Stress and Distress: Stress (the flight and fight reaction) is your response to an internal or external challenge—either physical or emotional, recognized or unrecognized. Your bodily response can affect multiple systems including: The endocrine system by increasing cortisol, which increases energy and fights inflammation. The autonomic nervous system increases adrenaline, which increases blood pressure and pulse. The […]

  Any caregiver can attest that being responsible for a loved one’s well-being is no small job. In fact, a job is probably the best way to describe the responsibilities of family caregivers. The estimated 34.2 million Americans who identify themselves as caregivers should certainly leave some space on their resumes to list this job […]

In today’s busy world, it can be a challenge for most of us to find and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Trying to juggle all the demands on our time can be stressful, even when you aren’t a caregiver. Add in the caregiving factor and the question remains, how do you find and maintain a […]

Helen didn’t begin life as a caregiver. Her mother cared for her. It wasn’t until Helen reached adulthood, and her mother became ill, that she assumed this role. Her mother needed help and it fell to Helen to provide it. Everyone becomes a caregiver one way or another at some point in our lives: sometimes it’s by […]

In recent years, companies have invested a lot of time and energy into improving company culture. Shiny new fitness centers, break rooms stocked with refreshments and equipped with couches and big screen TVs, flexible work hours, extended vacation time, free meals, educational programs — the list of employee perks and benefits goes on. Companies like Zappos and Google […]

This month the Cariloop blog has focused on the financial strain of caregiving. Unfortunately, the more families we help and the more research we do, the more Cariloop sees the strain of caregiving seeping into every aspect of the caregiver’s life—especially for caregivers who also work full time. Harvard Health estimates that family members provide […]

So many of us experience daily the clutter and mess that a busy schedule brings with it. Whether it’s running your kids to extracurricular activities or grabbing a quick bite to eat between work and social commitments, the wear and tear of a busy schedule can quickly become overwhelming. Feeling overcommitted and stretched thin is […]

Every holiday season families are reminded of loved ones that are struggling or are no longer with them. For caregivers in particular, the holiday season can be among the most stressful times of the year as they try to manage increased interaction between family members and the loved ones they are caring for. Approaching the […]

Some of the most significant transitions in life often do not come when we expect them to. They seem so distant from our current situation that we fail to be prepared if a transition like finding care for a family member quickly falls upon us. Cariloop spent time walking the streets of Dallas asking passersby […]

You just got a call from the hospital. The nurse says that your mother or grandmother has been admitted. As the next of kin, it’s your job to handle her treatment. Now you’ve got a Herculean task in front of you. Where do you start? While it’s often intimidating to go about arranging health care […]