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It's a new year. A natural time for personal review. Do you have a good self-care plan? It's common for family caregivers to fall in with not-so-great coping habits. Here's a look at two areas where family caregivers frequently shortchange themselves. Food. Stressed and on the go, fast food and easy sweets often seem like the only option. We all know that's a recipe for a health disaster! Consider these swift, healthy alternatives:

In the context of serious illness, one's greatest fear is that the condition will be fatal. Feelings of hopelessness are common-and a life without hope is grim indeed. The challenge of terminal illness is to learn to live with dying, to find purpose and meaning even in the face of a limited future. Without purpose, you risk the death of emotions while you are still alive. Even if a condition is incurable, it is possible to have hope. It's simply that your definition of hope must change.

Good communication requires both speaking and listening. Oddly enough, if you make a specific effort to listen, it can open doors. Once "heard," the other person may be more willing to hear your point of view. Deep listening is more difficult than it sounds. It's not passive. It requires concentration. It also takes humility and empathy. Here are some tips: Consider the setting