Because Smart People Told Me

Welcome to Caregiver Friday!!

You have a lot on your plate so why even bother trying to reinvent the wheel.  As I’ve mentioned, caregiving takes a lot of knowledge, wisdom, and compassion.  It requires great time management and the ability to put others ahead of yourself (sometimes to a fault).  We know that everything you do, everything you try, and everything you encourage the patient to consider is done because of your unending commitment to their health and healing.  That being the case, how willing are you to take advice from others?

Sometimes when you’re given advice and what you really hear is that you’re doing it wrong.  The reality of the situation is, whether you want to believe it or not, there are people who know more than you do.  There are people, even if they haven’t been caregivers themselves, know more about the struggles caregivers face than you.  How is that possible?  It’s the accumulation of experience that gives these “experts” wisdom and a pool of knowledge and information they are willing to share with you.

You may still be skeptical, but let me share my own experience.  I personally have not been a 24/7 caregiver to someone with a chronic or life-threatening illness, although I have been a patient for over 35 years.  Professionally I have been working with patients and their caregivers for 23 years.  In that time I’ve heard, witnessed, and supported thousands of caregivers.  If you take even 1000 caregivers and multiply that by the number of stories they’ve told and the concerns they’ve shared, that’s a lot of information to draw from over the years.  It’s that well of experience that has provided me with lots of information and solutions to share with the caregivers I’m currently supporting. 

It’s a little like the computer in the show Batman.  You put in all the information, push a button, and out comes the answer.  When you have that amount information to pull from the possibilities for resolution are endless.  So what’s the moral of the story?  Take the information providers have to offer and allow yourself to put these solutions into action.  Why?  Because Smart People Told You!  Allow people to give you the support you need without it being a commentary on your ability.  People like me have devoted our lives to making the lives of those facing illness, both patients and caregivers, easier and less stressful.  We want to support you, the caregiver/wellness partner, on your own journey to health and healing.