Grateful Caregiver

Have you ever heard of the saying “Once an adult, twice a child”?    As a family caregiver, you often find yourself in a parental role. It can be quite challenging to care for your parents. Your love and concern for their well-being must take precedence over any discomfort you may feel. Recently, I had to persuade my mom that taking her medication was crucial for her health. Below is a scenario and how the caregiver handled the challenge.  Background: Mary is an 82-year-old woman who has high blood pressure and early-stage dementia. Her daughter, Lisa, is her primary caregiver. Mary has always been independent and dislikes being told what to do. Lately, she has been refusing to take her blood pressure medication, insisting, “I feel fine—I don’t need it!” How Lisa Handles It: Empathize & Validate: Lisa sits next to her mother and gently says, “I understand, Mom. It’s frustrating to take pills every day, especially when you feel fine. But this little pill is what keeps ...

Psalm 121:1-2  "I lift my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth". February 2025 marked four years since my mother received her diagnosis. It's been nearly a year since she entered home hospice care. This journey has been a rollercoaster of emotions, filled with both highs and lows. Each day is an adventure.  During the tougher moments, it can be hard to stay positive, as thoughts arise that this might be the end and I am losing her. In those moments, tears often flow. The day I wrote this blog, was a low day . According to mom’s current symptoms she is transitioning, basically the disease has taken over, and now her days are numbered.  How do you navigate the pain when a loved one faces a terminal illness that is taking away their life? From my personal experience, the key is to embrace the situation. Pain is a part of life, no matter how you want to run away from it or bury your head in the sand, the pa...