1. Caregiver Toolbox: Becoming a ‘Detective’ for Your Loved One Rayna Neises 14:50

Rayna Neises, ACC, host, reflects on her interview last week with Angie Rischpater (Episode 143). Angie is a physical therapist and she shared how, as a Caregiver, you can be an observer or a detective to help your loved one. Instead of swooping in and taking, you can just support. Rayna continues with the topic offering the following suggestions:

  • [1:32] Deal with the problem and not the symptom by digging down and finding the root of the problem.
  • [3:29] Steps to becoming a good observer:
    • [3:45] Understand the difference between observing and looking
    • [4:15] Be mindful of your surroundings and practice
    • [5:21] Pay attention to the details
    • [6:29] Refrain from judgment
    • [7:18] Slow down
  • [8:00] Let the person you are caring for do what they can do.
  • [8:52] The learner (growth) vs. the judger (fixed) mindset.
  • [11:45] Learning to stay in the learner mindset can change how we interact with our loved one and how we support them.
  • [13:45] Check out Marilee Adams’ book, “Change Your Questions. Change Your Life” and visit inquiryinstitute.com for a free download of the Choice Map.
  • [14:04] This episode has been brought to you by Content Magazine, a quarterly electronic magazine designed to help you find God in your caregiving season, coming in January 2023.
Rayna Neises A Season of Caring

Rayna Neises understands the joys and challenges that come from a season of caring. She helped care for both of her parents during their separate battles with Alzheimer’s over a thirty-year span. She is able to look back on those days now with no regrets – and she wishes the same for everyone caring for aging parents.

Rayna is the author of No Regrets: Hope for Your Caregiving Season, an ICF certified coach, the host of “A Season of Caring” podcast, Positive Approach® to Care (PAC)Independent Certified Trainer and speaker who is passionate about offering encouragement, support, and resources for regret-free caring aimed at preventing family caregivers from aimlessly wandering through this important season of life.

Rayna lives on a farm in southeast Kansas with her husband, Ron, and small pack of adorable dogs. She is the baby of her family, but most would never guess that. She is a former teacher who enjoys crafts of all kinds and spending time with her grandkids most of all.