Blog Articles

Tools for Adult Caregivers

New Years

New YearsBy Holly J. Bean, PhD, LCPC, CRC, CTRS Happy New Year!  With the end of 2020, we may be taking a collective deep breath.  Looking to the future – 2021 – with hope and positivity, we are offered an opportunity to leave the past behind and work to create a...

Validating Our Loved Ones

Validating Our Loved OnesBy Holly J. Bean, PhD, LCPC, CRC, CTRS   How often have we heard our loved ones diagnosed with cognitive impairment say something that makes no sense or is not based in what we feel is reality?  Perhaps you have heard them say something...

Holidays

HolidaysCreated for Thoughtful EngagementBy Holly J. Bean, PhD, LCPC, CRC, CTRSDecember 13, 2020 ‘Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la la la.  However you celebrate the holiday season, the days from Thanksgiving to New Years, are typically steeped in some...

The Most Meaningful Gifts

The Most Meaningful Gifts Do you remember a gift you received that stands out above all other gifts? You most likely remember who gave it to you as well as the time and place you received the gift. It is a common thread to hear that the most meaningful gifts are not...

Caregiver Tools for Success

Being LGBTQ+ in the Aging Population

Being LGBTQ+ in the Aging Population Sarah had a fascinating, yet most likely common, story. The day I met her I had no idea that we would sit for hours talking about her life and experiences. I was just helping a neighbor whose aunt was visiting. Sarah was that aunt...

The Fountain of Youth: Myth or Mindset?

The Fountain of Youth- Myth or Mindset The Fountain of Youth is a concept that has existed since the early days of human civilization. People have always been fascinated with the idea of living forever, and it seems like now more than ever we have the resources and...

4 Tips for Seniors on a Budget

4 Tips for Seniors on a Budget The rising cost of living is a problem for many Americans, but it's seniors with limited funds who are often hit the hardest. This inflation can make it difficult to meet their needs without breaking the bank. To maintain the quality of...

Protecting the Elderly from being Scammed

Protecting the Elderly from being Scammed How the Elderly are Being Scammed – Part 1 We’re all familiar with the world of scammers and hackers. There are so many methods used to try to steal from others that it can be difficult to keep up with warnings for our aging...

Building a Trusting Relationship with Clients

Building a Trusting Relationship with ClientsBy Holly J. Bean, PhD, LCPC, CTRS A Thoughtful Engagement Specialist ® shares this story of building a relationship with an initially reluctant client: Our journey began a little rocky, as the client is fiercely independent...

Summer Memories

Summer Memories By Holly J. Bean, PhD, LCPC, CTRS      There is a change in the smell to the air at the end of the summer.  You might start to notice that some maple trees have taken an interest in designing their fall plumage.  The parks and beaches are not as...

Summer

SummerBy Holly J. Bean, PhD, LCPC, CTRS Summer has landed for 2021, as of June 20th, which also doubled as Father’s Day.  This summer promises to be very different from last summer, 2020, where the COVID-19 Pandemic brought much of our activities to a halt.  The...

Grit, Resilience, and COVID 19

Grit, Resilience, and COVID 19By Holly J. Bean, PhD, LCPC, CRC, CTRS The pandemic has provided many opportunities for growth, particularly in rethinking living alone.  Thankfully, I live in a community and we do take care of each other, but after losing my dog and my...

Engagement Combats Loneliness

Engagement Combats Loneliness Loneliness increases as we age due to living alone, losing friends and family, and dealing with physical and mental changes which may lead to chronic illness. Loneliness often leads to depression and increased anxiety which may then...

When Cognitive Loss Impacts a Marriage – Part 1

TE-LL When Cognitive Loss Impacts a Marriage - Part 1 During a wedding ceremony, many couples include a vow that references loving and caring for each other through all the ups and downs of life. Optimism and positivity are excited about the marriage and living a full...

When Cognitive Loss Impacts a Marriage – Part 2

TE-LL When Cognitive Loss Impacts a Marriage - Part 2 There is no predetermined set of stages for how cognitive decline progresses. A person may have Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and that is the only type of cognitive loss they experience. In many cases MCI will...

Caregiving Does Not Have to Cause Burnout or Stress Final

Caregiving Does Not Have to Cause Burnout or Stress When an aging parent needs regular personalized care, from a family member, it is a heavy responsibility. Caring for an aging parent or grandparent involves not just taking care of their physical needs but also their...

Effective Communication Techniques

Effective Communication TechniquesCreated for Thoughtful EngagementBy Holly J. Bean, Ph.D., LCPC, CRC, CTRSSeptember 1, 2020Blog 4 “The purpose of communication is the response you get.  If you don’t like the response, change your communication.”  The Center for...

Meaningful Activities

Meaningful ActivitiesCreated for Thoughtful EngagementBy Holly J. Bean, Ph.D., LCPC, CRC, CTRSOctober 21, 2020Blog 6   In blog 5 we discussed behaviors that our loved ones may display; noted as disturbing behaviors.  Disturbing behaviors include wandering,...

Understanding Behaviors

Understanding BehaviorsCreated for Thoughtful EngagementBy Holly J. Bean, Ph.D., LCPC, CRC, CTRSSeptember 18, 2020Blog 5 All Behavior is Communication When we have children we expect the occasional acting out.  As a newborn, the infant learns that discomfort that...

Loneliness & Social Isolation

Loneliness and Social Isolation (Word) Created for Thoughtful Engagement By Holly J. Bean, Ph.D., LCPC, CRC, CTRS August 10, 2020 The pandemic has provided many of us with the opportunity to understand loneliness and social isolation on a personal level, and an...

Selfcare for the Caregiver

Life Roles – A Thoughtful Engagement Success Story

Life Roles - A Thoughtful Engagement Success Story  By Holly J. Bean, PhD, LCPC, CTRS Nicole, a Thoughtful Engagement® manager, shares a success story provided by the Thoughtful Engagement® Specialist working with Mrs. X.  Mrs. X is a small framed woman who grew up...

Life Stories

Life Stories  By Holly J. Bean, PhD, LCPC, CTRS Kate, a TEP, shared a success story where the process of life review offered positive outcomes for more than just the client. Kate noted that one of her clients is a 101 years old female with significant hearing...

It’s a New Year

It’s a New Year “No matter how hard the past, you can always begin again.” - Buddha Throughout time, celebrating a new year has been a time of renewal, creating future plans, and engaging hope for change. Individuals focus on their own resolutions, goals, or plans for...

Fall

Fall By Holly J. Bean, PhD, LCPC, CTRS Most people have a favorite season.  There are those who love the outdoor busy-ness that summer brings with so much fun to be had.  Although I take advantage of all the opportunities that summer offers, my favorite season is...

Caregiving Does Not Have to Cause Burnout or Stress Final

Caregiving Does Not Have to Cause Burnout or Stress When an aging parent needs regular personalized care, from a family member, it is a heavy responsibility. Caring for an aging parent or grandparent involves not just taking care of their physical needs but also their...

Ambiguous Loss and Grief

Ambiguous Loss and Complicated Grief (Word) Created for Thoughtful Engagement® Inc.By Holly J. Bean, Ph.D., LCPC, CRC, CTRSJuly 13, 2020 COVID-19 has increased the feelings of loss, grief, and confusion for many. This is the first pandemic that we have lived through...

Caregiver Burnout

Caregiver Burnout Blog (Word) Holly J. Bean, Ph.D., LCPC, CRC, CTRS June 8, 2020 Mrs. X lives with her husband of 52 years in their two story home. Mrs. X’s cognition and over-all health has been deteriorating since she fell down the stairs and broke her hip. Since...

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