Redefining Caregiving

There are specific ways to get your point across when you are trying to help. Learn how to be patient when sharing your ideas to successfully convince others to listen and respect your input.  Include yourself in the care you give by learning how to be a better communicator. Related Articles: 12 Ways To Deal With Stubborn People And Convince Them To Listen - Lifehack,  10 Keys to How to Convince Someone of Anything (itspsychology.com) 

Do you own an instant pot? They are an essential tool in my kitchen these days. Every caregiver needs one. 

You can take control over your mood by practicing an easy technique. This tool changed my life, when I was a younger person feeling at the mercy of my feelings all the time. Remember to include yourself in the care you give by taking control of your mindset.

Thanks for listening and sharing!

How you enter into the role as caregiver, you have the opportunity to start out on the right foot. The care recipient needs time to adjust and you do too. Talking with each other can help, if you approach with sensitivity and thoughtfulness.

Get a grip on what is falling apart and let me help you build a better way forward. Caregiving is a personal journey and to function better and enjoy life, you need to take time to invest in a personalized approach. Contact me for help today!

Be warned. This content encourages boundary setting and self-love. Include yourself in the care you give 

Hey Everyone! I missed recording podcasts lately. I have been very busy taking care of my health by undergoing a detox program and elimination diet under my new doctor's care. I met an amazing functional medicine doctor, here in Gillette, Wyoming. She is the first doctor to give me hope and help for healing that will actually work. Remember to include yourself in the care you give by eating healthy foods that bring energy. Junk belongs in the garbage and not in your body. 

Get a grip on what is falling apart and bring momentum to where you want improvement. I can design a personalized plan for you and your goals.  If you want to have live lighter and function better, as a caregiver, reach out to me, so we can get you started today.

All it takes is a few tweaks to how to communicate with the elderly or anyone else. I share 3 major ways to kill conversation and ideas for having a great dialog with people you care for. Include yourself in the care you give by putting an end to useless communication. Thanks for listening!

Getting others to do something comes down to a few simple, yet often overlooked, strategies that can turn things around for struggling caregivers and parents. Ever wish it could be easier? Learn how I get people to lift their heels from deep in the ground to running ahead instead. 

Happy New Year in 2022, where I encourage you to make everything, first, about you. Who's thinking of you all the time? You are, and that's good because it's your job to be sure you are ok all day long. Never feel guilty about giving yourself what you need. You will improve every aspect of caregiving when you do this every day. 

The opposite of fear is faith, but what do you have faith in. It's important to protect what you allow to manipulate your thoughts around fears. Striking a balance of receiving critical information and getting sucked into exaggerated fear-based messages. Learn how you can go from anxiety to acceptance of what you can do, in order to have more peace.

If you are a mother of adult children, this podcast might be for you. At what point do we stop mothering? When do we get to stop and let them develop, after teaching them what we had the chance to, so they can live adult lives?  

Learn why holiday visits can create some negative behavior in this podcast. Remember to include yourself in the care you give by being kind to yourself and others. Thanks for listening and sharing!

Baking your holiday treats, after moving to a higher elevation place on the map? That's what I did this year. I found it makes a big difference in successful baking. I hope this helps someone have a better baking experience. 

Thanks for listening and sharing!

No matter what stage you are in, as a caregiver, receiving counsel from a professional coach is a game-changer. In this podcast, I explain the benefits of contacting me for a caregiver consultation. It's something to do for yourself that can bring tremendous relief and results. Include yourself in the care you need by not going it alone! Thanks for listening.

It's always good to speak your truth but now seems to be a uniquely special time when, if you do, it will benefit you and others more. Whatever you do, don't keep it bottled up inside. I hope today's podcast inspires you to say what you've been wanting to say and express yourself freely without holding back. Remember to include yourself in the care you give by respecting your feelings and expressing them. 

Potassium is vital to your health and wellness. Learn how it can help you feel better and suffer less. Your body needs 4,000 - 6,000 mgs of potassium a day and if it doesn't, it can wreak havoc on your health. 

God made joy a part of how you feel and express yourself from the start. It's up to you to keep it fueled up in your life. Include yourself in the care you give by finding joy in everything you do! Thanks for listening and sharing! 

