Archives for August 2023

Friends and family have given us help recently- what they consider a small task made a huge positive impact on our daily life.

At this time in Dan’s cancer journey, his health is declining and demanding more of my attention and care.

Recently the help of others- my mother cleaning my kitchen and friends doing repairs to the house and yard- has made a huge difference.

What seems like a small task to those that are helping us was a huge obstacle to me, and these tasks had to take a backseat to caring for Dan.

Receiving help has made a positive impact on us and is greatly appreciated.

As a caregiver, learning how to find resources and medical aides is an essential part of caring for someone with a long-term illness.

As a caregiver, my medical knowledge is limited, and I am currently learning how to navigate each health concern.

Recently we helped my father-in-law with his mobility difficulties by purchasing a lift chair. This aide helped him stay mobile for several weeks before he passed away.

Finding and understanding these medical aids and tools is a challenge for caregivers that do not have a medical background.

Finding ways to learn how to work through medical concerns is essential to the caregiving journey.

When someone tells Dan, who is suffering from cancer, “You look great,” I often feel there is a more compassionate way to greet him.

During the cancer journey, Dan and I have noticed the decline in how he looks and moves due to the hardship on his body.

For others, the bias of wanting him to be healthy often leads them to say, “You look great.”

As a caregiver, I receive this as insensitivity, not as a positive outlook.

When speaking to someone with a long-term illness, it may be better to ask a question such as, “How do you feel?” as opposed to giving an uninformed assessment of how you feel the person looks.

Asking a question may be a compassionate way to learn more about how the person is doing.