Being a Caregiver
Being a caregiver is one of the most challenging opportunities you will have for growth that there is. I know from my personal experience of caring for a wife for 3 years who ultimately died of ovarian cancer. I am going to give some real practical advice for providing the utmost comfort and care…
1. Take care of yourself and your own needs. If you do not have enough energy to be cheerful and loving how will you be of any assistance to someone who is suffering?
2. Keep your mind clean and clear whenever you interact with your loved one. This means thinking only kind and loving thoughts. Keep searching until you are holding thoughts in your mind that are full of compassion, care, and love of the person you are caring for. If you find this difficult then you need practice and probably some coaching. I can help. And there are plenty of others who can also offer you coaching assistance.
3. Increase your efforts to listen, hear and understand the person you are caring for. Don’t discount their experience, not even in the “privacy” of your own mind.
4. Look at this as an opportunity to give something back to God. After all your loved one is really God that you are in service to.
5. Watch out for the physical comforts, no matter how minor. When we are ill, especially when suffering severe illness and undergoing extensive therapies, even the smallest of things can become overwhelming. Watch out for things like, bad breath, strong perfumes, talking too loud, bumping, shaking, rocking, kicking the bed, especially when giving massage or other therapies. Shirt tails that lightly drag over body parts when giving therapies.
6. Have a back up, alternate care taker, that you can rely on lined up and use them. Take care of yourself!!! If you don’t you won’t be offering a quality service to your loved one and you won’t grow very much during this rare opportunity that you have before you.
Much love and best wishes to you in this experience you are undergoing.
Michael is the author of Unforgettable: a Love and Spiritual Growth Story.
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