Hi Everyone, I hope you are a prepper like I am when it comes to storms and outages. I have some tips on how we made it through last year's Pacific N.W. ice storm that left us with two fallen trees that landed on our house. This is a longer one, but I wanted to share as much as I can to help you get ready. Thanks for sharing and listening! Prepping is a form of self-care and self-preservation. 

Today, I talk more about how to create a list of things you need to do in an intentional way. These tips can get you the momentum you need to feel productive and relieved. All it takes is to know what to do and why you aren't wanting to do it, and then figure out how to get around it. Include yourself in the care you give by doing what it takes to get more free time! 

Snacking is part of our everyday lives for most people, and it has an impact on our energy levels. I share some of what I eat to keep on my toes. I no longer suffer from fatigue as a result of eating specific food every day. Include yourself in the care you give by eating energetic foods! 

Thanks for listening and sharing!

Making a "To-Do List" can be a chore in itself. I do make lists, but now I get more done because I've learned a different way to get ahead. It's important to keep your list short and doable. There is a right way to make a to-do list that fits you. Include yourself in the care you give by using a to-do list that actually helps you. Thanks for listening and sharing!

Hi everyone! Lately, I've noticed many older people are getting sick and dying of illness. This could be prevented in some cases, especially if you eat well, get rest and learn how to build up your inner fighters that make up your immune system. Today, I share what has worked for me fantastically over the years. I went 20 years without getting ill with a cold or flu because I took specific immune-boosting foods and supplements to keep my defenses up. I don't eat much sugar, I get plenty of sleep, and it's all helped me. I hope you include yourself in the care you give by taking deliberate steps to nurture your inner army. 

Today you have a rare opportunity to use your spiritual influence to bring light into a dark world. Hope today's podcast inspires you. Thanks for listening and sharing!

#halloween #caregiving #caregiver #spirituality #inspirational #positive 

Wearing too many hats? Doing things for people because you went to impress them, or they think it's best for you. I encourage you to take off the hats that are not fitting you and wear the ones that make you shine and feel just right. You be You!

Are you living or working with a bossy person? Hear about how I stopped my co-worker from bossing me around. It's a simple and useful tool to know because caregiving is hard enough without people telling you what to do. Thanks for listening and sharing! 

Hi Everyone! This podcast was recorded July 27th, 2021. It's to inform you of important resources about our current lives. Please contact me with any questions about this information. Below is a list of related links for your convenience. Remember to include yourself in the care you give by doing your homework about important issues in your life and eating to protect your health. Please share if you care!

Remember to include yourself in the care you give by being faithful to the person in your care, so you'll receive the same someday. 

Always Caring, Sam   *****

Email: redefiningcaregiving@samdamm.com

Making sense of things. It's tough to take our thoughts by the horn when they are all over the place, but it's the only way to get focused on what you really need to get done. In order to achieve any of your goals we must be intentional in your thoughts around them so we can travel toward them. 

Making a list of what you want to achieve everyday is helpful. Keep it short, so you don't feel overwhelmed. Star the items most important or make two separate lists. Throw away the list at the end of the day, after making a new list, including what you didn't get done that day. By starting with a new itemized list, you feel more accomplished and productive, and that keeps you in the momentum you need to do more. Some days you will get very little done, so don't be too hard on yourself. Sometimes what we do isn't something you would write on a "to do" list. When you are a support to someone, or help others get done what they want, you are still awesome. You are helping. As long as you spend a majority of your time focusing on your list, you'll be happier and get where you want to be. 

Remember to include yourself in the care you give by focusing mainly on what you want to do by making a list each day. 

Always Caring, Sam

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After creating this podcast, I would enjoy a cup of coffee!  Warm my heart and keep me smiling by donating any amount, so I can make more podcasts for caregivers. I appreciate and love you all!

If you're like me, over age 50, you may have had a colonoscopy or been instructed to by your physician. Screening for colorectal cancer is very important, it's not the only option for early detection. 

There is a less invasive, highly affective test you can take to see if you need a colonoscopy. Instead of undergoing an expensive and invasive procedure, not try annual screening with a FIT test. Fit stands for Fecal Immunochemical Test.  

Colorectal Cancer is on the rise and more than 50,000 people die from it each year. It's the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States. Colorectal cancer has a 91% survival rate if caught in Stage I, but only 11% survival rate if caught in Stage IV.  Avoid your risk of colorectal cancer by having regular screening such as the FIT test. 

