Caring for the Caregiver – Part 1 @ SDG

Caregiver:  the definition of a giver of care is a family member or paid helper who regularly looks after a child, or a sick, elderly, or disabled person.  The description of a giver of care who works 24/7 can be joyful, weary, tired, delighted, exhausted, angry, frustrated, energetic, impatient, alienated, lonely, depressed, etc., etc., etc.! Does any of this fit you?

Let’s turn the tables and take a look at taking care of ourselves. This is a key component to caregiving.  A KEY!  The care of the caregiver is vital to the health and welfare of the one who receives the care.  If the caregiver is so rundown that she/he has no energy for the day’s work, she/he cannot give the necessary care in the manner in which it ought to be given. As caregivers, we are usually trying to understand the needs of the person we care for with a desire to do some of this precious care right so as not to confuse, frustrate, or further anger our charge. We desire their days to be pleasant. We also want to love them as they are, not as we wish they could or would be.

As a caregiver of 15 years, I ran the gamut of being extremely weary, unable to get a good night’s rest for ailments of my own, worried, confused about what to do, depressed, frustrated that my sisters lived so far away, coming only once a year (and then for just a little while, not long enough to help me out much or give me a real break), even upset with one sister because she accused me of something that our mother believed about me–this sister chose to believe a dementia-laden lie versus the truth.  I became impatient with Mama, too, for things she could not help.  I felt alienated from “friends” or lonely because of this separateness.  I wondered if I was being a good enough wife while trying to be a good enough caregiver and daughter too.  AAAHHH!  Do you know these feeling, these thoughts?    [Please follow me to Soli Deo Gloria Connections to read the rest of this post.]

linking up with:

On Friday:
http://www.missionalwomen.com/ Faith-Filled Fridays

http://arabahjoy.com Grace and Truth

http://equippinggodlywomen.com/ Fellowship Friday

http://countingmyblessings.com/blog/ Blessing Counters

http://www.simplemomentsstick.com/ Faith and Fellowship

On the Weekend:

http://www.barbieswihart.com/     The Weekend Brew

http://sandraheskaking.com/     Still Saturday

http://seespeakhearmama.com/     Give Me Grace

http://www.janiscox.com/        Sunday Stillness

http://www.spiritualsundays.com/     Spiritual Sundays

http://www.thebeautyinhisgrip.com/    Sharing His Beauty

On Monday:

http://lauraboggess.com/    PlayDates with God

http://afieldofwildflowers.blogspot.com/    Small Wonder

http://www.solideogloriasisterhood.com/    Soli Deo Gloria Connections

http://www.blessedbutstressed.com/    Inspire Me Mondays

On Tuesday:

http://www.richfaithrising.com/    Unite the Bloggersphere

http://purposefulfaith.com/    Cheerleading #RaRaLinkUp

http://hollybarrett.org/    Testimony Tuesday

http://jenniferdukeslee.com/    Tell His Story

On Wednesday:

http://www.kristinhilltaylor.com/    Three-Word Wednesday

http://www.w2wministries.org/    Word-Filled Wednesdays

http://holleygerth.com/    Coffee for Your Heart

http://meredithbernard.com/my-pen/    W2W Wednesdays

http://www.juanamikels.com/    Wednesday Prayer Girls

On Thursday:
http://3dlessons4life.com/   Thought-Provoking Thursday

http://www.faithbarista.com/ Beloved Brews

http://tsuzanneeller.com Live Free Thursdays

http://www.7daystime.com/   Everyday Jesus