The 8-Stages Caregivers Goes Through (excerpts from “Passages in Care Giving”, by Gail Sheehy)
1. Shock and Mobilization – Once the immediate crisis is resolved, you enter,
2. The New Normal – They begin to think, “Ok, I can handle this.” This reprieve may go on for months or years. Eventually there is a third turn.
3. Boomerang – Whoops, another crisis. This is when you realize you can’t do it alone and call a family meeting. If you begin to think you are responsible for keeping your loved one alive and safe, you will eventually find yourself at the next stage
4. Playing God – This can become an unhealthy co-dependant relationship. Eventually you will reach the next and most dangerous turn.
5. I Can’t Do This Anymore! – You MUST take care of yourself.
6. Coming Back – You have now reached the center of the labyrinth of care giving. Here, you must begin to appreciate all you have done and begin to acknowledge that your loved one is not going to return to the independent person he or she once was. You need to replenish your lifelines – friends, music, work, nature.
7. The In-Between Stage – is a momentous turning point for those who care for the chronically ill. Your loved one cannot be cured in an acute-care hospital, but he or she is not ready to die – and may live for years. But our healthcare system has little to offer at this stage, except round trips to the emergency room and readmissions to the hospital.
Most slow-aging adults today develop chronic illnesses. They are sent home quicker and sicker to you, the family caregiver, who has no professional training, no financial support and rarely any respite.
8. The Long Goodbye – This is a true gift and Always Best Care can assist you. With one of our experienced, insured and bonded caregivers relieving you of much of the work. You will now have time for end-of-life conversations and some kind of closure.
The passage to caregiver may well be the most memorable in your life. How you usher your mom or dad or spouse or sibling out of this world has so much impact on how you think about yourself: Am I a good person? Did I do everything I could? Did I let my siblings do some of the heavy lifting? Did I hold on too long? Let go too soon? Or did I share precious moments of full presence right up to the end?
Let Always Best Care, The Leader in Non-Medical In-Home Care and FREE Assisted Living Placement, help you on this journey. We have care plans ranging from 2-hour sitter service to 24-hour live-in. Call us at 619.757.1114 and speak with our care coordinator about a plan that fits your need or visit website – www.inhomecaresandiego.com.
By: Always Best Care Senior Services – San Diego California (CA)