Remember to include yourself in the care you give by asking questions and doing research about what matters to you! Always Caring, Sam   

Hey Everyone! 

This a very important message about a proven method to treat what is happening in the world today. Listen to hear the shocking truth about a treatment plan that has been hidden from the public. I am attaching links to the Homeland Security Committee hearing notes that took place on December 8, 2020. You will be shocked to read the report yourself. Hope you share it with everyone you know. 

Include yourself in the care you give by always seeking truth and staying informed to protect your health. 

The definition of parenting for a child: The natural ability, qualities, and acts of all parents to nurture, love, provide, and contribute to the development of their child or children in a nonjudgmental, fair and just way and to create a united family environment where parents and their child or children have a positive and loving relationship with their parents.

Here's the word parenting as defined for caregiving: Parenting
Performing the role of a parent by caregiving, nurturance, and protection of the child by a natural or substitute parent. The parent supports the child by exercising authority and through consistent, empathic, appropriate behavior in response to the child's needs. PARENTING differs from CHILD REARING in that in child-rearing the emphasis is on the act of training or bringing up the children and the interaction between the parent and child, while parenting emphasizes the responsibility and qualities of exemplary behavior of the parent.
See the difference? Read it very carefully because many caregivers make the mistake of feeling as if they need to "train" or "form" their aging parents into something different from who they are. Please share this podcast with anyone you know who refers to their role as parenting for their parents to help them understand their role. You might make their day by showing them, they can loosen up on the reigns, if they are trying too hard to manage their parent's care. 

Include yourself in the care you give by being a positive parent!

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I made a chocolate cake a couple weeks ago that tasted fantastic. Then, I made a tried a different recipe yesterday and that cake was also fabulous. It got me thinking about how we get narrow minded we can be. Why do we call something the best? It limits the options for other's being great too. It's not about one being the best because if we make the same recipe over and over, it becomes boring and then we long for something else. 

The same goes for life. We can hope for having a better life and admire others for living lives we want to live and we limit ourselves. We have a choice. What recipe are you using? What ingredients make up a good life, for you? Life evolves and what makes up our lives changes too.  You can add more of what you like to enhance your life. 

Write down all the things that make your life taste good. Write down all that makes it taste bitter or bad. Now, create a new recipe that you love. You deserve to enjoy a great experience that you create. 

Include yourself in the care you give by making your life matter more than your caregiving!

Always caring, Samantha

redefiningcaregiving@samdamm.com

Our brains aren't made to do more than one things at a time. In fact, most recent studies demonstrate a decline in quality of performance when we attempt to multi-task. It's better to try not to multi-task because it places stress on our brains. 

As caregivers our goal should be to lessen our stress. We can do this by spending more of our minutes focusing on one task at a time, instead of spreading ourselves thin. I realize it's a hard concept to imagine not doing more than one thing at a time, as a caregiver or parent. Instead focus on one things intentionally for the time you are doing it, then switching to something else with full attention on it. Basically it's a practice in focusing. See how you feel if you try this. I noticed I got more done with less mistakes. 

An example of this is when I would be talking to someone as I tried to make dinner. I made more trips to the refrigerator and wasn't listening to everything they were sharing. It took me longer to get dinner ready and I felt disconnected to the person I was half-listening to. 

The quality of our lives is decreased when we aren't fully engaging in what we do. I hope you try to work more with how your brain is naturally working and mult-task less. Instead, practice on fully focusing on what you are doing, so you can complete it and move on faster to the next. 

Remember to include yourself in the care you give by focusing on time alone today. 

Nobody teaches us what to do in the event of becoming a caregiver immediately to someone. We have ideas about what we should do, and there's information online to learn, but once you are thrown into caregiving it can feel like your life is flipped upside down. 

In this podcast I share what to do immediately following your decision to care for someone. If you take the time from the start, you can save yourself a ton of heartache. 

Remember to include yourself in the care you give by taking time to self-reflect at every stage in caregiving. Stay in touch with how you feel and make adjustments along the way that fit into your lifestyle and the person you care for. Both of you will be happier. 

