“I can do it alone.” I’ve often heard this from caregivers. They think they can do it all alone.
However, we can’t!
I recently heard a story from a woman that had a stroke in her early 20s. Her husband insisted on caring for her by himself for the next twenty years. He refused to accept help from anyone. Now they are divorced and to receive the care she needs, she is in a nursing facility.
Remember:
- Caregivers cannot carry the burden alone.
- We all need time to rest and recharge our batteries.
Often we hear of the caregivers that pass away long before the one they are caring for. This is because they wear themselves out.
As caregivers we need to:
- Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help.
- Develop a schedule and strategy that will work.
- Bring in or hire a team that can support you.
- Explore your options and local resources.
- Take time for ourselves
- Remember we need a team or village
How do you prevent from making caregiving a lone sport?