“'Caregiver' is a problematic word for lots of reasons,” says Donna Thomson. She reflects on why many people do not identify with the term ‘caregiver’. Donna feels as if the term ‘caregiver’ seems to betray the love and loyalty that…
“A good caregiver acts as an extension of a person with a disability’s body. They do what an individual can no longer do for themselves, enabling them to live as safely and efficiently as possible. It may seem counterintuitive, but…
“Care can be described so differently depending on the person and on the relationship,” says Donna Thomson, who used to be a full-time caregiver for her son Nick. In a recent blog post, she talks about how providing care for…
My battle with anxiety began when our car flipped three times across an Ohio field. At the hospital, a doctor told us our youngest daughter Beth was paralyzed. We had no clue what that involved. Not walking felt like the…
The relationship between a caregiver and the individual receiving the care is a very important one. Jorge, a paraplegic, gives his perspective on the best way to work with a caregiver. https://youtu.be/yJ2hC9JQBXM “A caregiver really has to be intuitive about…
Caring for a loved one after a life-altering event can be intimidating. The team at AbleThrive asked a group of caregivers of people with spinal cord injuries to share some advice for new caregivers. Learn How To Ask For Help…
Tammi Moses’s life in some ways has been shaped by being a caregiver for her late brother Daniel who was born with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. She recalls positive memories of her brother and how each member of the family cared…
According to a study in 2015, family caregivers are almost two times more likely to have emotional and physical problems than other U.S. adults, and three times more likely to have productivity problems at work. There are many advancements aimed…
“Caregiving (and I imagine parenting) is so all consuming that its immersive nature leaves little room for planning and perspective. Yet, in order to maintain your own sense of identity, it’s absolutely necessary to find an approach that works for…
Lindsay Cochran is a thirteen-year-old living with SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy). Lindsay needs assistance throughout the day, and the Cochran family proves that caring for a loved one is a family affair. “Sometimes it really stinks having someone constantly help…