Enjoy and please let me know what you think, or share ideas for future podcasts by emailing me at

redefiningcaregiving@samdamm.com

They say time is money. Is it? If every minute of the day was worth a penny you you would have 1440 pennies. That equals $14.40. If you have 30 days in a month, your total hours lived would be worth $423 a month. We can't put a value on the most precious thing of time.  Even if we valued every minute we are alive at a worth of only one penny, that's pretty valuable. How much do you think your time is worth? I know mine is more than a penny. 

I'm trying to get you to see the value in your time. All of us can relate to money, but money can't buy us relief, peace of mind or health. I want you to think how every minute of your day is so important in the scheme of your life. 

Just like when you collect pennies in a jar, you would eventually have a hefty sum. What if you did the same with every minute of your day. Even while you sleep, your body is being productive. It's working hard to restore itself and the brain in remember everything you learned throughout the day. 

Sometime we feel like the day goes by too fast and we don't have time to get things done. When you keep track of the minutes and are mindful of your time spent on activities, you can choose to save some minutes for yourself. 

It comes down to not taking time for granted. The one thing caregivers need most is more time and rest. Now, you have another skill to use in creating those things for yourself. 

Keep track of your minutes and when you build up a nice reserve, use it for restoring yourself. 

Always remember to include yourself in the care you give! 

Any donation is appreciated. It's a form of self-care for myself that I ask. It supports me, as I spend time making daily podcasts and provide resources for beautiful people like you. Thank you for considering and sharing.

Write me at redefiningcaregiving@samdamm.com

There is an amazing tool that caregivers can use for appointments called Telehealth. It's for everyone, and 50 states in the U.S. cover appointments through this video platform for healthcare providers and their patients. 

Remember to include yourself in the care you give! 

The power of words is underestimated in society. We know the power that is behind them, yet we throw them around like we have no clue of their impact.

Today, I remind you of a specific set of words that create feelings of empowerment and control in our lives. I hope you become more mindful of the words you choose, so you take power back in your lives. This is a great things to share with your kids to give them a wonderful habit for success. 

Remember to include yourself in the care you give by choosing words that support and empower yourself. 

Always caring, Sam

Any donation is appreciated. It's a form of self-care for myself that I ask. It supports me, as I spend time making daily podcasts and provide resources for beautiful people like you. Thank you for considering and sharing.

Write me at redefiningcaregiving@samdamm.com

The power of words is so overlooked. In this episode I remind you of how important it is to be aware of every word you use, as well as the ones you thing. Instead of listening to our minds chatter about things untrue, we need to teach it to play a new message. You can do that by repeating specific things to yourself, listen to positive music that tells you what you need to hear to thrive. I'm not talking about songs that sound upbeat, but the message behind them doesn't support you. Songs about feeling broken hearted and how you want to get even with someone are not good for you to hear, especially if you already struggle with feeling positive. 

You are the best person to tell yourself what you want to hear, because you know yourself and what you want. How do you want to feel everyday? Write that down and read it off an on throughout the day. 

I tell myself things like,

"You are capable of doing this!"

"I believe in you. I always have."

"Let's do this together." 

"You don't need to do it perfectly. Just make progress."

I even write them on my mirror with a wipe off marker. I change it after about 2 months, because it takes about that long for our brains to actually believe it.  

You can become more empowered by your own words. Over time, you mind will have a whole new empowering way of thinking. You are worth the investment. 

Remember to include yourself in the care you give by telling yourself you are everyday!

Always Caring, Sam

There are 7 billion people in the world. 53 million of them are caregivers living in the U.S. You are not alone. The odds are there is someone going through something very similar to what you are, with the many people caregiving. The key is to think about how many people might be experiencing many things you are. You might not be in their presence, but we are all connected energetically and in spirit. 

Depression is common to caregivers because they are apart from the world much of the time. They can feel like they live in a prison unable to leave their houses. If you can't leave your home to connect with someone, such as a neighbor, friends or family, consider finding a healthy relationship with someone online. The best place to do this is through Linked In, Facebook and many other platforms. 

Today, I talk about a secret that helped me overcome feelings of isolation, as a caregiver and throughout this epidemic situation. You have a powerful tool called your imagination and when you learn how to use it for feelings of isolation, it can create a different feeling within you. 

Remember to include yourself in the care you give by giving yourself a few minutes everyday to meditate on a connection to the world. You serve many purposes, but the main one is to serve yourself.

