The Loving Hands Group

Healing arts for happy hearts

  • Home
  • What We Do
    • Overview
    • Classes & Activities
    • Adaptive Activities
    • Community Integration
    • Caregiver Support
  • Who We Serve
  • About Us
    • Overview
    • Mission Statement
    • Our Team
    • Our History
  • What Others Say
    • Testimonials
    • In the News
  • Contact

Local author offers advice for family caregivers

May 3, 2016 By Judith Eugene

41pQ6xGyNuL._SX321_BO1,204,203,200_Harriet Tramer is no stranger to the stress that can come with caring for an aging family member. The Cleveland Heights resident has written a book about the experiences she went through while caring for her aging mother.

Tramer wrote Growing Up as She Grows Old to offer advice and helpful resources to others who are caring for aging family members. She hopes that reading about her experiences and the lessons she learned will help make the process easier for readers.

Citing statistics from The Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA), Tramer said she was prompted to write the book “because this issue is so pervasive.” The FCA stated last year that approximately 34.2 million Americans had provided unpaid care to at least one adult age 50 or older in the preceding 12 months, and 82 percent of them provided care for two adults.

“A lot of families are dealing with this issue at a huge cost,” Tramer said. According to the FCA, the economic value of services provided by informal caregivers in 2013 was estimated at $470 billion.

The stress and adverse health issues that caregiving can cause are well-documented. The Caregiver Action Network (CAN) cites studies that report 23 percent of those caring for loved ones for five years or more report their own health as fair or poor; 72 percent of caregivers do not go to the doctor as often as they should; 63 percent have poor eating habits; and 58 percent have declined or eliminated their exercise habits.

Tramer offered advice to help reduce caregiver stress. First, ask for help. “Don’t try to do this alone,” Tramer said. She recommended seeking care help through adult day care centers, respite care and home health aides. Her book contains precautions and checklists to follow when researching these options.

Tramer also suggested learning non-verbal ways of communicating with a loved one. People suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or stroke are not able to communicate as they once did. Art therapy and sound healing are methods for expression that do not use language. “These are ways they can still communicate,” she said.

Finally, Tramer encouraged readers to reduce stress by maintaining their own physical and mental health. Her book suggests joining support groups, maintaining an exercise program and practicing mindfulness. “And be sure to get enough sleep,” Tramer emphasized.

Local resources for caregiver assistance that Tramer endorses include the art therapy program at Ursuline College in Pepper Pike (440-449-4200), Peter B. Lewis Aquatic and Therapy Center exercise programs in Beachwood (216-595-7345), University Hospitals Medical House Calls program (216-844-5482), the Case Western Reserve University Mandel School of Geriatric Social Work (216-368-1655) and social workers at the Cleveland Heights Office on Aging (216-691-7342).

Growing Up as She Grows Old can be purchased through www.bibliopublishing.com and www.amazon.com. Tramer also hosts a radio show called “Aging Without Wrinkles” on the Artist First Radio Network (www.artistfirst.com). She writes a blog on aging issues at www.htramer.com and can be contacted at 216-321-8250.

Click here to read the full article in the Heights Observer.

Filed Under: Blog

STAY CONNECTED

Senior Communities & Centers

We provide activities directors and marketing departments at … Read more »

Disability Organizations

We provide adaptive classes and activities for youths and adults … Read more »

Individuals & Families

We provide senior adults and people of all ages with disabilities … Read more »

Referring Professionals

We provide attorneys, social workers, physicians and other … Read more »

Welcome to The Loving Hands Group

We are a collaboration of professional artists and holistic healing arts practitioners who teach a unique selection of educational and life-enriching classes, activities and therapies.

We serve senior adults, people of any age with disabilities, and their caregivers. We work with them individually or in groups, bringing our programs directly to them wherever they live, work or play throughout the northern Ohio area. We also provide community-integrated activities for people of all ages and abilities. Through video platforms we are also able to serve individuals and groups worldwide.

Providing empowerment through education, The Loving Hands Group helps keep people fulfilled, engaged, optimistic, healthy and happy. We believe that all people should have equal access to programs that help them live a stimulating and full life.

At the Loving Hands Group, we bring the world to you!

Referring Professionals


We provide attorneys, social workers, physicians and other referring professionals with a provider source for companionship and life-enrichment services for their elderly clients or clients with disabilities.
Read more »

How we can help your business grow

Get your message out to seniors anywhere along the continuum of care by sponsoring one of our programs. Read more »

The Loving Hands Group

2959 Hampshire Road
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118

Contact

216-408-5578 [email protected]

Stay Connected

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2025 · Website by The MarketFarm