as this may sound, my best tip is to ask for the help you need…Continued

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Here's another aspect of getting help...Continued

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I am blessed to be the caregiver to both my parents…Continued

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Okay--in shear tradition of natural consequences…Continued 

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After many conversations and a lot of anger…Continued

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Tips for family support include the following…Continued

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One has to determine what the strengths are…Continued

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WOW!!!  This issue has been more difficult for me than dealing with Mom's Alzheimer's…Continued

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CareCircle programs are the perfect vehicle to share caregiving...Continued

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If you find out how to move a mountain, it would be easier then getting siblings to help...Continued

As I always say, it pays to ask the true experts-family caregivers.

Gary Barg
Editor-in-Chief
gary@caregiver.com