There are over 53 million Americans who are unpaid caregivers to family, friends, and neighbors. Being a family caregiver is difficult in the best of circumstances. The stress and challenges of the role can have a huge impact on a caregiver's mental health, leading to them experiencing depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol and drug addiction, and anxiety. It is important for caregivers to also take care of their own health.

Caregiver burnout is a very real risk, and often not recognized by caregivers themselves. The following signs may be subtle, but should be heeded:

• Feelings of depression and isolation.
• A sense of ongoing and constant fatigue.
• Decreasing interest in work.
• Withdrawal from social contacts.
• Increase in use of stimulants and alcohol.
• Change in eating and sleeping pattern.
• Feelings of helplessness.

Here are some tips to help combat caregiver stress:

• Consult with a professional to explore burnout issues.
• Attend a support group to receive feedback and coping strategies.
• Vary the focus of caregiving responsiblities if possible (rotate responsiblities with family members).
• Exercise daily and maintain a healthy diet.
• Accept help when it is offered. While some may not be able to serve as a primary caregiver, they can take on other vital duties, such as grocery shopping or errands.
• Stay involved in your hobbies.

If you are a caregiver or know a caregiver that may be struggling with their own mental health, click here to visit the Mental Health America website to take free, anonymous, and confidential screenings.

Click here to download the Complete Guide to Dementia for Caregivers provided by Senior Lifestyle.

References:

Mental Health America https://www.mhanational.org/national-family-caregivers-month
Senior Lifestyle https://www.seniorlifestyle.com/resources/blog/taking-care-caregivers-appreciation-month/

Listen to the Bible, a daily devotional, Reading Plans, the Verse of the Day and your prayer list. YouVersion Bible is completely free and lets you listen to books, chapters and verses of the Bible.

Intellectual wellness is the opposite of boredom and brain atrophy — by continually learning, you're keeping your brain fresh and spry.

Here are some new skills or knowledge you can consider taking up:

• Learn a new language: Duolingo
• Expand your vocabulary by subscribing to receive the Word of the Day: Dictionary.com
• Improve your English pronunciation skills: Say It app by Oxford University Press (Android) (iOS)
• Learn Sign Language: ASL University
• Read books: Visit your local public library or access the free catalog at OpenLibrary.org

Part of intellectual health is being able to speak clearly to others, especially when you're trying to understand each other or resolve a conflict. When you maintain intellectual wellness, you’re more connected to your thoughts and you have a heightened ability to think critically.

This makes you more open to new ideas and perspectives and allows you to better express your own thoughts and feelings more succinctly.

This poster gives you some good guidelines to follow to have healthy and clear communications with others and resovle conflicts when they arise.

Sleep allows your body and mind to recharge, leaving you refreshed and alert when you wake up. Without enough sleep, you impair your abilities to concentrate, think clearly, process memories, and even stave off diseases. The right amount of sleep largely depends on your age. Click here to see the National Sleep Foundation recommendations by age group.

Work schedules, day-to-day stressors, a disruptive bedroom environment, and medical conditions can prevent us from receiving enough sleep. Improving your sleeping habits is essential to improving your overall health. Here are some ways you can improve your sleeping habits:

• Establish a realistic bedtime and stick to it every night, even on the weekends.
• Maintain comfortable temperature settings and low light levels in your bedroom.
• Consider a "screen ban" on televisions, computers and tablets, cell phones, and other electronic devices in your bedroom.
• Abstain from caffeine, alcohol, and large meals in the hours leading up to bedtime.
• Refrain from using tobacco at any time of day or night.
• Exercise during the day; this can help you wind down in the evening and prepare for sleep.

References: SleepFoundation.org https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/why-do-we-need-sleep

Prediabetes is when your blood glucose (sugar) levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Prediabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes (the most common form of diabetes). Prediabetes can often be reversed. You can get type 2 diabetes at any age, but you are at higher risk if you are 45 years of age or older, overweight, have a family history of diabetes, are not physically active, or are a woman who had diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes).

If you want to learn more about the basics of diabetes and prediabetes, Click here to visit the CDC's Diabetes website. Be sure to speak with your doctor if you have any concerns.

