Support

Caregiver coaching is for the caregiver/carer: the spouse/partner, family, and friends.

It is also for the professional: end-of-life doulas, hospital doctors and nurses, GPs/family physicians, community nurses, hospice staff and counselors, social workers, social care staff, chaplains, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, complementary therapists, etc.

As a caregiver coach, I am a source of encouragement and will help you:

* find your inner strengths and resources and resilience
* lessen the confusion and reduce your workload and stress
* set boundaries
* navigate the journey to ensure you and the one you love are taken care of
* be resourceful and strong in whatever that way is for You! 

Providing heartfelt companionship and dignified support for your loved ones, I offer dedicated one-on-one companionship that enriches daily life. Whether sharing stories over coffee, enjoying favorite hobbies, or providing trusted accompaniment to appointments and activities, I create a nurturing environment that celebrates independence and dignity. With a patient heart and attentive care, I offer families peace of mind while giving seniors the personalized companionship they deserve.

Hospital Visits

* Provide comfort and familiar presence during hospital stays

* Help pass the time during long hours of treatment or recovery

* Assist with basic needs like water, adjusting pillows, or calling nurses

* Read books, play cards, or simply chat

* Keep family informed of any concerns or changes

* Act as an extra set of eyes and ears when medical staff visit

Long-Term Care/Nursing Home Visits:

* Regular social visits to prevent loneliness

* Accompany residents to facility activities

* Share meals and encourage eating

* Help with letter writing or video calls to family

* Bring fresh perspectives and stories from outside

* Maintain connection to personal interests and hobbies

When my husband was alive, his declining health started with several falls. It was scary — for both of us. And sometimes, the conversations about safety weren’t easy. 

I recall the first conversation when I insisted on removing the decorative mat in the bathroom, fearing he would trip on it and how upset he was, insisting he would not stumble; I removed the mat anyway. 

Once, while bathing, he slipped trying to get up from a sitting position and out of the tub. Fortunately, I heard him and was able to help. He finally agreed to some assistive devices for bathroom safety, appreciating how it would make bathing easier.

Every day was a new day for learning what he was still capable of, even if it was slower than how he used to do things. We considered the areas of decline but didn't dwell on them, choosing instead to look beyond the DIS-abilities and focusing on his continued ABILITIES. 

My husband’s health eventually declined significantly, and he was hospitalized. After a couple of weeks, he was referred to palliative care. Navigating the hospital system was challenging. He died just days before his ninety-first birthday; we'd been married for over thirty years.

It isn't enough if you haven't communicated your Critical Illness and End-of-Life Care Plan (Advance Care Planning) with your family and friends. 

It isn't enough if you haven't communicated your wishes with your healthcare providers and financial or legal professionals—but especially your Substitute Decision Maker (the person who will speak for you if you cannot speak for yourself in case of a health emergency). 

The value of documenting your wishes comes from having those important conversations but these might seem difficult or impossible to have.

I can help by facilitating the conversations with you or just being there to support you. You can experience more confidence and peace when being supported before, during, and after these conversations.

Click the link to schedule your online coaching Zoom session with me.

You likely know the saying, “Put on your oxygen mask first before helping someone first.” I have had to consider this every day for me. I remember how difficult it was for my grandmother, when she was the primary caregiver for my grandfather, to take time for herself. Once she experienced the benefits of even taking a half-day (usually Saturdays and Sundays for church), she found a way to make it work. My grandfather seemed more relaxed, too, having had someone else "visit" for a few hours, knowing his wife would soon return.

Let's take care of you, the caregiver.

While there may be similarities, every one of my clients has unique strategies for what that "oxygen mask" looks like or experiences like for them. And that's okay.

The important thing is to know you do not have to do this alone.

Having a conversation with someone who understands or can appreciate what you're going through without judgment can be helpful.

You matter. Your voice matters.

I am willing and available to listen. I am willing to offer guidance if that's what you want. I am available to brainstorm options and choices to help you get through today, tomorrow, the next day, and the day after.

With over 30 years of experience, I have invested my career supporting individuals as a life coach and then evolved my private practice to include hypnotherapy for life issues and concerns, end-of-life support, and grief and bereavement coaching/support. This means I draw from a wealth of strategies, learnings, and experiences so that I can help you in the most beneficial way for you.

With training and experience in life coaching and caregiver coaching, along with 30+ years of one-on-one and group experience, my approach is client-focused, listening to your needs and goals to find the key to helping you. I take the time to listen to your concerns and am known for that.

Together, you and I will develop a plan for your specific situation so that you can secure the best possible improved situation for you and your loved one. 

We can also talk about sibling issues, family drama, and your feelings about that. 

We can also talk about any guilt you are feeling for decisions you are making and how to manage or release that guilt. 

Would it be great to have greater peace of mind, peace in the heart, and perhaps even peace of soul?

Of course it would!

As your caregiver coach, I can help you find and put on your oxygen mask first. This will empower you to better deal with the ups and downs of caregiving, engage confidently with medical professionals, and find time for yourself.