@auntieoakley You make many excellent points in your post, but one really struck me as super-valuable! The challenges of physical and emotional needs of caregivers! Caregivers can always use support, no doubt about it, but I've never met a caregiver who lacks compassion, desire, and concern for their loved ones who happen to be doubling as patients. To me, what does happen is we get physically and emotionally exhausted! That is very different than a lack of compassion, etc. When someone tells me I lack compassion I feel very negative feelings since, to me, it imparts a failure on my part and goodness knows no caregiver needs more feelings of guilt and doubt. We all feel as though we fail at times, but not for lack of desire, but out of exhaustion -- physical and emotional.

One of the nicest things an old friend of mine did for me at the height of my caregiving demands was send me a few select clippings he'd find during the week that he thought I might find interesting. They lived in my bathroom so when I could I'd grab one to read and escape for a few moments. I really came to cherish those envelopes in the mail since I no longer got a copy of the newspaper and magazines just stacked up.

Often it is the small that can really help a caregiver!

Strength, Courage, & Peace