On Call

Welcome to Caregiver Friday!!!

When we think about caregiving the first picture is role you take beside the patient; holding their hand, arranging for their care, and offering moral and emotional support.  The truth is that just because someone receives a diagnosis for a chronic or life-threatening illness doesn’t mean they will need constant care.  Often following the diagnosis there is an immediate call for care and then that need may reduce.  Where does that leave you as the caregiver/wellness partner?

I guess the first question is how do you feel about being on call?  I understand that you may live with the person you’re caring for, but they may not need your care as a caregiver so that role can get benched, hopefully a long time.  If things change, it may require that you get called to action as the caregiver, sort of like being in the National Guard and being activated to serve.

How do you feel about being on call?  For some it’s a blessing and for others it’s more stressful because you never know when you’ll be activated.  Offering constant care may be easier for some because there’s no interruption in your concentration on being a caregiver.  Others may really like the idea of being an intermittent caregiver.  In fact, many prefer this because it signifies a level of health for the person you’re caring for.

No matter which direction your life takes you, being a caregiver is synonymous with grace.  Your life will forever be changed by your caregiving experience.