References: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/about-prediabetes.html

Do you know what to do when someone has a seizure?

Epilepsy is a condition of the brain causing seizures. A seizure is a disruption of the electrical communication between neurons (cells that transmit nerve impulses). The seizures in epilepsy may be related to a brain injury, genetics, immune, brain structure or metabolic cause, but most of the time the cause is unknown. A person is usually diagnosed with epilepsy after they have had at least two seizures (or after one seizure with a high risk for more) that were not caused by some known medical condition.

For most seizures, basic seizure first aid is all that is needed:

1. STAY with the person and start timing the seizure
2. Keep the person SAFE.
3. Turn the person onto their SIDE if they are not awake and aware.

Click here to view the Seizure First Aid poster provided by the Epilepsy Foundation.

If you have been diagnosed with epilepsy, talk with your doctor and devise your seizure action plan to share with your loved ones so they may know what to do in the event you have a seizure. Click here to download a General Seizure Action Plan template provided by the Epilepsy Foundation.

References: Epilepsy Foundation https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/about-epilepsy-basics

There are several benefits of gardening:

• Positively impact the environment given plants act as highly effective air cleaners
• Boosts mood and reduces stress
• Gives a sense of agency and empowerment by growing something of your own
• Growing your own food can help you eat healthier

Click here for a beginner's guide to growing a vegetable garden

If you don't think you have a green thumb, start off small, for example growing herbs like basil, oregano, and mint in small pots indoors.

One easy way to improve your environmental wellness is to declutter your spaces. It adds extra time to your days to spend on what matters decreasing time to clean and look for what you need. When your living and office spaces are easier to maintain and manage, you'll likely feel happier and enjoy your time in the spaces.

Here are some simple helpful tips to help you declutter your spaces.

1. Start by removing trash.
2. Begin by choosing one small area to organize — like a drawer.
3. Sort items into three piles: Keep, donate and toss.
4. Find a specific home for everything you intend to keep — for example, a hook for your keys.
5. Group similar items together, instead of storing them in multiple places, so you always know where to find them.
6. If you buy something new, pledge to get rid of something else to limit items in your home.
7. If you're holding on to items to pass to the next generation, ask your heirs if they want the items. Be prepared for them to say no, and be gracious.
8. Don't try to do everything all at once. Schedule limited amounts of time to work on decluttering and organizing on a regular basis.

References: "8 Easy Steps to a More Organized Home" AARP article (https://www.aarp.org/home-family/your-home/info-2021/simple-decluttering-and-organization-tips.html)

NapkinFinance.com is a great online tool to introduce yourself to important financial topics. They provide quick and easy resources on everything you need to know about money in 30 seconds or less. Their mission is to empower visitors to manage their money and understand basic financial concepts in a simple, fun and engaging way. Their wide array of topics include investing, Money 101, and Michelle Obama's course on higher education.

Click here to access the NapkinFinance.com website.

Looking for information on how to finance higher education for you or a loved one? Click here to access the resource provided by the U.S. Financial Literacy and Education Commission.

If you are looking for new employment, want to connect with others in your field, or build your skillset, consider joining LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is the world's largest professional network online. Your LinkedIn profile can help you connect with opportunities by showcasing your unique professional story through experience, skills, and education.

You can join for free with a basic membership with all of these features. Paid subscription is availble if you want to gain further access to LinkedIn's marketing, recruitment, sales, and learning products. You can try LinkedIn premium for free for one month.

Improving your ability to manage time can boost the quality of your work and increase your productivity. This can, in turn, make you more valuable to your employer and create new opportunities for career advancement. Learning about a variety of different strategies for better managing your time can help you determine which will work best for you. Click here to read the article by Indeed of 20 Time Management Tips for Professionals

Return to the good, old-fashion fun of playing games and solving jigsaw puzzles with your family! Having a family game night will not only promote family bonding opportunities, but has the added bonus of helping reduce stress, improve collaboration, cooperation, memory and concentration, and enhance spatial skills.

To ensure you reap the brain benefits of playing games, make sure it is challenging for you and something that you enjoy. The more you play, the stronger the effect it will have on your brain functions, especially for seniors.