Jess Ronne and I talk about self-care for the caregiver. You may not currently be in a caregiver role but at some point in our lives many of us find ourselves there. My guest is the mother of eight children, one of whom has profound special needs, and she was the caregiver for her husband who suffered for three years with brain cancer. She shares what she has learned regarding self-care for the caregiver.
As a caregiver, you’re expected to meet someone else’s needs, all while keeping normal life afloat. Sarah Forgrave, author of Prayers of Hope for Caregivers, shares 10 Bible Verses that offer encouragement for caregivers who feel alone, weary, hopeless and frazzled. Enter the book giveaway for your chance to win a free copy of Sarah’s book!
If you’ve ever been in a caregiving role, whether it be for a child, spouse, sick parent or relative, you know how hard it can be to care for yourself as well. In this episode, I speak with Sarah Forgrave, author of the book, Prayers of Hope for Caregivers, about caregiver burnout, and how we can have hope as caregivers, despite the toll it can take.
I looked up and met his kindly eyes. I had been avoiding them as I sat down, not sure what I would find.
“How are you?”
“Where shall we start?”
“How about the changes since last time.”
“Well, how is it that he lost weight with all the chemotherapy and the same amount of weight he lost, I gained.”
“I noticed.”
“Somehow I didn’t think that’d get by you, but the scales don’t exactly lie do they?”
He didn’t say anything. I think he knew that was a sensitive subject for me.
Dementia is a disease that is growing at alarming rates. It is a cruel disease that doesn’t just impact the one diagnosed—it impacts the whole family. It can at times be very frustrating to be a caregiver because out of love you want to take care of your loved one, but they are no longer the same person that you have loved and cherished all these preceding years. In today’s post, we are continuing an interview with a caregiver whose wife was diagnosed with dementia. Today we’re discussing ways of decreasing a caregiver’s frustration. [more]
