For our games and amusements we count on the 'back up'. In sports, a back up player can make or break a season. In theatre, an understudy may save a performance. … Yet who backs up a family caregiver?
Family Caregiver Month is a good time to talk about back ups, whether for the short term or the long term.
It does not have to be a catastrophic injury to take out a family caregiver. The flu, wrenched back, or dental surgery can negate their effectiveness. Who steps up?
Do excuses greet requests for help? “Oh! I wish you had given me some notice! I already have made plans.” … (How insensitive of me not to schedule my injuries.)
On the other side of the coin, family caregivers tend to store everything in their head? People cannot step in when they are unsure. A brief concise notebook of medications, medical information, names and phone numbers should be easy to find.
When family caregiving includes in its foundation the twin delusions of invincible and immortal more than one person will always be at risk.
Caregivingly Yours, Patrick Leer
website: http://caregivinglyyours.com/
videos: http://www.youtube.com/daddyleer
musings: Patrick Ponders ...
Sharing the trial and error learned lessons of a MS spouse caregiver / carer about family, home care, and transition to the care facility era from 23 years of living with Multiple Sclerosis as a family ... a ‘warts and all’ picture of living with MS.
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very wise advice to give this morning Patrick; I think anyone who has any responsibility over another one (including parents with young children) need a backup plan with key crucial things written down in such a notebook or folder, whatever, for those who will need to step in to take care of someone who can't adequately take care of themselves; great point to make
ReplyDeletehope you and Patti are doing good and you are enjoying life the best you can :)
betty
You've hit now on my biggest problem. No back up. I have everything written down; that wouldn't be the problem...it's WHO would it be that keeps me awake at night. If something were to happen to me.....WHO. With elderly parents and limited other family members, there is no such thing as back up. Okay, maybe back up and PUNT?
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