Let’s start this year with Love for others as well as yourself!
You all have been on our minds a lot and we pray for all of you. Several of you are going through some very difficult challenges and we are mindful of them.
We hope you all can feel confident in reaching out to Wendy and I as a resource and support for any needs you may have.
As I was thinking about what to share this month compassion came to mind. Compassionate caregiving is a big deal and what AWG takes great pride in. When we are compassionate caregivers we also need to be compassionate to ourselves.
I read a brief article by Shelley Webb, who established The Intentional Caregiver as a resource to provide education, encouragement and support to those providing care for aging parents and loved ones. On Humangood.org
She listed 5 tips for compassionate caregiving.
We would love for you to adjust the tips as a caregiver in your situation and utilize all these great tips, particularly number 4!
We would love any tips you might want to share with the AWG family!
1. Act from love, not from a sense of duty.
Caregiving is about one person helping another. Caregivers often feel obligated because their parent took care of them—but providing care is a choice. Let go of your guilt, recognize you are not perfect and do your best. And if you lose your temper, forgive yourself. Tomorrow is another day.
2. Educate yourself about health conditions.
This makes it easier to understand your loved one’s actions and advocate for him or her. Accompany your parent to appointments, do research online, talk to a care manager and contact your local Area Agency on Aging for resources.
3. Take time to listen.
This will help you fully understand your loved one. Consider recording and preserving their memories. A scenic drive can be another opportunity to have a heart-to-heart and get outside. And don’t forget to laugh together over a good joke or humorous situation. Find the funny side of caregiving. Believe me, it’s there.
4. Care for yourself.
Staying healthy helps ensure that you can remain calm and compassionate. Slow down, breathe deep, get plenty of rest, eat healthy foods and make time for yourself to rejuvenate. You have to take care of yourself first before you can provide quality caregiver support to your loved one.
5. Honor your loved one’s spiritual needs.
Caregiver support comes in many forms. A connection with a higher power can be important in the healing process, and attending a weekly service can provide social interaction.Enjoy your month!