LIFESTYLES
THIS IS YOUR LIFE
By Del Mattioli
Helping the Helper/CAREGIVERS
Caregiving and Care-Receiver—November is National
Caregiving Month. We are in the Giving Season—make
time to give some TIME to a Caregiver! That’s right—NOT
for the care receiver but the one whom is taking care of
them.
We often read articles and listen to TV about how to take
care of someone else whose ADL’S (Activities of Daily
Living) has been compromised. The caregiver is stressed, feeling guilty, tired,
depressed, hiding pain, neglecting their own needs and overwhelmed with so
much to do. Housecleaning, grocery shopping, picking up medications, dry
cleaning & laundering, keeping appointments, general banking needs, feeling
lonely, loneliness and must not leave the care receiver alone.
A Godly gift for the caregiver is the sharing of our “TIME”. However, being
specific about what comes to mind to help the caregiver is important. When
someone you care about is going through a difficult time, you might say, “Let
me know how I can help.” It’s a nice gesture, but such offers can be difficult
to accept — primarily because they aren’t specific. Instead, make concrete
offers of help.
Helpful suggestions:
• “I’m going to the grocery store. What can I pick up for you?”
• “I’ve got a couple of hours free tomorrow afternoon. May I sit in for you
while you run a few errands or take some time for yourself?” Take a book, a
computer, a Bible or write while sitting.
• “I doubled my meatloaf recipe so that I could share it with you. I brought
enough to last you for several meals.”
• “Do you need some laundry done? I can pick it up today and bring it back
clean tomorrow.”
• “Does your yard need to be mowed? I’d be happy to take care of it this
weekend.”
• Consider giving gift cards for nai