Monday, September 10, 2012

The Caregiver - The Gift of Caring


When a loved one is sick, there are those who visit, those who call, those who send cards with Get Well Wishes or Thinking of You and those who send gift baskets or all of the above. However, there are those who step in and devote their time to tending to the needs of their loved one. The Caregiver is one who is so busy making sure that the doctors appointments are made, they serve as an advocate, speaking with the health care team, picking up prescriptions, cook, clean, feed, bathe, read, entertain, listen, talk, laugh, cry, deal with the ups and downs of the emotions of their loved ones and times deal with the demands of the onlookers (family members who are not actively involved except for their questions and suggestions). Overall, the Caregiver is the one who takes it all the good, the bad and the ugly.

It is time to appreciate the Caregiver. Although the Caregiver may seem to do things with ease, it takes a toll. Caring for a loved one who is ill is not easy. The concerns of their health and wellness can be overwhelming and the Caregiver may wonder if he/she is doing enough. The Caregiver needs someone to come in and help share the load. It is important for the family to get involved to take on some of the tasks. In the cases where there are no family members or friends to help, there are also Caregiver Support Groups and Associations that offers services to help alleviate the stress of caring for a loved one.

National Family Caregivers Association
National Alliance for Caregiving






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