Caregiver in Johns Creek GA
As a family caregiver, you witness a great deal of loss, both for your elderly loved one and for yourself. Even so, grief can sneak up on you and hit you when you least expect it.
Grief Can Happen at All Stages of Caregiving
You might think that you shouldn’t be experiencing grief as a family caregiver because your elderly loved one is still right there with you. The problem is that you can experience grief at many different stages as you see your elderly loved one’s health decline or as you witness other changes. You may simply be grieving the loss of someone that you love, but you can also be grieving all of the little things your elderly loved one loses along the way.
Be Good to Yourself
When you start to realize that you’re feeling grief, be good to yourself. Beating yourself up or telling yourself that you shouldn’t be feeling the way that you do is only going to make the situation worse for you. What’s important is that you accept how you’re feeling and that you find positive ways to celebrate your elderly loved one and cherish the memories that you have.
Enjoy What Time You Do Have with Your Elderly Loved One
Look for ways to spend quality, loving time with your elderly loved one. You might do this by making a scrapbook of happy memories together or going through old photo albums and laughing together. Find the ways that allow you to experience joy and to create a trove of happy memories for you. Later you’ll need to be able to revisit that as you experience more and deeper grief.
Find a Support System that Can Help You Through the Difficult Times
If you don’t already have a strong support system, now is the time to find one. Yours might consist of other family members, friends, or neighbors. You might also want to join a support group for caregivers who are dealing with grief. If your situation is particularly dire, you may want to even consider talking to a counselor or therapist about positive ways to deal with your grief.
Ignoring your grief will only make the problem worse, so do what you can to work through the emotion.
The staff at Home Care Matters is available to talk with you and your family about all of your needs. Home Care Matters is a home care agency providing quality and affordable caregiver services in Johns Creek, GA and the surrounding areas. Call (678) 828-2195 for more information.
Valerie has the unique experience with home care as she has experienced it from both ends of the spectrum, as a caregiver and as needing care herself as a cancer survivor. Valerie says, “Taking care of someone you love is a physically, mentally and demanding labor of love.Taking care of my mom was the hardest thing I have ever done. It has given me an insight and perspective not many people understand unless you are doing it or have done it.I loved taking care of my mom.I love helping others take care of their love ones too.And now that I’ve been sick, it’s given me a whole new level of empathy and understanding for those who are sick and need help.”
Valerie’s schedule varies daily, but she loves visiting with our clients, families, caregivers, our network partners and being in the office.Says Valerie, “Every day is different, but I wake up excited about what we do, inspired by our team, clients and caregivers.I strive to be a resource to the community.I love my team and I love what we do every day. I like to think my mom would be proud.”
You can reach Valerie by email (Valerie@homecarematters.com) or in our office (770.965.4004).
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