Inside the Dementia Epidemic: A Daughter's Memoir by Martha Stettinius

11/02/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
Here is a book that seems intriguing to me; I have put it on my "things to read" list.  The reason is two-fold:  In the sample chapters, I like the honesty of the author about her not "being superwoman".  And I like hearing that this author explored ways to find positive meaning in a difficult and changing relationship.  A relationship that is changed by memory and functional losses.  From what I had an opportunity to preview, I found reading about this "hopefulness" exciting because it changes our view of care partnerships.  Hopefulness is an important component of sustaining a meaningful care-fulfilling experience.  As a professional, it is watching the ever-startling resilience of constant and dedicated caring that provides hopeful guidance to our next generations who will care. This hopefulness must focus on the good days or good moments first while allowing validation to the many harder days that come with providing care.  It is about the magnificent way we can allow our lens to see relationships transformed and accepted, even in human decline.  It is about being present in the relationship as it unfolds.  Care partnerships can model the best in human kindness and patience.  It may teach us to try harder to look beyond the losses that come with being human.  Reading this book may support our entire community in reflecting deeply on who and what we want to be as a society who provides compassionate care for others.  
copyright 2012 Kim Kozina Evanoski, MPA, LMSW - Care Manage For All LLC
Add Comment
 

CAREGIVING FEELS LIKE CHANGING RAIN

01/20/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
Caregiving.   What is it?  Who does it? 

Everyone at some point in their life will be cared for  or be a caregiver.  Caregiving is the commitment given in caring for another person.  

Sometimes the care is given at home, sometimes it is given far away; care can be next door or in a different living space that doesn't feel like home.   

A caregiver may be someone who knows they are caregiving; many times it is someone who doesn't even realize they are providing care as a caregiver! 

Caregiving feels like a mystery to us.  Yet caregiving is as common as the air we breathe. 

Caregiving is physical tasks taking lots and lots of time.  It exhausts us to no end and provides us with an endless amount of work to do. 

Caregiving also touches our souls;  it can take our emotions soaring both up and down.  Caregiving is commitment, it is a cross to bear, it is a joy, it is a sorrow, it is change.  Caregiving is young and aged and everywhere in-between.

Most times caregiving feels like rain.  Caregiving not only feels like rain but changes like rain.  Caregiving, at times, feels like changing rain that never seems to stop.

Isn’t it funny how we both love and despise the rain? 

A light rain as a child was fun, refreshing to the soul, life-sustaining by the fact of its wetness. We danced in it for hours, soaking wet but knowing all is going to be okay.  There was no thunder or lightening ; the sunshine not far behind! 

Couldn’t our caregiving feel the same way?

There is the rain that is harsh, that hurts as it falls on our face and back. We are soaked, annoyed and it scares us. 

Couldn’t our caregiving feel like this at times also?

Some rain and its storms never stop-- it just changes.  It could pour down hard, lighten up some, then blacken the sky, pour down and trickle a few drops with sunshine…then cloud over again,and pour rain for days when finally a ray of sunshine trickles the last few drops. 

Is that like caregiving…always changing, having many ups-and-downs, bringing us so low - - perhaps even to our knees, only to pick us up to be thankful for a new day?

One wonders.     

So, what is your caregiving like?  Is it like rain?
-----------------------
We dedicate this article to the many long-term caregivers who provide daily care through the good days and through the rough days.  Thank you for your hard work.


copyright 2012 Kim Kozina Evanoski, MPA, LMSW - Care Manage For All 
An adaptation from earlier written article:  http://www.gobroomecounty.com/files/senior/pdfs/CGC0802.pdf   

Add Comment
 

CAREGIVERS, COFFEE MUGS and WELLNESS

12/30/2011

6 Comments

 
Picture
Hi!  Want to go grab your coffee or tea?  We don't mind waiting with our hot cups of tea and coffee....   
Great, your back. 
Let's sit for a few minutes and get to know each other.  
One of the most important tasks as a Care Manager and as a Caregiver is taking time to sit and chat.  
You are important to us.  
How  is your day going?  What is going well?  
What is a real big challenge to you?  
How can we work together to make your caregiving experiences less stressful and more balanced in your life?  We value sitting down with you and hearing what you have to say to us.  So, yes, a coffee mug and sitting with us for a few minutes is important.  It supports your wellness!    
Will you bookmark this site or use the RSS Feed on the right side bar so we can have coffee together and more visits?  
We have lots of ideas to share with you. We hope you'll share some of your valuable ideas or tips that work for you as a caregiver.   Many ideas we learned from our own caregiving experiences and many ideas from caregivers who have shared their knowledge and experiences with us over the years.  
Today's post is dedicated to all those caregivers who shared their insight so we can all be better at balancing our wellness.  Here is to Caregivers, Coffee Mugs and Wellness!
6 Comments