Always Caring, 

Samantha

It's Memorial Day weekend and I was thinking of all you caregivers who might feel left behind, as your friends and family are off on adventures. Perhaps you get left behind often, because you need to stay and take care of someone. 

Good news is you are not alone. So many people are alone and wish they had one person to spend their day with. You have the person you are caring for. Both of you matter too, so celebrate in your own way in a safe, comfortable place called home. The person you are taking care of might feel left behind, as well. 

Why would two people feel left behind when they can celebrate it like a "private party." Enjoy the peace and quiet for a change. Maybe you have less work to do with them gone and you can look for something you enjoy doing. Why not make your favorite meal or dessert and eat it all yourself. With everyone gone, you won't need to share. Get something done that is difficult to do when people are around, but spend some time for enjoying the weekend too. I hope you choose to enjoy the times you feel left behind and begin to see them as "nice breaks" for you instead. 

Here are some links to some fun things you can do today!

This week I talk about how to increase your "happy hormones." 

This is my favorite podcast so far because it's about what has changed my life the most. Don't be at the mercy of chaotic hormone imbalance. 

Sometimes, as caregivers, we feel like we have little control over many things in our lives. One thing we can manipulate for the better relates to our quality of life and joy. We can build better habits, make adjustments to how we do things, and learn new ways to think. It's possible to become healthier, be more productive and enjoy life, as a caregiver, but it takes effort. 

Anything worthwhile takes initiative and commitment. You are worth it! 

One huge factor in how we feel depends on our hormone state, within our bodies. I learned how to help my body produce more happy hormones in less time. 

These tips are like sticks of dynamite for blowing away depression and negative thinking. 

We overlook our hormones as they keep us alive. No wonder so many suffers from depression and anxiety.

There are 4 key players in the realm of hormone production, although we have roughly 50 of these dutiful messengers running throughout our bodies. The common ones, you might know, are dopamine, Serotonin, Epinephrine, and Oxytocin. 

Having habits that produce hormones, in balance, has huge benefits because they control our mind and body. We control what we eat, how we engage with people and animals, and how we move our bodies, and we can control our mood as well. 

There is a ton of science revealing the roles hormones play for mental and physical health. Get to know your "body chemical messengers," because they have plenty to tell. Hormones RUN the world, so get to know them! 

Visit www.ikonet.com/en/visualdictionary/static/us/hormones Start teaching your children about them, so they can live happier lives and have better relationships. 

Be kind to yourself and remember to include yourself in the care you give. 

Thanks for listening today and please share with anyone you feel it might help. 

Kindly Caring, Sam

Caregivers always need more help, so this podcast gives you skills to attract and keep the help that comes your way. Procrastination used to be a struggle for me. I'll share a life-changing, easy strategy for overcoming perfectionism and procrastination. When you get help, what should you do? What is the number one thing caregivers put off, and why is it dangerous? And Why does receiving advice seem like a pain when it's actually a gain? Are questions I answer here today. Thanks for listening, and always remember to include yourself in the care you give. www.samdamm.com

This episode is about a visit with my mom during coven and the crazy rules around wearing a mask. I share the rules with you from CDC.gov, so you can enjoy your visits more with the ones you love. Please visit me at www.samdamm.com and check out my Redefining Caregiving Facebook Page. Remember to include yourself in the care you give by thinking for yourself. ❤

Let's face it. Caregiving is challenging enough without the added stress of difficult people. Sometimes we view people as difficult because we fail to understand their behavior. Why are they acting in a way that goes against what is good for them? Maybe they have a good reason for taking their position, and the only way you can learn is to ask questions.  Dealing with difficult people creates stress that will take a toll on you. Thank you for listening, and remember to include yourself in the care you give by avoiding drama from other difficult people. Check out my webpage for more resources and encouragement! 

