Not a few millions of parents strongly hope that their own children will step in by instantly becoming their own parents’ foster parents, if and when the parents reach their second childhood.

Offering care means being a companion, not a superior. It doesn’t matter whether the person we are caring for is experiencing cancer, the flu, dementia, or grief.If you are a doctor or surgeon, your expertise and knowledge comes from a superior position. But when our role is to be providers of care, we should be there as equals.

Even though people experiencing dementia become unable to recount what has just happened, they still go through the experience—even without recall. The psychological present lasts about three seconds. We experience the present even when we have dementia. The emotional pain caused by callous treatment or unkind talk occurs during that period. The moods and actions of people with dementia are expressions of what they have experienced, whether they can still use language and recall, or not.

Self-care is not selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.

An informed parent or caregiver becomes empowered, and empowerment can lead to the best care for our children.

Affirmations are our mental vitamins, providing the supplementary positive thoughts we need to balance the barrage of negative events and thoughts we experience daily.

Never give up hope! If you do, you be dead already.

Bryan, I know you’ve interviewed a lot of caregivers—”“Too many,” Bryan shot back.She inched her chin up a notch. “I’m not your typical caregiver. I’m different.”Bryan laughed with no humor. “Yeah, I’ve heard that one before—okay, impress me, Delilah Walker. What exactly makes you different?

She cleared her throat. “Bryan, I know you’ve interviewed a lot of caregivers—”“Too many,” Bryan shot back.She inched her chin up a notch. “I’m not your typical caregiver. I’m different.”Bryan laughed with no humor. “Yeah, I’ve heard that one before—okay, impress me, Delilah Walker. What exactly makes you different?

An exhausted parent can’t provide the best care, although occasionally, we have all had to do so.

Embracing a healing presence requires you to just be in the moment together.

My caregiver mantra is to remember 'The only control you have is over the changes you choose to make.

One goal of the mindful caregiver is to find ways to not feel ‘dis-eased’ in the caregiving process.

Caregiving will never be one-size-fits-all.

My caregiver mantra is to remember: the only control you have is over the changes you choose to make.

As your care recipient’s advocate, be involved, don’t accept the status quo, and don’t be afraid to voice your concerns.

Never give up hope. If you do, you'll be dead already.-- Dementia Patient Rose in The Inspired Caregiver

I love you but I got to love me more.

Many of us follow the commandment 'Love One Another.' When it relates to caregiving, we must love one another with boundaries. We must acknowledge that we are included in the 'Love One Another.

Never give up hope. If you do, you'll be dead already.--Dementia Patient, Rose from The Inspired Caregiver

The literature has only these words of comfort for a patient and her family at this stage. Remember, there is still a living spirit inside this diminished person, the spirit of someone you love.

Gay people were seen as magical, too. I mean, like in many cultures, men were viewed as warriors and women were viewed as caregivers. But gay people, being both male and female, were seen as both warriors and caregivers. Gay people could do anything. They were like Swiss Army knives!

By loving you more, you love the person you are caring for more.

But in a home where grief is fresh and patience has long worn thin, making it through another day is often heroic in itself.

Caregiving often calls us to lean into love we didn't know possible.