The day-to-day efforts of the men, women and youngsters who provide care are often invisible, the hours they spend and their commitment and dedication, remarkable.
First time caregivers often have no choice but to step up and learn on the fly, knowing that every situation from now on will present a new challenge, a need for compromise or a new solution.
Yet few realize that caregiving is usually not a short-term commitment and that behind every caregiving achievement there lies a long, often unseen road. It’s a road of love, a road of challenges and time of self-less commitment. There are the inevitable ups and downs and long days of waiting for results when time simply stands still—for better or worse.
Over time, caregiving for a family member or a friend brings a unique type of wisdom earned through experience and sharing tips and ways to get more help with others in a similar boat. That wisdom grows with every sleepless night, every medical appointment and every simple, or complicated procedure. There are things to learn and explore with every new diagnosis, and every medication change.
Challenges, chaos, movement and change are caregiving buzzwords. Being a carer is a task that fills your head with information and your heart with worry. Sometimes you’re on a mission and you have to push hard. Other times, there’s no reason to rush and patience and acceptance are all that’s required. Like it or not.
Success and peace-of-mind comes for those who know they’re doing the right thing, stay tenacious and manage to find the best supports and show the determination and resilience necessary to stay steady along the path.
Caroline Tapp-McDougall,
Editor-in-Chief
caroline@bcsgroup.com
Photo: CanStock
