Caregiving Is Difficult

Some of us choose a life that involves caring for others when they are ill or injured. Nurses, doctors, rehabilitation therapists, and professional caregivers of any kind, are a few things that come to mind.

Unfortunately, way too often, many people are thrust into taking care of a loved-one who has been diagnosed with a long-term illness, or who needs hands-on help after an accident, a stroke, or a heart attack. If you are one of these people who finds themselves taking care of an infirmed person because it’s your best option, I’m writing this for you.

I know many people who care for someone with dementia, Parkinson’s, after a heart attack, a stroke, a diagnosis of cancer, or a car accident. The more severe the situation, the greater the burden.

Caregiving can be a very difficult day to day responsibility and can wreak havoc on you and on other healthy members of the family. It can create feelings of hopelessness, loneliness, and guilt, in those who are carrying-out the arduous daily responsibilities. These feelings are normal and to be expected.

If you are a caregiver, know that there are many others doing the same thing, day after day.  Fortunately, there are support groups for people who find themselves in the position of cooking, cleaning, bedding, changing, and bathing someone who they never imagined would need that kind of care.

Don’t try to go it alone because you’re stubborn or proud. Reach out to your place of worship, a relative, a friend, or find a support group for the particular issue you are dealing with. Your loved one needs you to be the best you can be, and you can’t be your best if you aren’t getting some kind of physical, emotional, and spiritual help. God is blessing you.