Blog - PillMap Your Daily Guide

Great National Preparedness Month Grab-N-Go

09/18/2020
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sponsors National Preparedness Month each September. This year’s theme is: “Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today.” Living on the west coast, I’ve lived through multiple earthquakes and fires. So, disaster preparedness is an important part of my life. Now that my adult children have families of their own, I want to do whatever I can to help keep everyone safe. To that end, my trunk contains a backpack filled with emergency supplies. In fact, I put together a similar pack for everyone in our family last Christmas. Knowing that everyone I love is prepared helps me sleep better at night.

National Family Caregivers Month

11/20/2019
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November is designated as the official time to recognize, support, and empower family caregivers. The theme for National Family Caregivers Month 2019 is “Be Care Curious.” An annual presidential designation since 2000, the campaign honors the 40 million everyday heroes who provide unpaid assistance and support to adults with physical and/or mental disabilities.

The toll caregiving takes on providers is overwhelming as well as rewarding:

Caregiving Led Me to Entrepreneurship

10/09/2019
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This post first appeared on Happy, Healthy Caregiver. by Kimber Westmore, PillMap Founder My Caregiving Nightmare “What do you mean I’ve been giving my mom twice the dosage prescribed?” I could hardly keep my composure as I sat in the…

Saying “No” to Caregiver Isolation

07/23/2019
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The post about caregiver isolation was written by PillMap Founder Kimber Westmore. It first appeared on SixtyAndMe.com.

After a full year of declining most social invitations, I was beginning to feel isolated. Choosing a good night’s sleep over a night out was an unusual habit for someone who usually loves spending time with family and friends.

Caregiving Boundaries

07/02/2019
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This blog post first appeared on SixtyAndMe.com

by Kimber Westmore

Advice about creating healthy boundaries fills entire sections of bookstores. I guess that’s because determining how to set and apply healthy boundaries in real life is challenging! Caregiver Boundaries

As a couple, my mom and dad established their own boundaries throughout 65 years of marriage. As kids, each of us knew that we brought joy to their lives. They relished family celebrations. But we also understood how much they loved spending time alone. Their ability to love us while simultaneously setting clear boundaries gave us security as kids and freedom later in life within our own families. Looking back, I appreciate the way my parents masterfully established boundaries which allowed us all to thrive.

Summer Travel Timeline: PillMap on the Go

05/13/2019
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Summer Travel Plans May is the most popular month to start planning summer vacations. Whether the upcoming travel season will take you to the warmth of the Caribbean or the cool of the Arctic, make sure you consider the medications you’ll need to take with you to keep you healthy along the way. Some countries require you bring original pill bottles; others do not. Wherever you are headed, travel is safer when you carry information about your medications and supplements. Since our product, PillMap^TM, is perfect for medication management at home or on the go, we thought it fitting to devote our May blog post to the topic which is likely at the forefront of your mind – summer travel.

Who Cares? Companion Guidebook for the Family ‘s Caregiver Journey

04/17/2019
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PillMap Interview with Author/Elizabeth Rawson, M.A.

I began working with caregivers two decades ago. Over the years, many shared their remarkable, hard stories with me. Some caregivers thrive at a time of life that drains the most stalwart of us all. During one particularly difficult time, my husband and I took care of his mother. So, even as I worked professionally with caregivers, I also served as one. It turns out I was ill-prepared for the intensity of the experience later, when my mother-in-law was in our care.

PillMap Interviews Noted Caregiver Author/Radio Host Peter Rosenberger

03/22/2019
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Rendering aid to his wife, Gracie, in the caregiving trenches for 33 years and counting, Peter Rosenberger effortlessly assumes the mantle of unofficial commander of an army of caregivers across the country. Advising inquiring troops to “get to a place…

Love Note to Caregivers: 5 Ways to Take Care of Yourself!

02/12/2019
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On the heels of Valentine’s Day, National Caregiver’s Day is February 15. Whether in a professional or personal capacity, caregiving is a rewarding vocation. But few would argue it can exact a heavy toll. In fact, according to an oft-quoted study, caregivers have a 63 percent higher mortality rate than non-caregivers. Another analysis, done by Stanford University, revealed that 40 percent of Alzheimer’s caregivers die from stress-related disorders before the patient in their care dies. So, in honor of National Caregiver’s Day, we wanted to take this opportunity to encourage caregivers to show themselves a little love!

Medication Mismanagement First Responders

RX Medication Misuse Leads to High Death Toll

01/14/2019
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The drug epidemic in America is not limited to illegal narcotics use in urban sprawl or opioid overdoses in affluent homes. In an article called “Death by Prescription,” US News reports that at least 128,000 Americans die every year taking legally and regularly-prescribed pills because they fail to follow proper dosage instructions. That number is expected to further climb as Baby Boomers join the ranks en masse of bona fide senior citizens– the most-medicated demographic.