To me, it’s not a paying back or a pay-it-forward. I think of it as a graduation. I was a huge consumer of support groups while I was caregiving. I know how much I needed those sessions with others in a similar place.
The neutral space where other caregivers talk freely under the guidance of an impartial group leader helped me find my footing during the journey.
While Burt was ill, I was sure I would not want to volunteer to work with caregivers after he was gone. I looked with admiration at the many people who stuck around after they lost their spouses to help me as I struggled with the changes LBD brought to our life.
It was inspiring but I thought once the caring is over, I will want to regain my normal.
Frankly, I thought I would want to put the experience behind me.
Turns out that at this point in my post-Burt journey offering support to others supports me.
It’s an after-care purpose. I hope the people in the Alzheimer’s support groups I started to co-facilitate will get half as much from me as I am getting from them.
this is our life 