Just who are the caregivers we are addressing? It could be the millions who are professional caregivers or it could be you and me, part of the 44 million caregivers who are partners, spouses, adult children, parents or friends. Most of us know someone who needs care. We all know it’s dramatic when a stroke or dementia touches a family, but it’s also dramatic seeing one person help another in and out of a car. Life changes – sometimes quickly and sometimes slowly, but our hearts, our minds and our feelings are forever changed when caring becomes part of our daily life and routine.
SOMEONE MAY FORGET WHAT YOU SAID, BUT NEVER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.
Carl Buechner
Caregiving is full of struggles and gifts. Struggles of fatigue, overwhelm, decisions and misunderstandings are ever present. It’s the 36 hour day. It’s often hard to manage everything. However, it’s also true that when you become a caregiver, you have joined a club that means you are never alone again. Maybe lonely from time to time, but never alone. You can’t manage everything, but you can manage something.
Wisdom, relief, humor and connection soar beyond belief. Caregiving tool for this month — put off the big things. While active caregiving is going on, might not be the time to take a road trip, fly across the country, remodel the bedroom, plan a vacation or hold a family reunion. Just be there.
BE IN THE MOMENT WITH THEM. THEY MAY NOT REMEMBER YOU ARE THERE, BUT “YOU” DO.
Joyce Christianson
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