November is National Family Caregivers Month. Some may be preparing to raise a holiday toast to the dementia care partner. No eloquently-raised family toast, however, would be received with such gratitude as being offered hands-on assistance!

The simple offering of help would give profound meaning to the words of this holiday – a time for expressing thanks. Especially during COVID, what day would ever be more appropriate for showing compassion and literally placing ourselves in another’s shoes – and in their busy “household traffic pattern”?!

Rising up to offer respite

In the year ahead, what practical hands-on expression of thanks to the caregiver could family members rise up to deliver – year round?

How might offering a schedule of monthly respite help to promote good will – while giving the care partner a break? In a family of five, would each of the four siblings be willing to provide coverage of three shifts per year – either solo or collaboratively? Or hiring a substitute to cover for their shift when it rolls around every fourth month? Would this contribute to a feeling of being in it together?

“Hope is the anticipation of joy”

How might a collaborative strategy for working together turn the experience of one person’s full-time 24/7 “caring” into shared feelings of  “joy and privilege” for every family member?

What better time to collaborate on a 2021 schedule than on Thanksgiving Day in person at the extended table? or while Zooming? or during FaceTime?

Would this help to achieve fulfillment for everyone – marching in together with arms linked at the end of the race?

Once the 2021 schedule is finalized, how could raising up a toast to each other for the knowledge of being in it together ever – ever – be more rewarding?

There would be no greater gift.

 

References:

 

Posted by: Susan Troyer