Bob and Starr Calo-oy
This Week’s Featured Radio Podcast
Listen to Volume # 126 —“Starr and Bob Calo-oy” (Podcast)
“Caregiving 101” on KKYX Radio 680am San Antonio, Texas
Hosts: Starr & Bob Calo–oy
Guest: Starr and Bob Calo-oy
Broadcast Date: July 17, 2010
Starr and Bob Calo-oy speak about how they got started in home caregiving, and pour out their hearts with their combined testimony covering 50 years of service. They breakdown the importance of their books, and how it can apply/help you with your daily life!
There will always be caregiving, and many people become caregivers every day. Did you know that there is a 63% higher chance of dying as a caregiver than not? All too often you will put-off your own health when focusing on taking care of somebody else. Many times you exhaust yourself, and your immune system is at its all-time low.
More than 40% of caregivers for elders are also raising their own children of under 18 years. The dynamics are changing in America, back to “old-time” standards. Soon 40% of the caregiving role will be “done” by men. Did you know that Nursing Homes did not even exist in the States until the 1960’s? For a long time now we’ve seen people pass-on the caregiving role outside of the home. Now we are beginning to see more men and women rise to the occasion and caring for their own mom, dad and grandparents.
The Majority of caregivers are 35-49 years old now. Most caregivers are either working full time or part time now. Many of our nation’s caregivers are over 50 years old and taking care of their parents and spouses.
Privileges to taking care of your loved one at home: Privacy to grieve, and speak at liberty. You have the bonding and end of life resolution. You have the satisfaction of being there for your loved-one. You can bond with your siblings in ways that are new, and will grow closer to family.
Specific needs should be addressed when dealing with those suffering from dementia. We have behavioral problems and changes that can “come” from nowhere! Wondering is a problem, and so is communication. The dementia patient can get startled and angry quickly, so approach from in front or the side, not behind, so as not to startle. It is good to actually explain what physical acts and activities to keep the situation calm and peaceful when changing clothes or giving them food…otherwise they might get scared or startled.
One importance with communicating with a family dementia patient is not expecting them to act as they always have. Another difficulty is when the Father or Mother sees the son or daughter as their young spouse of many years gone. Sometimes sexual advances are made in confusion; mistaken lover-identity is actually quite common.
Starr & Bob Calo-oy created CaregiversAdvice.net to help, encourage, and support caregivers. Through weekly Radio Shows on KKYX 680am San Antonio, they host special guests who cover many unique topics concerning caregiving. They also have weekly TV Segments on KENS TV 5 San Antonio where they share caregiving and marriage tips. All of these programs are archived as Radio Podcasts and TV Podcasts for your easy listening. Visit their sister site, Marriage101.net for marriage help and encouragement. Starr has written Four Books on Caregiving.
