by Julie Randolph, Care Coordination Manager
Failure, it is like a dark cloud that hovers over everything, with no room for compassion or understanding. Caregivers are often their own harshest critics, carrying on a dialog in their minds of never being enough or doing enough, comparing themselves to some unreal standard.
Caregiving can be light and easy, or difficult. A sense of purpose and achievement often becomes part of a caregiver’s identity. Caregivers can feel like they are failing at their purpose in life when the demands become overwhelming. The stress of attempting to meet needs that are beyond our ability or endurance can result in illness, trips and falls, and other accidents. No caregiver wants to become the one needing care, but this can happen when an individual is stretched beyond what is tolerable.
Help, it is like a call out into uncertainty, like losing control. So much momentum is put forward every day by caregivers, just to make it through. Caregivers can perceive help as a white flag, a giving up
…..a failure.
Caregivers are not soldiers, machines or saviors. We are flesh and blood. Asking for help can be the most courageous and honorable act of all.
Consider making a call to Senior Services to review options for assistance in your caregiving journey. Asking for help indicates that you recognize that your circumstances require greater interventions for the best outcomes. We are here to build connections and care plans to enhance the quality of your life and the life of your loved one.