Category: Family Caregiving

back-to-school anxiety
Sep 21 2021

Strategies to help your children manage back-to-school anxiety

Family Caregiving  •  By Miles Varn, MD

Most school years, there will be some children who feel anxious about going back to school. They worry about making friends, learning new routines, and whether they’ll like their teacher. But this year, child development specialists are predicting more children than usual may be experiencing back-to-school anxiety related to the pandemic. For some students, this... Read More

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parents
Aug 31 2021

Stress management for parents in a time of uncertainty

Family Caregiving  •  By Miles Varn, MD

Being a parent has always been a demanding job. Working to keep your children safe and physically and mentally healthy, balancing work and home life, acting as a caregiver for older parents and relatives, and managing your own health and wellbeing can be stressful at times. But during the pandemic, the stress levels of many... Read More

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college
Aug 10 2021

The steps you should take now to protect your college student’s health and wellbeing

Family Caregiving  •  By Miles Varn, MD

If your child is starting or returning to college this fall, there are several steps you can take now to help prepare them to handle health issues that arise while they’re away from home. If they haven’t already been active partners in their care, now is a good time to help them learn how to... Read More

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caregiving
Aug 3 2021

The steps you should take now if caregiving is in your future

Family Caregiving  •  By Miles Varn, MD

At some point in our lives, most of us will take on the role of caregiver for a parent or older family member, spouse or partner, or close friend. The National Alliance for Caregiving’s report Caregiving in the U.S. 2020 found that the number of caregivers (defined as someone caring for an adult or a... Read More

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anxiety
May 11 2021

What can parents do to help children manage anxiety?

Family Caregiving  •  By Miles Varn, MD

It’s no surprise that more people than ever are living with anxiety. The ongoing pandemic and its emotional and economic fallout, social injustice, and disrupted lives all contribute to a marked increase in people who are reporting symptoms of depression and anxiety. And adults aren’t the only ones experiencing these mental health struggles. A new... Read More

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nursing home
Mar 16 2021

Five things to consider when choosing a nursing home

Family Caregiving  •  By Miles Varn, MD

Although it’s an emotionally difficult decision to make, more than half of older adults in the U.S. will spend time in a nursing home. Some will be there for a shorter stay to recover and undergo rehabilitation after a serious illness or injury. Others may need to stay longer if family and friends are no... Read More

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anxiety and depression
Mar 2 2021

Signs that your child may dealing with anxiety or depression and how to help

Family Caregiving  •  By Miles Varn, MD

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the number of people in the U.S. and around the world who are living with anxiety and depression. One report in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report noted that during a single week in late June 2020, 40% of adults in the U.S.... Read More

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pandemic
Jan 26 2021

Are your children missing important routine care during the pandemic?

Family Caregiving  •  By Miles Varn, MD

For almost a year, attention around the world has been rightly focused on the COVID-19 pandemic. In the early days of the pandemic, some primary care physicians limited in-person visits or temporarily closed their offices to lower the risk of patients contracting the virus, which meant that the delivery of many routine types of care... Read More

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social distancing
Sep 22 2020

Five strategies to encourage teens to practice social distancing

Family Caregiving  •  By Miles Varn, MD

Recent increases in the number of COVID-19 cases in U.S. have included a rise in the number of people under the age of 18 who are contracting the virus. Part of the reason for the growth in the number of teens and young adults who test positive for COVID-19 is their failure, or in some... Read More

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mental health issues
Jul 28 2020

Four mental health tips to combat the stress of living with extended family

Family Caregiving  •  By Miles Varn, MD

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the structure of many people’s households has changed dramatically. Campuses closed and young adults returned home and many will still be at home this fall as colleges and universities continue to limit on-campus classes. Some people moved in with family after a job loss. And some families temporarily moved older... Read More

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