What does the shift tell us?

SHIFT HAPPENS

As our loved ones age, so do we. Not only are we caring for our loved ones, we’re doing our best to care for ourselves as well.

To accommodate anything and everything, we flex and shift during our respective caregiver journeys.

Researchers have frameworks and other tools that describe the components of the caregiver experience.

These tools make it possible for policy makers and stakeholders to learn and understand caregiving tasks and challenges. Understanding is critical for new policy and caregiver supports on the regional, state, and federal level.

I notice three types of experiences within the caregiver journey. To keep things simple, let’s call them: light, medium, and heavy.

Shift Happens: The High-Level Caregiver Journey according to Erna (CG360)

Intensity may ebb and flow during your journey.

You might start off with the light category, keeping an eye on your aging parent who remains independent. Then you may find yourself thrust into the heavy category, due to required surgery for your loved one, perhaps a hip replacement surgery. Upon recovery, your loved one may go back to their usual routine, not needing you as much.

Or, you might have an experience similar to mine that lasted ~ two decades. It started off with the heavy category with a debilitating stroke. Then my journey migrated to the light category, and eventually the medium category.

Finally, I spent several years in the heavy category. Even though my Mother was eventually moved to a nursing home, I visited her everyday (that I didn’t have to travel for work).

If I could go back in time, I would bring in external support earlier in the journey.

I spent most of my journey doing many things on my own. It wasn’t until the latter portion of my journey, I was able to consider the benefit of paying for additional support. After committing to this, my Mom was much happier and my peace of mind increased. And, I still visited most day. It might sound excessive, but that’s what I felt I should do.

Categorizing the types of activities during the “phases” of a caregiving journey help set expectations for caregivers. While this doesn’t take away that pesky element of surprise, it does offer up a sense of what might be required. It also helps with planning.

I’ll be refining this a bit more over the next few editions of Care Fully. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

AMA TODAY

A Place for Mom’s Chief Community Officer is holding an “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) on Reddit today at 2pm ET. A big thank you to my wonderful friend Sharon for sharing this AMA news with me! Below are some details about the AMA.

“I’ve spent 20+ years helping families navigate caregiving and senior living. I’m Margaret Cabell, Chief Community Officer at A Place for Mom – AMA on Jan 28 at 2pm ET about aging parents, care options, and tough conversations.”

Learn more and join here. Some folks might have some “feelings” about this organization. I encourage you to take a few minutes to read what is asked and shared. I plan to check it out. Let me know what you think of the live format.

YOUR THOUGHTS

NEWS YOU CAN USE

• Nurses are striking in California and Hawaii and New York. With the existing challenges of healthcare, I hope hospitals and healthcare systems give nurses what they need. Please be extra diligent and mindful with your follow ups and thank you’s to the health professionals in your orbit.

• Caring for a loved one at home carries numerous responsibilities. It isn’t a one person job, rather it really will take a village to ensure everyone has what they need. Read Jocelyn’s experience and take note of the tips she wished she tried during her journey.