How do you practice self-care? The “self-care” question meets with controversy and raised eyebrows in my community of caregivers. “Take care of yourself” is a well-meant message we often hear. Many of those of us who are taking care of a spouse understand the need, appreciate the sentiment, and just wish you didn’t have toContinue reading “Funny you should ask”
Tag Archives: dailyprompt
Growth
What experiences in life helped you grow the most? Let’s look at the question in the all- consuming context of caregiving. Other experiences have contributed to my professional growth. They found a place on my resume. Falling in love helped me grow in my heart and soul. Then along came my love’s dementia and IContinue reading “Growth”
Is it challenging?
What is the biggest challenge you will face in the next six months? Staying positive and appreciating the opportunities that caregiving offers is the biggest challenge. It’s too easy to find the hards in the journey. Focusing on those makes it just a little harder. Looking at the love that binds us together as weContinue reading “Is it challenging?”
What would Burt say?
What advice would you give to your teenage self? Don’t get old is advice he’s meted out. Another favorite is don’t get dementia. Burt would definitely suggest those bits to his teenage self and yours. Life remains an enigma. We don’t know where we’re going or by what means we’ll get there. “Don’t get old”Continue reading “What would Burt say?”
All the to-dos
Write about your approach to budgeting. There are so many things that can overwhelm the caregiver in this journey. It’s not just the responsibility – both financial and physical – and our loved one’s urgent and ongoing needs, but the long lists of what-to-dos. There are supplies we have to keep on hand. Burt justContinue reading “All the to-dos”
Good news
You get some great, amazingly fantastic news. What’s the first thing you do? You share it with the one you love. Right? After that “point of pain,” I also need to share something wonderful. Shortly after we got Burt’s diagnosis, I was rummaging through a closet and found some of the extravagantly sentimental cards BurtContinue reading “Good news”
A point of pain
You get some great, amazingly fantastic news. What’s the first thing you do? This prompt [above] hits a nerve in our situation. Good news would be something to share with your spouse. As would, of course, fantastic news and alas bad. The first person I would turn to would be Burt. In his fluctuating stateContinue reading “A point of pain”
Promptly
Do you need a break? From what? In my context, the context of this blog, the answer is sadly obvious. Do I need a break from caregiving? Yes, I am sure I do. I am sure any of us in these circumstances does. What’s more, I am sure we all wish we didn’t. Wouldn’t itContinue reading “Promptly”
Gratitude
What do you complain about the most? The caregiver’s journey is often lonely, depressing, and difficult. A recent support group seminar served as a reminder that there is a lot for which to be grateful while caregiving. The Caregiver Teleconnection program from WellMed Charitable Foundation focused on the Positive aspects of the journey. For instance,Continue reading “Gratitude”
this is our life 