My Journey With Health And Fitness – National Caregivers Day

Ok, you may look at the title and think, what does this have to do with her health and fitness. Well, quite frankly, a lot. I volunteer every week when I am home to facilitate a caregivers’ support group. I started doing it when they asked for volunteers and not only am I a trained facilitator but I am a caregiver, initially for my 2 siblings. I realized it was a good fit and I must say the things that I have learned have been pretty amazing. As well, it sometimes gives me the opportunity to vent about some of the things that I have had to deal with. That in turn helps alleviate some stress and thus help with my own mental health. Hence, it does fit in with my journey.

I do want to start by acknowledging that the people in my group are nothing short of heroic. By that I mean I don’t know if I could do what they do in terms of looking after their loved ones. Trust me this goes way beyond advocacy, I’m talking things like providing nursing services, dealing with incontinence, having to answer the same questions over and over every day, putting aside their own needs regularly to put the caree first, battling with blended family members who often don’t assist but demand input into care and most of all watching their loved one deteriorate and not be able to do anything about it. They then are told by our system that the wait for long term care is 3 years and that our health authority requires the caregiver to continue their support work, whether they are qualified to do so or not. Ultimately it is almost like you need to bankrupt yourself before it become emergent for the caree to be placed in supportive care.

But let me say this, every week I hear how this support group is what keeps them going. They have become like a big family and get so concerned when someone from the group doesn’t attend. The group shares everything they have learned and we all work through someone’s challenges when they arise. And, if there is someone who needs the airspace to talk more than the rest in the group, it is always given without being asked. So maybe heroic is not the only word I should use, thoughtful, loving, caring and devoted are some others that are important.

The reason I wanted to do this post is because of what I saw on a local news station from home this morning. They were interviewing a psychotherapist to recognize National Caregivers Day and the topic was around caregiver burnout. I was astounded by what the therapist recommended, when things are overwhelming call a family member or friend to go out for coffee, go for a walk, find something to do for your own self-care. Now don’t get me wrong, these are all great suggestions but are somewhat out of touch. Many of the people in my group cannot leaved their caree for any length of time. Seriously, it is fulltime care in order to keep them safe. I’m sure these people would love to be able to do these things but without some sort of respite or paid home care it is not possible. You might ask then how do they attend these group sessions, it is because they have managed to get into an adult daycare which allows them a few hours away from their loved one. The lucky ones get a couple days a week, the others it is one day.

So if you know a caregiver reach out and see if there is anyway you can help them. Many will decline but maybe be a little adament about doing things like hey, why don’t we set up a phone date each week. Or, can I do some shopping for you? Even just drop off something nice for them. Just be supportive.

And mostly, today recognize the heroes that these people truly are.