Tuesday, January 06, 2009

CAREGIVER SUPPORT CENTER

Feature Articles on Caregiving by Shirley Loflin

"The Face of Caregiving"

Please visit About Shirley to learn more about her or send her an email.
The caregiving face may be young or old, male or female, rich or poor. And every one of us, at anytime, could become a member of this rapidly growing caregiving community. Caring for another's every need, making life or death decisions, being on call 24/7 and dealing with many unknowns is a tough, demanding, and in some instances, an isolated, thankless job.

Chances are that if you are here, you are a caregiver looking for answers in order to cope with your difficult situation. My goal is, in some way, to give caregivers helpful ideas. And to bring insight into what being a caregiver for an endless amount of time really means.

I certainly never wanted to be a nurse or a caregiver. Then one day, the good earth opened up, swallowed my serene old life and spit me back onto a strange planet called caregiving. Talk about ill prepared! Changing a baby diaper made me gag and I had no patience at all. It was a bumpy journey ahead, as I struggled up caregiver's mountain to reach a peaceful plateau. The mere thought of caring for another's every need sends some of us into withdrawal. You know what I mean, if you crawl in a hole and pretend everything is okay, then you cease to face facts. This does not make reality go away! Decisions still have to be made--the sooner the better--because then and only then will you begin to make progress in this new life.

As a family caregiver for the past 10 years, I am in the trenches with the rest of you and want to share kinship and compassion for caregivers everywhere, who so selflessly give to loved ones, relatives, and friends.

I sincerely hope to put a real face on caregiving, and will endeavor to fill some cracks in the rut most caregivers lapse into.