I had the pleasure of guesting on CBC Radio's program, BC Almanac, this afternoon. This was not your standard back-and-forth interview between guest and host but a participatory program where listeners could call in and share their stories and ask questions. Due to limited time, we could only get to five callers, but what struck me was their wide variety of issues raised. To summarize ...
____ emphasized the importance of recognizing personal symptoms of stress and to keep the familial lines of communication open. I cannot agree more. You can reduce stress through many means including delegating responsibilities to others and taking your own respite time away. Talking to the family can be difficult as siblings may have different agendas.
_____ commented on the affordability of senior's centres and asked about senior's co-op living as a possible cost-savings measure. This term is something I am not personally aware of; however, there are certainly many different types and levels of care facilities across the country. The best thing to do is to thoroughly investigate each one and find out what is most appropriate.
_____ has been a caregiver for his aunt, mother and father. He admired the work of those in resource centres for the information they provide. These individuals and centres are to be commended indeed and deserve all the praise they can get. Frequently, such centres operate under non-profit status and have a shoestring operating budget.
_____ questioned how to approach her mother's reduced independence. This is a key issue for seniors as very few people like to admit they may - or do - need help. What may work is, if you have siblings, to approach your parent as a united front and gently repeat your concerns. Another option is to rely on the authorities. A family doctor, for example, can recommend that a parent give up driving because medical tests show that doing this has become unsafe.
And finally, _____ explained that she has put together her own representation agreement regarding her own eldercare. By her wishes, she has stated that her own children are not to be involved with her care - thus, removing them of the burden. Certainly, a generous move.
Even during this 15-minute radio program, I was reminded of the numerous issues which family caregivers assume. Many of these will be foreign to them. For your own sanity, please find a way to deal with your own specific issues. It can be tremendously difficult to bottle up issues and emotions forever; the cork will likely pop at some time.
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