Caregiver Appreciation

 Today is Caregiver Appreciation Day. I was a Caregiver (taking care of my disabled and ill family member full-time for 8 years) so I know how difficult it can be.

I received no outside help (from Local, State or Federal Governments or any Organizations) and while I had help online and over the phone from friends and family for the most part it was just me doing all the physical work: driving to Doctor's around the State, calling 9-1-1 several times, having to rush to the ER, spending days in the ICU, carrying them up/down several flights of stairs countless times a day, carrying them to the bathroom, bathing them, feeding them, giving them their medicines numerous times a day, running to the only Pharmacy in town to get the medicines, using one hand to push their wheelchair down the market's narrow aisle while using my other hand to push the cart, etc.

 I also planned and helped them travel around the US and the world to either see family or new and exciting places (which was often much more work on me than it was a vacation since most things are not wheelchair accessible.)

I not only worked making sure they had everything they needed to survive, but I also helped them achieve their dreams: starting a successful home business from scratch as well as going to the Community College 1 hour away several times a week, even during snowstorms, for a Baking Certificate (waiting hours in the hallway as she was in class.)

All of that was on top of the normal everyday errands: shopping, mowing, shoveling, taking care of the dogs, checking-in on friends and family, etc.

At the end of those 8 years I was also their Home Hospice Caregiver. I didn't leave their side for their last 50 hours and was next to them as them passed away.

It was a lot of very hard work and I had to give up many things (a job I was working at as well as future job opportunities, a social life, etc.) but the only alternative was putting her in an Assisted-Living Home and that was never an option.

Even with what I know now I would still immediately make the decision to drop everything and be a Caregiver for a friend or family member (it's also why I would never and will never ask anyone else to be my Caregiver.)

There are thousands of Caregivers (both Professionals that are paid and non-Professionals - like I was - who aren't) that work hard to take care of strangers or loved ones.  Take a minute to thank them and see if they need anything. Just because they don't ask for it doesn't mean they don't need it.