This episode is to bring good news about the benefits of utilizing telehealth for your health care needs. I avoided an important appointment with my healthcare provider due to my skepticism of using video to replace an actual office. I'm here to tell you it was an awesome experience. It goes to show how being open-minded to new technology can create unexpected benefits for everyone, especially caregivers. In this show, I share a few benefits that appealed to me the most. It's easy to use, is efficient, and a huge time saver. Plus, I left my appointment feeling validated and excited about this new approach to healthcare as I stayed safe in my home, away from germs. If this service was available to me, as a caregiver to my mother, it would have been a game-changer. For more information about using telehealth and telemedicine, check out. Related Links: 

Did you know being uncomfortable affects your brain health? The health of your mind is just as important as your physical health. Did you know by being in a state of feeling constantly uncomfortable from constant fear, worry, sadness, stress, and suffering can damage your brain? I share my mom's story because she led a life of worry and had a very co-dependent personality. She obsessed about things and over time, it took its toll. I'm not blaming my mom, but simply want to share how these habits destroyed her mind in the end. She experienced some serious trauma in her life, and that led her to this type of thinking, but she did not seek help. She failed to see the importance of keeping her mind healthy, as well as her body. I hope her story is a warning for others to avoid damage for them. 

Did you know every day is a gift? If that’s true, then who’s giving it? Also, what are you doing with it? In this podcast, I talk about giving from the heart and other reasons why we give. How do people know what type of gifts to give you? If every day is a new gift, how is it designed specifically for you? Learn more about how to create a future filled with opportunities based on your desires and wishes. 

My wish is for you to have an authentic Merry Christmas.

Have you ever made a choice and eventually questioned it? We all doubt ourselves from time to time. It can be a way to keep ourselves in check, but living in regret is a waste of time. Once you make decisions that can't be reversed, you can feel stuck without options. What if you ignored warnings and made emotional decisions you can't reverse? Are you stuck just living with the consequences, or do you have options? Sometimes our options aren't ideal, but that doesn't disqualify them as alternative choices.  Decisions making is valuable freedom, we have, to enable what we desire in life. Include yourself in the care you give by throwing out regret!

With Fall and Winter approaching, I encourage you to approach these seasons intentionally. During times when people go indoors and gather with their friends and family, it can feel like a lonely time for caregivers. It’s up to you how lonely you choose to feel, and I explain why in today's podcast. The internet can be a great way to create connections. As creatures, we are also creators. Choosing to spend your time doing what you enjoy like listening to music, watching comedy shows, cooking, or crafting can be incorporated into everyday caregiving. Get busy growing more happy hormones to get you through the holiday season. You can choose to get through this season joyfully. Embrace each day with creativity for self-care, because you deserve it. 

In this episode, I briefly touched on the current caregiver crisis in America. Things are looking pretty bad. The more I do my research the more I see why the media isn’t talking about it much. I still meet people who haven't even heard about it. Experts say it's inevitable and will hit the U.S. around 2030.  Bottom line is there will be devastation and the only way to it is to plan and prepare.  This crisis will affect our country very hard, causing families so much suffering. As the baby boomers enter retirement years in the coming years, it will be also when our country will have a shortage of caregivers like never before in history. 

Hey everyone, I got a text reminder saying I used 50% of my usage for the month on my Internet bill. I was like what? How do I slow it down? What am I using? I need to figure out how to cut my usage down. Where do I start? As these questions flu around in my mind, I went on the Internet to investigate and saw the word BALANCE. There are a lot of words thrown around on social media, and there are a few I really embrace. Today this one brought me a revelation. 50% usage is not balanced if I’m only halfway through the month. I live a pretty controlled and balanced life, so this bothered me.  My Internet usage reminder caused me to question the other areas of my life.  Want to learn more about how to live a balanced life? Contact me at www.samdamm.com. Sign up for my book www.redefiningcaregivingbook.com Remember to always include yourself in the care you give by living a balanced life!

I was making a pot of soup this morning and it triggered this podcast. I decided to blanch some cherry tomatoes, but there is this one tomato that was working against me. It refused to crack and shed its skin no matter how long I boiled it. I said out loud, “You remind me of myself.” I found myself talking to a tomato about how I too have thick skin and can hold up to some pretty high heat, lol. I've never been a conformist, and I've learned sometimes it's ok to go along with something as I still maintain my own beliefs. Sometimes it's best to let down our guard and work with something instead of against it. It's easier to connect with people and influence them if we are open-minded and flexible. If we don’t shed our skin and let allow them in, we miss out on opportunities. This podcast encourages you to question why you don’t want to conform to something and decide if it's for good reasons. Keeping a tight skin doesn’t allow others to enjoy what you have to offer. caregiving.com